The issue of young black males and anti social behaviour, has been tossed about in our community for quite some years, and too often, instead of homing in on the real causes, there is a tendency to resort to excuses, rather than face the reality that the home is where it usually starts.

Placing blame on past injustices or even the press, amounts to clamouring for an excuse to avoid an unpleasant truth. We as a society seem at times to be stuck in the mud, when it comes to youth problems and what should be done about them.

One can debate or discuss this subject until the cows come home, but until the truth is confronted, we will be doing nothing more than playing the usual word games, on a highly sensitive matter, that requires a clear and honest approach.

Perhaps there is something we can learn from the Apollo 13 incident, after all most of us agree, we do have a problem. But with Apollo 13, there was no room or time for excuses. For those who may not remember, this Nasa space craft developed a life threatening problem on a mission to the moon back in 1970.

The crew were saved as a result of brilliant team work and sheer determination, to find a solution to what seemed at first, a hopeless dilemma. Here in Bermuda, lives could depend on what we do, or fail to do, in trying to redirect some of our young people, who have chosen a path that can only lead to a negative existence, and possibly something worse.

Many of us who have witnessed the downturn of behaviour patterns over the years, know only too well why so many young black males of the past became successful citizens despite disadvantages and social injustice of that period. It certainly was not through finding excuses for failure. Fortunately it was a time when the family structure had a strong foundation of important values.

Mothers, especially in the black community, played a vital role in the home during challenging times. Many of these women faced a Mount Everest of problems daily, but still managed to instill good life values that rose above negative social conditions of the day.

Although many of these people have since gone to their rewards, they left their mark, through those who were willing to stay the course, knowing a positive outlook in life, eventually leads to positive results. This is why as a community we should refrain from using the excuse machine, which could play into the hands of those who feel justified in negative conduct, placing the blame on everyone else, except themselves.

Politicians, the Police, and the community will not be able to solve youth problems over night, but it will take much longer if we adopt a tip toe through the tulips approach.

A key word in seeking a solution is discipline which is missing in so much of our community life today. Without it, there is no building of character or respect for others. It is a quality essential in daily living. When discipline, love and good parenting are absent during the crucial early years, trying to make corrections later, is similar to putting a new roof on a house with shaky walls and a poor foundation. It will cover things only for a while.

Unlike years ago, today the family unit is confronted with a multitude of distractions through massive communication technology where cell phone use and texting are second only to breathing for many young people.

This creates further difficulties for parents trying to maintain control at a time when discipline itself seems a lost art. The vulnerable often slip through the cracks. The Bermuda Regiment in the eyes of many in this country could very well be the last stop for some young men and women, who otherwise would never know the real meaning of discipline.

Not everyone will agree with that assessment, but I believe no matter what one may feel about military service, most would agree that discipline is what keeps any army together. Most Bermudians are proud of the Regiment and what it has done for many young men. In fact this is evidenced by the lively applause they receive whenever they are on parade. In other words, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

While acknowledging that we have serious youth problems, we should also highlight the many young black and white males working side by side daily trying to build a better Bermuda. There is no denying that over the years there had been significant progress in our social climate, and things continue to improve.

No, everything is not perfect. However if we focus more on solutions instead of excuses, we might make better headway in tackling youth problems of the day. At the same time we must be mindful that there is no substitute for positive early parenting.

Trying to revive discipline as we once knew it is more than a great challenge, but teamwork involving every section of our community might make a difference. If team work resulted in success for Apollo 13, we as a community should be willing to give that method a try. The quality of life in Bermuda for future generations could depend on how we meet that challenge.