Reader comments
John Florez: Best groups help youths build positive character

Although the groups listed are certainly worthy and helpful, I am disappointed that no mention is made of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Boy Scouts have provided so much, to so many youths (of all ethnicity and economic backgrounds) that they certainly deserved mention.

Especially when they are being attacked by the forces of political correctness.

I am a little sad, that the influences of good parents, good churches, and the good examples of decent young people were not at least acknowledged.

It seems that we take the worst youth and demand they be shown respect when they have not earned it. They need first to be respecting of others.

I would however afford them the basic respect of not calling them "kids". Kids are little animals. I would first raise their sights by calling them young people and hold them accountable for their actions. Then I would afford them more respect when they start to think of others as well as themselves.

Then again I don't really think that most of us do consider all "youth" as bad' we recognize that many are good. I think more might be done to acknowledge and extol good where we find it. When we give so much attention to the worst, and relatively little to the best we may take away some of the incentive to be good.

Decent young people need occasional encouragement, while those who are most selfish should not have their self-centredness fed by constant special attention