22 and Gone: A Nation’s Funeral March

 22 and Gone: A Nation’s Funeral March 

 

How Indifference, Lawlessness, and Failed Systems Claim Another Young Life - And Why We’re All to Blame 

 

Who are we, truly?  

He was just 22.  

Once a student, not mine, but someone’s.  

He died in the schoolyard—the how and why don’t matter now. What matters is that he’s gone.  

No explosion is needed to see that Cyprus is collapsing from within, its cracks illuminated by the fires of Easter - our twisted new revolution. The same scenes replay yearly: chaos dressed up as tradition, violence paraded like holiday cheer, hollowness drowned out by the crackle of cheap fireworks.  

These packs of young men, gang-like, fueled by adrenaline and tribal loyalty, are no accident. They are the inevitable result of a broken formula: half-hearted attention to their emotional needs, the absence of real guidance, and boundaries erased in the name of "progressive" parenting. Our own special recipe for failure. We told them they could build their lives on sand, that every impulse deserved indulgence.  

The state, meanwhile, drifts without direction - laws exist but are enforced only when convenient. The fear of backlash trumps duty. The reckless, boundaryless youth have become the new ideal citizen - the one we dare not challenge. "Give the child what it wants!" "It demands fireworks? Buy a hundred! Who cares about the cost?" "You object? Mind your own business - my child, my rules! I used to do the same when young!" The state operates the same way: "My voters, my allies, my interests - stay out of it!" And so, it ceases to govern. It exists only to please.  

Society, the most passive audience of all, watches from the comfort of its couch. It clutches tissues, orders takeout, and wraps itself in a blanket, sighing as another young life is lost, shocked by fingers blown off by fireworks (though not in the occupied areas, so no real concern). Then it sleeps soundly. After all, it bears no guilt. It didn’t participate - it merely observed.  

Wake up, society. Wake up, state. Stop begging for approval and start acting. Take a stand - not in empty debates, but in the streets, the schools, the neighborhoods. Lawlessness - whether it’s bonfires or vandalism - is no longer the outlier. It’s the norm. And this system no longer builds citizens - it breeds opportunists.  

A 22-year-old is dead. Crushed by a collapsing stake while preparing a fire, an illegal fire. But he wasn’t killed by bad luck alone. He was killed by a culture of "it’s fine," by the slow dance of apathy we all join - until it becomes a funeral march.  

Social responsibility isn’t philosophy - it’s action. It’s looking at what’s wrong and saying, "No more." Not because it inconveniences you, but because it wounds you. Not to punish, but because you have a duty to what comes next. Tears after the fact mean nothing. You must disrupt, resist the madness, and demand better - not when it’s easy, but because you must. No excuses. No escape. 

 

More Examples of the Same Sickness:   

Do you think the above is the exception to the rule? It is not! 

- Parents who buy their underage kids’ alcohol for "just one night," then act shocked when they end up in the ER.   

- Politicians who condemn violence by day but fund fan clubs that riot by night.   

- Neighbors who complain about noise but never intervene when a fight breaks out.   

- Schools that preach discipline but let bullies run unchecked because "kids will be kids."   

- Citizens who share outrage online but look away when someone needs help in real life.   

- Teachers who let graduate students pass the class so they won't deal with them the next year.  

This isn’t just negligence - it’s collective enablement. And until we break the cycle, we’re all part of the problem. 

 

How Do We Solve This Problem?   

The crisis we face is not just about lawlessness, bad parenting, or a weak state - it’s about a broken social contract. Fixing it requires more than outrage; it demands action at every level. Here’s how we start:   

1. Rebuild Accountability (Starting with Ourselves)   

- Stop making excuses. Every time we dismiss bad behavior with "What can you do?" or "It’s just how things are," we normalize dysfunction.   

- Call out wrongdoing - even when it’s uncomfortable. If someone throws fireworks near people, say something. If a parent lets their kid act like a tyrant, don’t laugh it off.   

- Demand consequences. A society that doesn’t punish recklessness teaches that rules don’t matter.   

 

2. Fix Parenting (Before It’s Too Late)   

- Stop raising entitled children. Kids need boundaries, not unlimited freedom disguised as "modern parenting."   

- Teach responsibility early. If a teen vandalizes property, make them repair it. If they bully, enforce real discipline, not just a warning.   

- Parents, lead by example. If you cheat, lie, or act aggressively, your kids will too.   

 

3. Force the State to Do Its Job  

- Demand law enforcement that works. If laws against violence, arson, or public endangerment exist, they must be enforced every time, not just when it’s convenient.   

- Stop voting for the same politicians. If a leader cares more about votes than justice, replace them.   

- Hold public servants accountable. If police ignore hooliganism or politicians protect their own, expose them.   

