YGN

UNVEILING REBELLION

Many parents are in tears. But these tears are concealed in the innermost parts of their hearts. They chat, laugh, socialize, wear gorgeous clothes, go for religious seminars; but beneath the façade lies their hurting aching souls… their children have gone astray. Our society thrives on pretences. People act as though they had their acts together just because they want to impress their friends and foes. Teachers and lecturers complain bitterly about the uncouth mannerisms, impropriety and contemptuous attitudes of today's youths. Employers are equally complaining. They find it difficult to cope with the nonchalant and unbecoming attitudes of the youths in their employment. The youths on their part cannot comprehend what they perceive as the petty, unfair and illogical reasoning of the adults around them. As a result, there is constant acrimony, strife, resentment and pent-up anger brewing in families, schools and offices; between the youths and those in positions of authority. As the saying goes, "there is no fire without a smoke". Let's examine this all important issue of rebellion… with a cross-section of opinions.

WHY REBELLION?

Natural Phenomenon
Every child has an innate rebellious streak. In fact, I consider rebellion as a natural human phenomenon. Nobody wants to be told what to do, or controlled by another. We all cherish and appreciate our freedom. However, children need to realize that God allowed different levels of authority so that there can be order in our lives. What goes around comes around because one might be a youth today, and become a parent tomorrow. The bottom line is that there should be mutual understanding. There should be open communication between parents and their offspring, teachers and their students, employers and employees, etc. Adults should be more patient and take the pains to discuss or explain contentious issues with the youths. Youths should also acknowledge and respect the wisdom and authority of the adults around them. This can be achieved through objective dialogue. -Enuma

Insensitivity of Adults
Most adults think too much of themselves. They treat younger ones shabbily as if they are not human beings. When they want to give instructions, they yell and speak in very harsh tones forgetting that the youths also have feelings. I think the adults are to blame for rebellion in youths because any adult that respects himself and lives a disciplined life will be respected in return. There is every need for dialogue between youths and adults for better understanding and co-operation. -Chioma

Devilish Spirit
It is the devil that makes youths rebellious because rebellion is a devilish spirit and a sin punishable by eternal damnation. There is no difference between a rebel and a witch. Youths must realize that it is important for them to obey and respect authority so that they can make progress in life. The truth is that any child that is rebellious to authority will eventually be destroyed unless he repents and changes his evil ways. -Akerele

Peer Pressure
This is the greatest of all reasons for rebellion in youths. One cannot downplay the overriding influence of peer groups because these are the people the youths socialize and interact with on a regular basis. Our schools, especially secondary schools and university campuses have become breeding grounds for all kinds of rebellious activities such as cultism, robbery, prostitution, lesbianism, homosexually and the likes. Parents should be extremely careful about the kinds of schools their children and wards attend because children could be badly influenced by negative environmental exposure. -Dada

Child Abuse
Child abuse is the underlying reason for rebellion. I agree that it is important for youths to respect authority, but remember that in life, there are always exceptions to rules. For instance, how do you expect a young girl to obey and respect a father or uncle who abuses her sexually? I recommend rebellion in this case! So also, when a young person is harassed sexually by his or her boss at the office, how should they react? Look, we are human beings and I think it is high time we spoke the truth to ourselves. When adults behave irresponsibly, the youths in their custody will definitely rebel against them. -Mary

Poor Upbringing
The reason for rebellion in my opinion is not far-fetched. When you train a child in the way of the Lord, when he grows up, that child exhibits godly traits such as good manners, respect for authority and positive behaviour. When parents fail to inculcate the right values in their children from childhood, or fail to mentor them properly, what you have is rebellious youths and criminals in the society. Poor and negligent upbringing is the root cause of rebellion. -Tony

No Love Lost
Lack of love is what makes youths prone to rebellion. A home where there is no love between husband and wife or parents and children, is very likely to breed maladjusted youths. Of course, rebellion is the offshoot of such families. When a child knows that he or she is genuinely loved and appreciated, that child is more likely to grow into a stable and responsible individual. Child abuse and undue molestation will definitely breed rebellion in youths. -Funmi

Poverty
The inability of parents to cater adequately for their children is an underlying reason for rebellion. Just imagine a home where children are unkempt, hungry and sick; yet the parents are still breeding more children, what do you expect? It is very easy for children from such homes to become outlaws. Poverty and corruption in the polity is the reason why you have many rebellious youths who have no regard for their parents or for the laws of the land.

Over pampering
Youths who are over pampered or spoilt by their parents could turn out rebellious at the end of the day. If you spare the rod or withhold rebuke, you spoil the child. When parents fail to correct wrongdoing, nipping negative traits at the bud, they make the children grow into insensitive and irresponsible individuals. Whilst I acknowledge that children need love, bad behaviour and indiscipline in children should not be tolerated otherwise these same children will end up spitting in their parents' faces. -A.A

Poor Orientation
Some youths are stubborn and simply impossible. They are proud and think that their parents and teachers are archaic and old-fashioned. I agree that the world is changing, but that should not erode positive values such as good manners, godliness and respect for elders. Today's youths definitely need a total re-orientation. The greater part of the blame goes to parents who fail to teach their children and wards simple good manners and humility. -M.A

Hard Rules Too Difficult to Obey
Many adults are rigid in their thinking, particularly parents. They expect the younger generation to behave and dress like them in drab frumpy clothes. In-as- much-as youths should be guided aright, adults should not provoke the youths by creating unnecessary hard rules which are very difficult to obey. They should give the younger generation some breathing space to express themselves as long as the liberty is within acceptable boundaries. Otherwise the youths could rebel and go overboard. -Moradisu.

Dearth of Role Models
Our country was rated one of the most corrupt nations of the world and I think the reasons are not far-fetched. Our leaders sing and preach transparency, yet they are the most corrupt citizens in the country. They squander public funds, provide little or no incentives to the common man in the streets, yet they say they want to wipe out corruption. The reason why today's youths are very rebellious is because they have no role models to look up to. The so called adults, who should be good examples to them, have failed to live up to their responsibilities. -Nana

Parental Misdemeanour
Parents are the number one teachers of their children. They are more or less the ones their children imitate. Unfortunately, most parents are a complete disgrace to the family unit. They fight and abuse each other in the presence of their children. Some smoke cigarettes, take alcohol, womanize, tell lies, steal, kill and indulge in corrupt practices; and their children are privy to these! Parents are the chief culprit as far as rebellion in youths is concerned. -Buchi.

Child Labour
Children who are sent off to the streets to hawk and fend for themselves often turn out to be rebellious. This is because they are exposed to all kinds of dangers at an early age such as rape, brutality, accidents, injury, harassment and so on. As a result, they mature faster than their peers and feel they no longer need any adult trying to control them. When parents of such children attempt to enforce discipline, they are met with opposition and such children could openly confront, beat, or even kill their parents. -Leonard

THE FINAL WORD
The family has a pivotal role to play in curbing rebellion in youths. Parents and guardians must wake up from their slumber and fully embrace their responsibilities. Discipline should be the watch-word in schools and institutions of learning. Our leaders need to lead by good example and minimize rhetoric. And the role of prayers in all this cannot be overemphasized. The youths need to be pointed back to their creator!!!