Watching the news lately I found myself amazed by the actions of teenagers in our world. We watch as teenage girls beat one another and post it on www.youtube.com. We shake our heads as young men walk into malls and schools and kill. We grimace as we listen to the music of adolescents and count the negative thoughts and use of the curse words in common language. We try to understand why gangs with our youth are growing throughout this country. In short, the teenagers of our country are scaring the hell out of us!

Let me put this carefully so each of you understands it. WE, AS MIDDLE AGED MALES, ARE THE FATHERS OF THIS GENERATION! Let it soak in so you can empathize properly and fathom your portion of the responsibility. The fathers of these youth are the middle aged males of today. We have spawned the generation that we currently watch with horror and dismay. Have we not worked to raise them with honor and moral focus? Have we failed to protect them from the influences of violent games, angry music, graphic video, and rampant technology? Do you find yourself saying: It's not my fault, I did the best I could. Has your best sucked?

One of the great tell tale quotes from a character played by Keanu Reeves in the 1989 movie Parenthood was "You know, Mrs. Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog, to drive a car - hell, you even need a license to catch a fish. But they'll let any butt-reaming asshole be a father." Let's face it; some of us should have never fathered children.

I personally do not think it is too late to bring these children back before they become an adult generation that fathers the next generation. It can not be done by one person, but it can be done by each of you. You do not need to focus on kids you do not know. You do not need to focus on kids that are not yours, although some of you will step up and save children you did not father. Focus on the children you fathered. Now, if you do not love your children, please walk quietly into the sunset and find a rock to crawl under or a group of caring middle aged males to soundly beat the crap out of you.

If you are non existent, disconnected, estranged, or distant from your children, it is time to reconnect. Call them, talk to them, or just take them out to eat. If you can't look them in the eye, tell them you love them and hug them with the reassurance of a father, then show them you love them with time and attention.

There are some great people throughout this country that are working with the adolescents that we have failed. Churches, social organizations, law enforcement gang intervention personnel, and coaches are influencing our children, but not at as fast as we fathered them. Step up, it is not too late or are you going to remain one of the "butt-reaming assholes" that Keanu talked about?

Do you need to share your thoughts about your successes or failures about fatherhood? Let us know at www.middleagedmale.com.