 

4. Reclaim Public Spaces   

- Stop tolerating chaos. If a square turns into a war zone every holiday, authorities must prevent it, not just clean up afterward.   

- Support community policing. Neighborhoods should work with (not against) law enforcement to keep public order.   

- Revive civic pride. A park littered with broken bottles and fireworks debris reflects a society that doesn’t care. Clean it up. Protect it.   

 

5. Change the Culture of Complacency   

- Stop being a passive spectator. Sharing angry posts online does nothing if you stay silent in real life.   

- Reward responsibility, not recklessness. Celebrate those who intervene, who stand up, who refuse to look away.   

- Reject the "not my problem" mentality. If you see a fight, report it. If you see a kid in danger, step in.   

 

6. Educate for Citizenship, Not Just Exams 

- Schools must teach ethics, not just math. Kids need to learn why rules exist - not just how to bypass them.   

- Bring back respect for authority (earned, not forced). Teachers, police, and leaders must lead with integrity, but citizens must also respect the role, not just the person.   

- Encourage critical thinking over blind obedience. A society that questions responsibly is stronger than one that follows blindly or rebels mindlessly.   

 

The Hard Truth: This Won’t Be Easy   

There’s no magic law, no single leader, no quick fix. The solution starts with individuals deciding they’ve had enough.  

- Will you be the one who stays silent? Or the one who says, "No more"?   

- Will you raise entitled kids? Or responsible citizens?   

- Will you vote for empty promises? Or demand real change?   

The choice is yours. But if we wait for "someone else" to fix it, nothing will change.   

 

Start today. 

 

What High Schools Must Do to Fix the Problem  

High schools, like the one I lead, play a critical role in shaping behavior, values, and civic responsibility. Instead of just producing graduates, they should be molding future citizens. 

Here’s exactly what needs to change:   

1. Teach Real-Life Consequences (Beyond Grades) 

- Replace empty discipline with meaningful accountability.  

  - Example: If students vandalize school property, they should repair it, not just get a suspension.  They should paint, pay, and fix! 

  - Example: If they bully, they must face restorative justice (e.g., mediation, community service).   

- Simulate real-world repercussions.   

  - Example: Mock trials where students argue cases involving vandalism, violence, or civic duty.   

2. Reinstate Respect for Authority (Without Tyranny)  

- Teachers must command respect, not fear.   

  - How? Train educators in classroom leadership, not just curriculum.   

  - Example: Zero tolerance for disrespect - but with dialogue.   

  - Example: If a student curses at a teacher, they don’t just get detention - they must explain why and apologize meaningfully.   

3. Mandate Civic & Ethical Education   

- Add a required "Civic Responsibility" course.   

  - Topics: Rule of law, social contracts, ethical dilemmas, media literacy.   

  - Example: Debate exercises like "Should fireworks be banned?" or "What’s the cost of public destruction?"   

- Bring in real-world cases.   

  - Example: Analyze news stories of riots, vandalism, or negligence - make students discuss who failed and why.   

4. Crack Down on Gang & Hooligan Mentality   

- Ban "fan clubs" that promote violence.   

  - Example: Schools in Serbia and Greece have dissolved student groups linked to hooliganism.   

- Reward positive group behavior.   

  - Example: Schools with the least vandalism get extra funding for sports/arts.  The same for each class.  

5. Parental Accountability Contracts   

- Make parents co-sign discipline agreements.   

  - Example: If a student repeatedly misbehaves, parents must attend mandatory workshops on discipline.   

- Publicly recognize responsible families.   

  - Example: Awards for "Model Student-Parent Teams" to incentivize involvement.   

6. Student-Led Anti-Violence Initiatives   

- Create student watchdog groups.   

  - Example: Peer mediators who de-escalate conflicts before they turn violent.   

- Encourage whistleblowing on dangerous behavior.   

  - Example: Anonymous reporting systems for threats or planned riots.   

7. Physical & Psychological Safety Over "Tradition"   

- Ban dangerous "traditions."   

  - Example: No more unsupervised fire-lighting ceremonies or reckless initiations.   

- Replace them with constructive rituals.   

  - Example: Community clean-ups, public art projects, or volunteer days.   

8. Police & School Partnerships (Without Militarization)   

- Controlled police presence in schools - not as enforcers, but educators.   

  - Example: Officers teach workshops on firework safety, riot laws, and the consequences of vandalism.   

- Field trips to courts & prisons.   

  - Example: Students meet inmates who made reckless choices - hear the real cost of "just fun."   

 

The Bottom Line:   

High schools must stop being factories of passive diploma-holders and start being workshops for responsible citizens. This means:   

·        Teaching consequences, not just curriculum.  

·        Enforcing respect without oppression.   

·        Making ethics as important as math.   

·        Breaking the cycle of reckless tradition.   

If schools don’t act now, the next generation will be even worse. 

The change starts in the classroom. 

TODAY!