By Harold Keller / L’Observateur / August 10, 1998

Last Sunday, after church, my wife and I, along with my daughter-in-law, Monica, and her children, Amber, Mattie, Kane and Kameron, went to Sicily’s to eat. The buffet is not only good, but a bargain at the price. Theservice is great and the owners, Eric and Rhonda, are personal friends. Asusual, I like to sit by the window because, being a curious person, I can see what’s going on inside and outside.

As we were enjoying our lunch, two young men walked past the place. Bothhad their pants disgustingly low with their boxer shorts showing at least six to eight inches above their pants. Needless to say, they reallyaggravated me. “No respect,” I thought. “There should be a law againstsuch behavior.” Not only no respect for themselves, but also no respect forthe people in the community. I quickly forgot about the incident andenjoyed my visit with Monica and my grandchildren.

This past Tuesday, I heard on the Baton Rouge news that the chief of police in Opelousas had just declared war on young people displaying the behavior I had witnessed Sunday. He ordered his department to givetickets to anyone who displayed such indecent dress. The following day, Iunderstand that seven citations were given to the young men in his area for indecent exposure. The fine would be as much as $100.The people interviewed applauded the chief. One young man interviewed onthe news who was ticketed said that it was an invasion of his privacy.

Invasion of privacy? I’ll telll you what it sounds like to me! It sounds like the authorities in Opelousas were saying, “Enough is enough!” The law-abiding citizens have rights, too. We have the right to walk on ourstreets without being embarrassed by the lewd dress of some disrespectful young people. If I sound like I’m being too tough on thatgroup of people, in their defense, let me say that they are crying out for love and attention. That chief of police is definitely getting theirattention.

Many years ago, I read a national poll which stated that 87 percent of teen-agers wish their parents would discipline them more. Yes, I knowthat with the breakdown of the famly, half of our young people don’t have good family role models. For that reason, I think we, as a community, mustreach out to a lonely, lost and hurting generation. Somehow, I honestlybelieve that the young people in Opelousas are glad that the chief of police is taking a hard stand.

I am reminded of what the Bible says about correction in Proverbs 3:11- 12: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”That chief of police must really love his community, including the rebellious young people.

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

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