It is quite easy to blame crime, the problems of the world and all other irksome issues on youth.

Did you know that such perceptions are not supported by statistical data?  Of the overall crimes committed in Canada, youth are only a small percentage of that crime.

Following the London riots, the usual, “These young people of today have it easy,” rhetoric made its way to articles, radio, and television shows.

I have only been in Canada for ten years.  Prior to that, my whole life was spent in London.  There is a distinct difference in youth in London, compared to Ottawa.

An example:  My husband was driving along one day in the East End of London, when two kids aged around five and seven ran out into the road.  He rolled his window down, and told them to be careful.  His ears were burned by the sound of numerous expletives that came pouring out of these children’s mouths as though they had verbal diarrhea. They told him to go back where he came from and that he did not belong there (he was born in England, so where he should go, one can only wonder).

There are numerous examples; I could go on and on.

…in the riots, and at other times too, crime pays, and even regular hard-working young people, who had no need to steal, were found to take part in looting.  It was as though the doors to hell had been let open for that brief snapshot in time, and people forgot who they were altogether…

In Ottawa, I was out with my children and saw young people huddled together, talking with raised voices, occasionally using the odd expletive.  I asked them politely to “hold it down in front of my young children.”  Immediately, they were aghast, not realizing that their behaviour might bother anyone.  They apologized profusely, and then did as I asked.

Whilst out one evening with my young daughter, I saw three young kids horsing around near the Mac’s convenience store.  I was there to get milk.  I was worried; it looked like one of the kids was being bullied, beaten up even.  My instincts told me I should speak to them, find out what was going on.  I approached them.  Keep in mind, it was dark.  In London, self-preservation rule number one would kick in: walk away, very quickly, in the opposite direction.   Rule number two goes something like: forget what you saw or heard.

When I approached them, they tried to speak to me in “hood talk”, but I gave them “the look”, the, “are you sure you want to be speaking to me in that tone of voice?” look.  They immediately mellowed out, said they were practicing making a short film for YouTube.  Seriously.  I told them that it was dark, and that whilst their idea was nice, it might be better for them to rehearse at home, in their backyard.  They apologized, and explained that they did not have the space to do it at home.  But that they would head home, because they did not know it was bothering anyone.

In working with young people over the years, I have never experienced raw disrespect.  Even working with troubled youth in London, I saw that they were crying out for attention, for guidance, for support, and help when they struggled.  Don’t we all want the same thing?  Isn’t respect a two-way street?

It is easy to get high and mighty, and suggest that youth have it too easy.  It is easy to suggest that the pressures of living in a very materialistic society (where the next pair of elite trainers is the be-all and end-all) are too great to bear.

In reality, the big difference is that in the riots, and at other times too, crime pays, and even regular, hard-working young people, who had no need to steal, were found to take part in looting.  It was as though the doors to hell had been let open for that brief snapshot in time, and people forgot who they were altogether.

Media has a large part to play, as always, in how youth are perceived.  The way we look at youth also causes detrimental effects.  Young offenders are also moved around in the system.  No one really gets to work with offenders for long enough to make a lasting impression.

In the UK, the moral fibre of the country has eroded over time.  Now, the country will do some serious self-reflection.  In Ottawa, we are blessed to have youth that contribute and are some of our best and cherished volunteers.  We need to preserve that spirit, and help those who are currently falling through the cracks to fulfill their potential.   Only then can we preserve the dignity and integrity of the talented youth we are blessed to have in the city.

Aisha Sherazi is an Ottawa writer and blogs online for the Ottawa Citizen.