When I was a kid, my mother was a Block Mother. She volunteered to have a bright orange and blue symbol in the front window of our home, indicating that a child in trouble would be safe there. The qualification? She had to apply for Block Mother status with the local school, and not work during the day. In other words, she had to undergo a vetting by the school and be likely to be home during the days.
With the increased fear of child abduction and crimes against children, what happened to Block Mothers? Seems to me, that the more we have embraced technolgy to be in touch with the people we KNOW through cell phones and Blackberries, the less we get to know the people we DON'T KNOW. I can't tell you how many families on my street don't even know my name, or have spoken to me...and I'm an outgoing person and their HOA President!!!
There seems to be a lack of community involvement in our Northern Virginia area for the people who need it most...families with young children. Though I don't have kids of my own, the parents on the street that do know me are aware that I work from home, and keep an eye out for the neighbors...including kids. We keep each other informed of anything out of the ordinary, and I like that sense of community.
When I was young, my family knew just about everyone up and down the block. That meant that Mom had eyes EVERYWHERE. If my brother or I were screwing up anywhere in the neighborhood, someone would be on the phone with Mom ratting us out. It was a network that could not be defeated.
I guess the point of this post is just to poing out that in our technological quest for faster and more immediate connectivity, many are missing the most vital connectivity...the connection to our neighbors. That is what makes a community strong. And that neighborhood connectivity is what should be a first line of defense for would-be criminals.
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