As a young boy, my father would tell me to pull the weeds from the yard.  I never liked this chore, so I would begin pulling at the top of the weed, removing the parts that were sticking above the ground.  My father would appear with a paring knife and would say, “Son, you need to use this knife to cut around the weed and remove the root from the weed.  The way you are doing it, I guarantee the same weed will be there next Saturday morning, and you will have to pull them out again.”  He told me that identifying the root will insure that the weed doesn’t return.

I never realized how important this lesson would be in my life.  Many people react in our society by treating the symptom, instead of taking the time to identify the root of the problem.  A further example of my point is best illustrated by what I term a “bubble on the tire”.  For instance, if you notice a bubble or lump on your car tire, odds are you would take your car to a garage.  Several hours later, you check the same tire and you notice the bubble is back.  You head back to the garage and the worker places a larger patch on the problem area.  Several hours later, the bubble is back and you return to the garage for a third time.  However, this time, the worker informs you have the bubble is not the problem, but instead, is the weak spot.  When you ask what the problem is, the worker says, “It’s the tire itself.”  Consider if you will the weak spots being violence in the community, road rage, drug and alcohol use, truancy, runaways, teen pregnancies, and the list goes on.  Far too often, we throw money at the specific issue assuming this is the problem, when, in fact, I believe these are weak spots or symptoms.  The real problem, or the root, is rarely addressed.

Consider this; before you get help, you first have to realize you’re sick.  In other words, before an addict or alcoholic is ready for help, they must understand they are ill.  Before American society begins to move toward productive change, our society must first realize it has become wayward.  Are we sick and tired of being sick and tired?

Littleton, Colorado, April 20, 1999.  Another horrible day in American history.  How many more reality checks do we need before we are sick and tired of being sick and tired.  Once again, our reactive posture swings into gear.  After the tragedy, we begin to engage in dialogue.  But what concerns me the most is that I still hear the familiar ring of addressing the symptom instead of identifying the “root” or core of the problem.  Isn’t it time to send clear concise messages.  Let’s talk about what I think are the roots;

1. Let’s reinforce the importance of the family unit as the pulse of our community.
   
   
2. Return prayer not only to schools, but to our daily lives — I have always been taught to serve my God, my family, and my community.  I believe that we would not need any human laws if all human beings followed the 10 Commandments and the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous on a daily basis.
   
   
3. Instill in our young the importance of respect for themselves and others; teach them to respect      differences in cultures, gender, religion, etc.  Teach our children honor, responsibility, nobility. The best way I know how to teach children is through how we live our life as an adult role model. I learned many years ago that my son learned not only by spoken word, but by how my wife and I lived our life.
   
   
4. Instill the spirit of volunteerism in our children; expect that they reach out to those in need by giving a small part of themselves to community groups such as elderly, physically or mentally challenged, etc.
   
   
5. Instill values, ethics, dignity, and consistency in their daily lives.
   
   
6. Society must address the double messages we send our children…how can abortion be legal, yet   we put Dr. Kevorkian in jail.  How can life be any more precious at the end of the life cycle then it     is at the beginning?  Life is precious at all times and we need to send a consistent message.  Why can you find condoms in schools, but you can’t find a Bible?  Why do we stand to pledge our allegiance to a flag that we allow to be burned?  What respect does this create for the thousands of Americans who gave their life for us to be free.

The list is endless.  I know this.  You will never end the violence until you diminish or erase the venom from the inside.  When American society reaches the point when it is sick and tired of being sick and tired, the healing will begin.  I hope we are getting closer to that day.  I pray it is today.