As I read this story, I felt very sad at the attitudes of the teenagers and their parents. These three young people are being punished for doing horrible things to another Chinese teenager, and their response is that it’s their parents’ fault for not bringing them up better. Sure, that’s probably true, and a sad reflection on the parents and the modern society that allows this to happen, but it’s like the kids are trying to absolve themselves of all responsibility: “It’s not my fault I’m a horrible person, blame my parents, blame society.” This seems all too familiar and pervades Western attitudes to crime and punishment. Surely the truth is that we all have choices to make? We are strongly influenced by so many things, true, but when push comes to shove, or to kick, then we have the choice to make in that moment. No one else makes that choice for us, and we can choose a better way.
I'm a Christian, a physicist, a worshipper, a gamer, a husband and a father.