Societal change in attitudes for a kinder future

Rethink our code of living for a season of true goodwill, says Linley Grant

IT’S the season of goodwill, but how many damaged children and teenagers will call it good? Or the homeless? Or those elderly folk whose families have robbed them?

Do you feel sick when you hear of abused children or the elderly losing their homes and savings? Why has abuse of the vulnerable increased in our lovely island?

Or is it only that previously the abuse has remained unreported?

How could we better protect our children and vulnerable adults?

Putting gifts under the ABC Giving Tree might ease our conscience but does it really change things for the thousands for whom this will be a wretched time?

Besides the Government, many groups and community leaders are talking about caring for the abused.

However, what our Tasmanian community really needs to act on is improved prevention from abuse for those who cannot protect themselves, from babies to the elderly. The money and effort which has to be spent on dealing with effects of abuse would be far better spent if it had prevented that abuse.

This month the Law Reform Institute held a Symposium on Elder Abuse and Neglect and the National Council of Women of Tasmania held a Forum on Protection from Abuse. Since then the NCWT has talked with David Clements, the Interim Commissioner for Children.

There is agreement that a change of attitude is needed against toleration of even borderline abuse, coarse language and offensive jokes, because these lead to desensitisation which prompt immature, selfish and undisciplined people into committing real abuse.

This week news footage of a person headbutting someone has been repeatedly broadcast. If children are absorbing this as normal adult behaviour, what happens if they carry the memory into adulthood? Other programs are loaded with coarse language and sexually explicit comedy. Real comedy does not need swearing, sexual innuendo or violence to make us laugh. Should we condone the more violent videos, or music with violent words, or hate speech on social media? Or the violence occasioned by drugs and alcohol?

The Government is legislating for increased protection after abuse. It could legislate for mandatory reporting of borderline abuse, but would this help?

We could ask teachers to stop teaching individualism and to work to change children’s attitudes towards greater caring for their peers. Can we ask teachers to add to their already heavy load?

We can ask for widespread data collection, rather than relying on overseas research, into improving self control and mature behaviour, particularly in the most vulnerable, so places like Don Dale Youth Detention Centre are no longer needed.

We could provide more education for children, particularly boys, which has a greater physical basis — caring for animals, horseriding, yachting and camping. We can ask for greater responsibility for what is broadcast and not to show bad sporting behaviour or children’s shows focused on chasing, yelling and fighting.

We could stop using social media as if it is essential. But will this work? Every adult who condones borderline behaviour or sets a poor example encourages others to behave badly. In reality, the only thing adults can control are our own words and actions. Those who could provide a great example, particularly to vulnerable children, are the good men of integrity in our community — they have the qualities to make a difference.

If each adult really lived by the adage, “do as you would be done by,” it would help us all, particularly the vulnerable.

If this was the code of living for all Australians, it could be a far happier Christmas and year ahead for everyone.