Empathy: Youth Participation in Today's Violence

From Michael Sahota - How to Express Empathy

I started reading a book (fiction) this morning that got me to thinking.  The story is about a teen girl suffering crippling mental dreams/images who is at a new school.  She has a raging mentally ill, alcoholic mother, a caregiver father who has taken a lower paying job to be at home more, and they now live in a substandard apartment - all they can afford.  She has 2 sisters who cannot (or do not want to) live in the household. 

The story starts out with the main character being nearly raped at a wild party, saved by a male student with "psychic powers" who later in the evening gets into a terrible, almost to the death, fight with the perpetrator. 

What was through provoking is, that at the party, there were so many exuberant, youthful shouts of "kill him, stomp him" as the perpetrator kicks the guy who saved the girl, and co-partiers instantly facebook/twitter photo shots immediately to the web.

Later, the story morphs to the Salem Witch hunts and audience screams of "kill the witch" while those who dared say nothing stood by in agonizing silence, lest they be branded as a witch.

My mind started analyzing and thinking about empathy in our society. Empathy is the capacity to recognize emotions that are being experienced by another person. One may need to have a certain amount of empathy before being able to experience accurate sympathy or compassion.

I did a quick Google search and came up with this article: Prevention of Antisocial and Violent Behavior in Youth: A Review of the Literature.  Not earth shattering, but in conclusion, "If the public, including private citizens, educators, researchers, mental health professionals, policy makers, church officials, and business leaders all take ownership of the pervasive problem of youth antisocial and violent behavior, and galvanize efforts, perhaps our communities can become safer and more healthy environments for all citizens."  Violence Article.

The Ladies Culture Club

The Ladies Culture Club logo - by Marcia Norstebon Davis

A few years ago a was wishing I had friends to go with me to cultural events.  I had studied Shakespeare and English Literature in college and loved going to an occasional play.  Then I thought, "I have a whole pool of female friends in my sisters, in-laws, daughter, etc."  So, I called it the "Ladies Culture Club" and started recruiting for events.

Year One, several of us went to an afternoon showing of Hamlet, the last show at the old Guthrie in Minneapolis, MN.   We always laugh and will never forget, as Hamlet's mother Gertrude picks up the glass of poisoned wine toward the end, a lady in front of us shrieked, "Don't Drink It!"  (Alas, she had no impact and Gertrude died an agonizing death, as did most everyone else). Afterwards we went to dinner at (Rock Bottom Brewery?), then drove back to my place (3.5+ hrs), exhausted but happy.  Sandy, Mary, Marcia, (who all went?)

Year Two:  I believe that was the year The Wedding Singer came to the Orpheum.  I was so excited because I loved Adam Sandler in the movie version.  Well, suffice it to say, it was worse than any "Beach Blanket Bingo" or bad '60's teen movie.  Still, we had fun just being together.  We had dinner at the same restaurant as year one, Rock Bottom Brewery.  (Yes, downtown Minneapolis...we certainly had more choices!).  Nevertheless, it was a fun time...back on the road that night to my house. Marcia, Mary and ....

Year Three:  CATS! with grandson Ian & daughter Brenda.  Enjoyed it.  Brenda said Seattle version was better. Went to Mall of America and had lunch at Tiger Sushi.

Year Four:  Jesus Christ Superstar with the original actor, Ted Neely on his final tour.  Attendees: Mary, Becky, Karen, Kim and Sara I think; Marcia and Brenda,  That was the year we ate at Hells Kitchen.

Year Five:  The Phantom of the Opera (who went and where did we eat?)

WAIT!  Somewhere in here we had SPA DAY at Sorrelas in Perham, MN.  Wine, snacks and ladies drew their SPA treat out of a hat.   Mary, Becky, Karen, Sara, Kim, Brenda and Darcy. MAybe it's NINE YEARS.  ?

Year Six:  Firefly Ballet in Duluth - Minnesota Ballet. I had never gone to a ballet before.  The main show "Firefly" was enjoyable, the lead in events were, alas, very amateurish. Tour of the Glensheen mansion was absolutely fabulous!   Shopping was fun.  Dinner was rather forgettable ( I made a bad choice, my dinner was pancake syrup, pecans, (figs?) and some kind of meat-they did NOT go together),  the company was great, breakfast was absolutely fabulous at Duluth's (cannot recall the name).  Becky and Ryan recommended it: 2-thumbs up.  Becky was a great chauffeur.  Loved walking around & shopping. Attendees: Brenda, Trista, Sammie, Mary, Becky,

Marcia tries out for the Firefly Ballet...

