Dear Editor,
You can tell a lot about the strength or weakness of a nation by the way young people treat senior citizens.
Recently, a friend of mine went out to eat at a Thai restaurant on Mandela Avenue, located next to a gas station. While dining, he noticed a group of students from a nearby school hanging out in the same establishment. One of the students approached my friend rudely, demanding money. Naturally, my friend refused due to the student’s disrespectful tone.
Moments later, without further provocation, one of the students struck him in the head with a bottle. Shocked and injured, my friend reported the incident to the police. However, he was informed that no action could be taken because the assailant was a minor.
It appears that, in our nation, the rights of minors can sometimes overshadow the rights and safety of our senior citizens. If my friend had retaliated, he could have faced serious repercussions, potentially being accused of child abuse. But when a minor assaults an elder, it seems nothing can be done because of the child’s age. This raises an important question: what are we teaching our youth if they feel emboldened to harm others without consequence?
This situation is a warning to all senior citizens. If you find yourself near a group of unsupervised schoolchildren, it may be best to leave the area for your own safety. Furthermore, establishments frequented by school children should consider enforcing stricter policies against loitering and, where possible, providing security to protect their patrons.
Our laws should protect the vulnerable, regardless of age. It’s time to revisit how we enforce accountability, even for young offenders, to build a safer, more respectful society for everyone.
I don’t ever waste time reporting anything to the police.
Sincerely,
Anthony Pantlitz
