EDITOR'S MESSAGE
 
Our Editor explores Youth Violence
 

 
Paul Mauchline, Director
The Art of Loving Institute
 
Other Memo's
 
September, 2001
Our World Under Attack

August, 2001
The most important keys to having a mature, loving relationship
 
June, 2001
Our insatiable thirst for knowledge and advice about SEX
 
May, 2001
Spring that magical season that inspires love
 
April, 2001
Youth Violence
 
Feb., 2001
Valentine's Day
 
Dec., 2000
The Power of Words
 
Sept, 2000
The Importance of Gratitude
 
June, 2000
The Lessons of Love are the Greatest Gifts we can give Ourselves and Others
 
April, 2000
The Art of Loving and
The Culture of Peace Are In Our Hands
 
Dec, 1999
Millennium Message from The Art of Loving
 

April 2001
 
Dear Friends,
 
My thoughts of late have been consumed by the alarming, ever increasing wave of youth violence we are witnessing around the world.
 
I am writing this editorial from a major North American metropolis that I am currently visiting. Over the past week as is my custom, I find a busy coffee shop to enjoy a couple of cups of coffee, watch people, and read the morning papers. Since leaving my island home a week ago on my travels, it seems every newspaper and magazine I pick up has some article related to youth violence. What is interesting, most of these articles do not appear on the front page, and get buried at the back, or hidden in some sub section.
 
Is this how we choose to deal with this problem, by burying and ignoring this problem that is plaguing the youth of the world.!!!!
 
In researching the statistics I truly got sick to my stomach to find out that in the United States alone there have been 16 incidents of murder since 1996 in schools. These are just incidents in schools, never mind all the other acts of violence being performed on the streets of our communities. Over 40 people have died, and countless others injured in these murderous acts of violence. Again these are just U.S. stats in schools. I would hate to see the overall statistics, just for the United States. Today I explore this issue, but what about the suicide rate among our young people. This is another problem that we ignore and gets buried behind what media considers more news worthy stories.
 
In Canada two years ago, two of our young people lost their lives to a 14-year-old gunman. In November of 2000, seventeen-year-old Samer Jaber lost his life after being stabbed numerous times in the entrance foyer to his Calgary high school. As recently as last month in Calgary, Grade 12 student Biran Lambert was attacked by another youth while walking home from school. Lambert was one of the lucky ones, and survived a punctured kidney and serious head laceration. Each day around the world there are lucky ones like Lambert who survive, but there are so many that do not survive, their young lives extinguished senselessly by some disturbed classmate or friend.
 
On March 05, 2001, President George Bush condemned the recent high school shooting in California. He described the incident as, "a disgraceful act of cowardice." He went on to say, "the best prevention is to teach children right from wrong."
 
With all due respect to President Bush for he is entitled to his opinion, I feel we cannot judge another, as we do not walk in their shoes. None of us have any idea of what is going through the minds of any of these young people that perform these murderous acts. We cannot assume that these children are cowards. We have not the foggiest idea of the torment and emotional pain that many of these youths have endured that led them to performing these unacceptable acts of violence. So let us stop labelling them as cowards right now. There are far better descriptive words to describe these children, other then calling them cowards.
 
In my opinion Fear is what drives these children to a path to violence. There is a big lack of Love in the world today, which has filtered down to our youth. It is about time the population of the world starts recognizing this fact, and starts doing something about it now. It is up to all of us to remedy this situation now. The solution is not screaming at our government officials, and schoolteachers for more counsellors, and therapists. This is just one preventive measure that should have been addressed long ago. It is our duty as citizens of the world to set an example of love to our children, and to watch for any troubling signs that we may witness amongst our young people.
 
In his book, "The Prophet", Kahlil Gibran tells us.
 
" Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you, and yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love, but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward, not tarries with yesterday."
 
Let us all stop burying this problem today, and get over our own fears. Start today by becoming more aware of what is going on in the lives of our youth, and setting an example of love that they can follow.
 
Wishing you all an epic and loving day from my travels in Western Canada.
 
Paul Mauchline, Editor
 

 
Five years ago Paul Mauchline launched an in depth North American phase of research into,"LEARNING TO KEEP LOVE IN YOUR LIFE." His new dynamic workshop series, The Art of Loving ™, promises to help you learn the skills you need to succeed in a lasting, loving relationship.
 
He is the founder and director of The Art of Loving Institute based in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, British West Indies.
 
"I'm a researcher, writer, and speaker -- not an accredited counselor or therapist. The purpose of my life's work has been to get people to recognize that LOVE TAKES KNOWLEDGE & EFFORT. The purpose of my articles, soon to be released book, and workshop series is to provide a foundation of skills that will open doors to establish and enhance a more loving attitude towards oneself and others."
 
"THE ART OF LOVING WORKSHOP PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING A MORE PASSIONATE AND COMMITTED LOVING LIFE."