Three years ago today my dear niece walked inside my parents’ house upset in tears.

She said, “Someone told me my daddy had been killed.” Our beloved Charles Edward was gone too soon by yet another senseless act of violence. It has become very apparent to me that we as humans beings differ extensively in disposition habits education and religion that our aspects of looking at life vary.

Nonetheless, every individual should exercise self-control, forbearance and empathy. It also seems self-evident that our ideas regarding the conduct of life are not in all respects the same.

Human nature is so frail, ignorant and so accountable to misconception to the extent that we all should be careful in the estimate placed upon one another.

In other words, what we do or say, we may regard as minimal at that moment.

Yet, if our eyes are opened enough, we’d see that it depends upon the result of good or evil.

In today’s society, we’re kidding ourselves if we think associating with the wrong crowd won’t influence our children. The city of Natchez’s youth, especially in the African-American community, have fallen into a chain of habits that started out too weak to be felt until too strong to be broken.

A good home, where parents or parent discipline children at an early stage of childhood, produces peace within.

Morality and immorality are habits. In some cases both are caught more than taught. There are times when a good boy or girl will find themselves inadvertently exposed to a situation whereas they’ll be drawn to a group of peers that present drug experimentation, premarital sex, drunkenness, gang affiliation and weapons.

Although at first there is initial objection and hesitance, just the peer pressure alone that he or she is subjected to will more than likely begin to appeal to them.

As more contact occurs, there you have it, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

The human mind is a marvelous, flexible mechanism. It can adjust and rationalize in any situation.

When children come from broken homes, alone or inactive, they seem to lose their way. They experience sadness, a breakdown of motivation, leading to some senseless deed, ending up in prison or loss of life at an early age.

In my opinion, a poor self-image of parental reluctance to discipline a child more than likely creates a problem for parent and child.

This matter can become the first step of children losing respect for parent’s as well as other authority. It can lead to rebellion to the extent of acting out negative behavior committing 40 to 45 percent of serious crimes.

Youth or adults in a destructive situation or environment long enough will go from objection to acceptance, leading to participation.

Life is truly an echo, because what you send out comes back; what you sow, you reap. The sad truth is much of it can be averted, starting by simply caring enough.

Our youth need assurance that they are somebody, because God doesn’t take time to make nobody when we learn how much we matter to God, we don’t have to go out and show the world.

The hour is late, but it’s not too late to reverse the change our children are falling victim to.

We as African Americans need to stop destroying our people and make ourselves important to one another. We are a race of many who exemplify strength from the roots of our ancestors and if for any other reason let’s let us live life to pride ourselves from the very people that are the reason we’re here.

My people of color, let us give our children a purpose to always pride themselves of their heritage.

Martin wanted this for us. God wants this for us. The ball has always been in our court.

Let’s love one another, forgive one another, so that we can all walk through the pearly gates hearing Jesus say “Well done, my Child and faithful servant.”

Shirley Knight Campbell,

Natchez resident