To the Forum:Could the deaths of two junior class members have been avoided? Many of us are pondering the same question. Perhaps the security guard is thinking, “Maybe I should have stopped them from leaving campus.” A friend may be
To the Forum:Could the deaths of two junior class members have been
avoided?
Many of us are pondering the same question. Perhaps the security
guard is thinking, “Maybe I should have stopped them from leaving campus.” A
friend may be saying, “Maybe if I had only gone to look for them and have them
join us.” Perhaps Ryan is saying, “If only I had gone through Kapa’a Town
instead of the By-pass. A parent may be saying, “If only I had not allowed him
the use of the car.” There could be a number of “If only I had…” and “Maybe
Well, people, there really is no way of knowing when tragedy will
occur. So no matter how we try to rectify the outcome and make sense of the WHY
did it happen, there is nothing we can do to turn time around so the event will
not have happened. But there is someone who can make it better. It is Ke Akua,
who deserves all our praises and it should be Him to whom we all look for
guidance and comfort.
In today’s society many families have lost intimacy
with each other. Family meals are eaten in front of TVs or perhaps in fast food
restaurants. There is no more prayer time to start the day at school for our
children No wonder many of our children are making the wrong choices in their
every day activities.
Traditions, as I know them, are treasured moments
that are handed down through the years. As each generation grows, so do the
treasured memories. Having been born and raised in O’ahu I’ve never gone on
convoys, but I do recall my three sons talking about tooting horns through town
and Kaua’i High on their last day of school. It gave them some sense of pride,
as this was their last class function outside of graduation. Kainani, our
youngest daughter, had been looking forward to being part of the convoy. But
as fate would have it, no convoy was enjoyed and only a sense of loss for a
fellow school friend.
Yes. There may have been some unsafe driving and
school distractions, but does it warrant taking one’s school pride away?
Perhaps an off duty police officer could escort the convoy. Perhaps during the
last week of school there could be public announcements at each of the three
high schools, encouraging the seniors to be conscientious in all they do. If we
continue to take away from our young people they will have nothing to took
forward to. If safety is the issue then let;s look into how to make it better
so future class seniors will have this last chance to express their school
pride on their last day of school.
Proverb 22:6 says, “Train a child in the
way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Every parent
should take time out to pray over his or her children and to morally prepare
them to make good and safe choices. It all begins at home first, parents,
grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters, we all need to be pono with
Akua so our ‘opio will also be in synch. Let’s all begin to look into our own
hearts and be sure we’re living a righteous life so that His light will shine
the way.
Mahalo nui malama pono,
Marie M. Torio
Anahola
