Covid 19 has not affected common sense and this article is a case in point. It seems almost every week a young person loses their life through misadventure or murder.
I recall a young woman killed in Melbourne and when the verdict was given there was huge outcry from family and friends of the victim. Yes, a reality check here - juries and judges listen to the evidence.
One of the most memorable Melbourne cases, as reported in The Guardian, a Roman Catholic Priest reportedly told students at a Melbourne primary school that if Jill Meagher (murdered in 2012) had been more ‘faith filled’ she would have been home and ‘not walking down Sydney Road at 3am.’
Meagher was murdered by Adrian Bayley after a night out Melbourne in September 2012. He was sentenced to life in prison. Meagher’s family were outraged by the report and said it was a “stupid thing to say”. “Adrian Bayley was out there that night looking for a victim and found her,” Joan Meagher, Jill Meagher’s mother-in-law told the Irish Independent. “He was looking for anyone, it didn’t matter to him who the person was.
Thomas Meagher, Jill’s husband, put a statement on Facebook calling the comments “disgusting”. “What a truly abhorrent lesson to teach a child,” he wrote. “How a human being with such dangerous and misogynistic views can be allowed pass those messages onto children is depressing. Shameful.”
The Priest has been censored by his Roman Catholic seniors and both the Church and the Priest have apologised under such a media glaze.
As a comment writer
Now to the other side of the coin. As a Comment writer I am simply putting the two different perspectives on this whole issue in order for the reader to make a sensible and considered decision as to the weight of either.
This is the advice Susan Patton gives to young women. I wrote of this recently in an article on young women and self responsibility.
The do-gooders complaints: Women should be allowed to get as 'drunk as a skunk', get 'stoned', 'give the come-on signal', 'play the field' – to this motley crew - it's the boys who have total responsibility. Full stop!
Listen to what Susan Patton actually said:
“Why, as a woman, do you not tell a man who is making advances you’re not comfortable with, ‘Stop. Leave’.”
and again
“women should stay 'sober enough' to get out of dangerous situations. We could teach burglars not to steal, but better advice: Lock your door.”
My two previous articles on Susan Patton's sensible and down to earth comments for young women are:
“Even common sense is getting a bad rap in the realm of women advising women in finding a husband”
and, “The happiest husbands”
http://www.christiantoday.com.au/article/the.happiest.husbands/18149.htm
Two perspectives
There you have it as the broad brush of views -
One, no women, regardless of how drunk as a skunk she might be, should still be safe to walk down the street at 3.00am.
The other, goodness me, young women, take a long hard look at yourselves, be responsible, it's really in your ball court, and here are some really simple steps as a guide.
Susan Patton's core mantra
Susan Patton is a Princeton graduate and mother of two Ivy League sons, and made the point as noted in my first article, that a statistical analysis that young women in Princeton in their under-graduate years have a plethora of men surrounding them, and such a statistical opportunity in their favour in finding a husband will simply not present itself in the future. Makes sense to me. Both Susan Patton and I can count and we're not even mathematicians.
And our own Miranda Divine says a whole lot more besides in this common sense vein. (www.dailytelegraph.com.au) It's not rocket science.
The statistical analysis Susan Patton announces is indisputable. The same indisputable statistical analysis can be drawn from Christian Church and Mission associated youth groups, seminaries, bible colleges and such like, where young Christian men and women find their partners for life. Ding dong!
The pendulum
There is a wider question that Susan Patton exclaims – that is the emphasis on women's needs are everywhere – advertising, merchandise, cosmetics, cars, clothing or lack of it, fulfillment, career, education, sexual appetite, holidays, sun tans, well-being, psychology, political correctness, best seats, right of way (supermarkets, lining up, banking, anything really).
“It's time the pendulum was stopped and given a nudge in the other direction”. She has some very practical suggestions: “Welcome your husband home with a smile asking him not to fix something, but to genuinely express your appreciation (that he comes home at all – as it were).”
Susan Patton gives out some common sense - Girls, wake up! Don't put yourself in stupid situations, how about a bit of sensible positioning! You have options - getting under the weather (drunk) or stoned (drugs) is entirely in your court. It's your responsibility to look after yourselves.
Your wisdom
In good times, prior to Covid 19, our nation's young people are regularly out and about 'til the small hours after a Friday and Saturday night out. Parents endlessly badger their young people about road safely, security amongst friends, don't walk alone, be careful what you consume …. on and on and on.
We read of youth death weekend after weekend somewhere across the nation - road tragedy, drug overdoses, random king hits, accidents …. Wrapping our nation's young people in cotton wool isn't a solution either and education is only effective while a young person sober.
Herein lies the issue. Sensible, sound of mind, good character, bright and splendid young people with a future as bright as the dawn - gets a few drinks in them or a peer convinces them into taking some sort of substance - and all that wisdom flies away. The more of 'whatever' they take, the further and further distant all that wisdom becomes.
Should we as a society recognise this and insist the nation (Governments) put in place agencies such as the Red Frogs across the nation to ensure young people get home safe. Would this ignore personal responsibility? Where is the line drawn?
The Scriptures are surprisingly flexible – on the one hand the 10 Commandments are clear about obeying your mother and father (and therefore the implications of responsibility and strictness), yet on the other hand we see where Paul clashed with Peter over circumcision (the implication that freedom is the new paradigm). The reality is that all of us are free to make mistakes and learn from them and that's Bible 101 as well. This is not an easy equation. Ask any parent or mentor.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 25 books, and enjoys writing. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Dr Mark Tronson’s Press Service International in 2019 was awarded ‘The Gutenberg’ - the Australasian Religious Press Association’s premier award. In September 2020 Summer Moore presented her commission portrait of Dr Mark Tronson holding the Gutenberg plaque. He and David Chang editor of Christian Today together bought the young writer ministry into fruition in 2009. In 2011 Mark established Laguna Quays Respite (Whitsundays) for missionary respite and replicated at Aldinga Beach 2016 (Adelaide) and Greens Beach Bass Straight (TAS). His ministry is honoured all these years by Christian philanthropist Mr Basil Sellers AM. He is married to Delma (44 years), with four adult married children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
