Pubdate: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 Source: Daily Herald (IL) Copyright: 2001 The Daily Herald Company Contact: http://www.dailyherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/107 RESOLVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY With another year comes a new set of laws. Many of these laws are intended to shape our behavior, to deter actions that, if taken, could be very harmful to the individual and society as a whole. Anyone who deals the club drug Ecstasy in the state of Illinois will, as of Tuesday, face tougher penalties if caught. Also, motorists convicted of reckless homicide will no longer be able to use a loophole in the law to evade a lengthy license suspension. And yet another law removes an excuse for criminal behavior - the "too drunk defense." This was used in the case of a Quad Cities man who beat sex abuse charges. He claimed he was too intoxicated to know it was wrong to get into bed with a minor - his daughter's friend who was spending the night at the house. It wasn't his fault. It was alcohol's fault. This is a classic example of failure to take personal responsibility, a breakdown that seems so pervasive in a society that now has to live under yet even more new rules, via new laws, to encourage accountability. It would be a fine turn of events if the No. 1 New Year's resolution was, indeed, taking more responsibility for one's actions. Starting with the New Year's celebrations. If someone is going to drink at a New Year's party, or any party, he or she will be responsible enough to use a designated driver, or surrender the car keys, rather than test the law and take someone's life. That's taking personal responsibility. Teens who go to New Year's parties and are offered alcohol or drugs don't have to take them to fit in. They can make the tough choice that is sure to be greeted by teasing from peers - take personal responsibility and refuse the drugs and booze. Naive notion? Perhaps. But teens aren't so young that they don't have enough intelligence and maturity to make the right choices. Parents can take personal responsibility for encouraging their children's own sense of personal responsibility. For example, by not doing stupid things like allowing their children to have parties with alcohol under their supervision, believing that somehow that will keep their children from harm or make them more willing to make responsible choices. Parents can take more personal responsibility by being good role models and communicating with their children about drugs and alcohol in a firm but honest way - and not being lenient when the situation calls for being tough. Rather than thinking there is always going to be a way out of trouble, or an excuse for doing wrong, it would be refreshing in the coming year to see more of the right thing being done - the personally responsible thing being done. The binder of state laws, then, will cease getting thicker every year. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth