Responsible Behavior From The Greekfest Attendees
When Spike Lee’s movie portrayed rioting as a way to handle the conflict of Sal and Buggin’ Out in “Do the Right Thing”, it further distorted the right way of resolving differences. In the movie, it should have been made clearer that Mookie’s creation of a distraction, by throwing the trashcan through the window, was seen as the “life saving alternative” and not the “solution” to prevent the angry onlookers from harming Sal and his sons.
According to The Teen Brain, (n.d), researchers have also found that depending on the the maturity of the brain, problem solving and decision making apptitude may be affected. Many parents do not understand why their teenagers occasionally behave in an impulsive, irrational, or dangerous way. At times, it seems like they don’t think things through or fully consider the consequences of their actions. Adolescents differ from adults in the way they behave, solve problems, and make decisions. There is a biological explanation for this difference. Studies have shown that brains continue to mature and develop throughout childhood and adolescence and well into early adulthood. Scientists have identified a specific region of the brain called the amygdala which is responsible for instinctual reactions including fear and aggressive behavior. This region develops early. However, the frontal cortex, the area of the brain that controls reasoning and helps us think before we act, develops later. This part of the brain is still changing and maturing well into adulthood.
While this research may shed some light as to the reasons for the irrational and impulsive behavior, it cannot be used as an excuse for absolute redemption from the irresponsible behavior displayed that weekend. Eventhough the students felt unwelcomed and sensed overtones of racism, it did not justify the deliberate destruction of someone’s property. Students failed to realize that there would be serious consequences for their irresponsible behavior. In this case it was local along with state police in riot gear and the National Guard. Had the students not thrown bottles at the police and broke into stores, the police could have controlled the outbreak of civil unrest that started out as a group of students chanting or their way of protesting. Once the students became uncontrollable, the city had no choice but to use necessary measures that would establish order on the strip again. But when children have not been taught how to resolve problems without violence, they grow up with the same mentality and solve it the only way they know how.
According to The Teen Brain, (n.d), researchers have also found that depending on the the maturity of the brain, problem solving and decision making apptitude may be affected. Many parents do not understand why their teenagers occasionally behave in an impulsive, irrational, or dangerous way. At times, it seems like they don’t think things through or fully consider the consequences of their actions. Adolescents differ from adults in the way they behave, solve problems, and make decisions. There is a biological explanation for this difference. Studies have shown that brains continue to mature and develop throughout childhood and adolescence and well into early adulthood. Scientists have identified a specific region of the brain called the amygdala which is responsible for instinctual reactions including fear and aggressive behavior. This region develops early. However, the frontal cortex, the area of the brain that controls reasoning and helps us think before we act, develops later. This part of the brain is still changing and maturing well into adulthood.
While this research may shed some light as to the reasons for the irrational and impulsive behavior, it cannot be used as an excuse for absolute redemption from the irresponsible behavior displayed that weekend. Eventhough the students felt unwelcomed and sensed overtones of racism, it did not justify the deliberate destruction of someone’s property. Students failed to realize that there would be serious consequences for their irresponsible behavior. In this case it was local along with state police in riot gear and the National Guard. Had the students not thrown bottles at the police and broke into stores, the police could have controlled the outbreak of civil unrest that started out as a group of students chanting or their way of protesting. Once the students became uncontrollable, the city had no choice but to use necessary measures that would establish order on the strip again. But when children have not been taught how to resolve problems without violence, they grow up with the same mentality and solve it the only way they know how.