Modern technology in warfare today has enabled the military in many jurisdictions to deliver an explosive device with such precision, that it could be programmed to target a particular bathroom in a large dwelling.

Such technology was used during the Iraqi conflict with significant success to weed out the enemy, even though there were occasions when something went wrong, and innocent lives were lost as a result of a device becoming an unguided missile. An unguided missile with a warhead of deadly explosives, is something feared by friendly forces and the enemy, because the target could be anyone in its flight path.

In many societies today there are too many social missiles wondering about without a proper guidance system. They can explode without notice with devastating results ,such as the recent tragic incident in Chicago, when a group of youngsters beat a teenager to death in full view of the public.

Police ran into a wall of silence as witnesses fearful of similar treatment, melted into the shadows claiming they saw nothing.

The big question popping up everywhere is how do so many young people reach a stage where violence becomes a way of life? In numerous debates following that incident by community officials, many words were exchanged over this or that programme needed to address the problem ,and whether sufficient funds have been allotted to support groups and also in the field of education.

Although there is merit in examining that part of the situation, perhaps not enough focus is being given to the role of parenting along with the overwhelming negative distractions that leave many young people with little or no hope for the future.

Millions of dollars have been spent on pumping out vicious, violent rap music, some of it celebrating the bashing of women and demeaning those who uphold codes of decency and standing up for what is right.

While every rapper should not be painted with one brush, few would deny that music laced with profanity could not possibly be a positive for any young mind. When youngsters mimic some rappers with enough chains around their neck to sink a container ship, and pants below their buttocks displaying underwear and nothing is said, it leaves the impression that such attire is accepted as part of the times.

Many parents have turned a blind eye to youngsters parading through their house with pants below their waist, writing it off as, 'Oh well that's the way they wear them these days'. Not in my house should be the code.

While Big Brothers & Big Sisters around the world along with other community groups do great work in trying to pick up the pieces from children lacking the attention they deserve, nothing under the sun can replace early guidance from a loving parent or guardian. In a world awash with materialistic madness and a get-it-any-way-you-can attitude, it is a major battle for any family to penetrate the onslaught of negativity in so many different forms, in order to keep good principles at the forfront of their lives.

Pouring millions of dollars into this or that programme to stem the tide of violence will not in itself solve the problem, although efforts to improve the situation must be encouraged.

However if as a society we continue to look the other way when a bad seed begins to develop, we should not be alarmed at harvest time. Bermuda cannot afford to remain asleep at the wheel as we drift further into increasing crime, often drug related, and more and more of our young people being lost in a sea of crumbling family life. Larger police stations and bigger prisons will not be the answer.

While proper education to cope with a changing world is vital, and must be a priority, the role of parenting must be viewed as the key to providing the foundation not only for good living, but also to ensure proper values are passed on to future generations.

Many of the older generation lacked the credentials floating around today, but they placed great emphasis on values such as discipline, respect, and decency and to coin an old phrase, they must be turning over at what seems to be happening today.

Social unguided missiles roaming about in our community remain a threat, and we can olny hope they can be defused before it is too late. Time is certainly not on our side.