Year Seven:  "The Gangster Tour" in St. Paul with a Limousine Service.  What a HOOT! Marcia, Carol, Judy and Brenda attended.  The hotel we stayed at was fabulous (one day I will remember the name) and we had a great dinner downtown Minneapolis at McCormick & Schmicks.

Year Eight (or Nine): "Mary Poppins" at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, Chanhassen MN with Mary, Becky, Brenda and Kim.  A wonderful show, great dinner and a good time shopping the next day.

Chanhassen Dinner Theater art

In the interim I have gone with Bailey & daughter Allie and my friend Lori to Romeo and Juliet at the Detroit Lakes, MN Shakespeare in the Park.  Brenda and I went to Pride and Prejudice at the Guthrie in 2013.  Next time I want to go to some boutiques shopping so we find something unique.

Years 9-12?:  Pride and Prejudice at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis with Brenda; Camelot at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater with Brenda; David, Sue and I went to the Chanhassen for the musical Grease and the same weekend they took me to the Renaissance Festival for my first time! I Hate Hamlet with cousin Judy at the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater & The Shining with Brenda, same place. I still want to go to an OPERA.

Now that I write this down, I am so thankful for the ladies in my family and our friends.  It's always a good time!

2016:It's been a while

It's been a while since I blogged anything.  Sometimes one of my blog articles shows up and I re-read it, enjoying it and taking a walk down memory lane.

I really don't have much to say.  We are living our life.  Our grandson is staying with us for a finite period of time and is getting ready to move out. (meaning we set a timeframe).   I wish him well, whatever path he decides to take in life.  It has been enjoyable having him here. I worry about him being lonely.

Bruce and I are headed to St. Paul, MN January 15, 2016 to attend a MN WILD vs Winnipeg Jets Hockey game and a pleasant night at the St. Paul Hotel.  We did this a couple years ago and had such a nice time.

Lillehammer area photo: Hafjell area, surrounding the town of Lillehammer

Bruce and I will be leaving on a trip August-September.  We fly to Oslo, Norway, visit family in the Lillehammer area, then take the train to Bergen where we get on a Viking Cruise to wander the Baltic region.  Aug 14-20 travel needs to be firmed up.

Early flight to Norway before Viking cruise leaves Aug 20.

• Aug (14? TBD):  2016 fly from Minneapolis MN to Oslo, Norway
• Aug 15-16 Oslo; night train to Lillehammer?
• Aug 17-20 Lillehammer, Norway visit with cousins.  Book hotel in Lillehammer; perhaps rent car.
• Aug  20- night train from Lillehammer to Bergen.

Viking Star - our cruise ship.  She entered service April 2015

Itinerary: Viking Homelands on the Viking Star. Sail date Aug 21, 2016
Stateroom 3060 outside, Deluxe Veranda 6.  Cruise Booking # 4001790

• Aug 21 - 22: Bergen on Viking ship, depart 6PM, Aug 22
• Aug 23: Flam, Norway
• Aug 24: Stavanger, Norway
• Aug 25: Alborg, Denmark
• Aug 26: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Aug 27: Berlin, Germany
• Aug 28: Gdansk, Poland
• Aug 29: Cruise Baltic
• Aug 30: Tallin, Estonia
• Aug 31-Sep 1: St. Petersburg,Russia
• Sep 1-2?: Stockholm, Sweden - fly back to Minneapolis, MN

This "Viking Journey" will be highlight of our year.  We return home to Dent, MN Sep 3.

As I check on the Viking Star cruise, all the amenities are available: SPA (yes, I will be having a massage), specialty restaurants, the Aquavit Terrace bar by the pool; 24 hour room service; entertainment: theater, shows, etc.  We have TV, WiFi and standard 110-120 electrical outlets.

While on this trip, sis Carol and I will plan future travel events she and I will go on, after I retire.