Young people must take responsibility

I am an 80-year-old man that has lived in Olympia all my life, raised a family, served in the military and retired. I have seen struggle, bad times and good times.

A recent article showed women entering the armed forces to fight on the front lines. Articles have also showed women struggling to put food on the table and take care of the kids.

This same newspaper shows people standing in the streets with nothing to do but complain how they have it so bad. We also have people that come to this country and want something for nothing.

Yes, most of us in this great country were from immigrants. However, those immigrants did not take this country for granted. They worked hard, did not ask for handouts and raised their own children. Times were hard, probably harder than they are now. But they did not give up and they took care of the needs of their own children and families.

We now have a generation that needs a handout. We have men that get women pregnant and then walk away. Some of the young people think things should be given to them instead of work for them.

As parents, if you raised one of these types of kids, I would be ashamed of myself. It takes hard work, perseverance, dedication, love, help from above and a want to be better and mean something in life.

Come on America, get it right!

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Young people must take responsibility."