The youth of today are totally consumed with themselves, their hand-held electronics, their cars and their clothes. Today’s youth have been born into a world that is fast-paced and always in a frantic hurry. It appears there isn’t any room for patience or compassion for the older generation. The youths of today are spoiled with fast food places on every corner and desensitized by all of the violence happening all around them on a daily basis. It comes as no surprise that the youth of today are lacking compassion.

Compassion is an element of concern, understanding and deeply caring about other people. It’s obvious, the youth of today are not concerned and could care less about what other people think, feel or say about their characters or rude behaviors. Most youth view their lack of compassion as a badge of honor or an act of rebellion against the older generation and those people who appear different from them. How many times have you heard a youth exclaim, “I don’t care or I don’t give a damn.”?

It’s easy to spot these youths on the street. They might push you aside to get to their shiny fast car or tail gate you as you drive down the street. They seem to have no respect or consideration for other people. One might wonder, what is causing our youth to act in this manner. Most youths have been taught the golden rule. Alas, it is difficult to teach someone how to be compassionate towards others. 

The environment of the youths today seem to idolize a tough demeanor. The bad boys and the bullies are viewed as cool by some youths. Well, its not cool to bully anyone and it’s definitely not cool to lack compassion if someone is being bullied or made fun of.

Far too many times, we have heard stories of youths taking their own lives because of other youths taunting them and bullying them. It’s a heinous, cruel, sadistic act to drive someone to take their own life because they were lacking in compassion of their pain or circumstance.

Someone without compassion is usually someone that is void of feelings and often void of love. Compassion is a hard lesson to learn. More than likely you might have compassion for the homeless if you were ever homeless. You might have compassion for starving people, if you were ever starving. A youth might have compassion for a gay youth if they were ever ridiculed and threatened by others.

Compassion is an experience that is developed with wisdom, discernment and genuinely caring about other people.