I Don't Care

 

Most people today will tell you that our youth are in crisis. As to the nature of that crisis, you will find many different opinions. Some may think it is a lack of proper education. Students are programmed more than they are taught. They are told what to think rather than thinking for themselves. Still, others will tell you that it is the highly negative culture we live in that has robbed them of and sense of caring or concern for others. Or perhaps it is a mixture of the two, as singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett said, “Is it ignorance or apathy? Hey, I don't know, and I don't care.”

 

It has long concerned me that young people are so apathetic about life. Whether that is due to the changes of the teen years, the negative culture (which does bombard them daily), or the hopelessness that has infiltrated our education system can be debated. One of the goals of Scouting has been to help young people become healthy and active citizens who care about their country, community, neighborhood, and themselves.

 

 “Science may have found a cure for most evils, but it has no remedy for the worst of

 them all – the apathy of human beings.”

Helen Keller

1880-1968

Author

 

Apathy is an illness that has devastating effects on its victims. It robs us of all joy and positive thoughts. Apathy brings with it a sense of hopelessness that destroys ambition and hinders those who suffer from it from any self-improvement. The harmful effects of apathy are intensified in the young and, if not combated, can lead to lives of depression, addiction, and even suicide.

 

It is easy to see the Scout Oath & Law as simple guidelines for good little boys and girls; however, it is far more than that. When young people build a sense of personal pride in their behavior and care about what is right and wrong, they quickly learn to care for others and the state of the world they live in. That caring is the cure for apathy. Those who care about others and themselves never are apathetic. You cannot care and not care at the same time.

 

Teaching our young to have good character and maintain a healthy value system is more than keeping them out of trouble. It is helping them see a sense of purpose. We teach them that caring for others is more than a way to keep the peace; it is a way to help people survive. The next time someone tells you they don’t care, listen to what they say. Our response can never be, “If you don’t care, then I don’t care.” Let them know that you care very much, and perhaps that will help them to care as well.

 

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development Coach, and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business, or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2020 John Patrick Hickey