The Id Today
Many of today's parents face incouragable children who refuse authority and do not respond to traditional methods of dicipline. These "problem" children may get themselves into trouble in school, at home, or with the law. They oftentimes show a general disrespect and indifference toward any authorty figure, whether it be a teacher, parent, or police officer. For a parent of such a child, instilling discipline and respect becomes a tiresome and frustrating task. Many parents run out of ideas as to how to go about raising their problem child. As a last resort, some parents turn to youth boot camps as a way to shape up their child. As stated in an article by Kent Black in the November edition of Maxim magazine on a particular youth boot camp: "the purpose is to shock kids into good behavior with some ass-whupping reality" (Black, 163). This article tells of a drill instructor, Colonel Charles Long, who gave such harsh treatment of campers that one died from dehydration and exhaustion. It outlines each day of the camp. These camps have shown mixed results with the children. They focus on shocking kids into good behaivor and a higher level of respect by rigorous physical and mental subordination. The children spend about a week in suc
The first person to be examined from the article is the lead drill instructor of the camp, Colonel Charles Long. Long is not a real Colonel, rather an ex lance corporal in the Marines, has a shady past. He has been arrested for breaking down an ex-girlfriend's door with a sledgehammer and beating her. He had also been investigated by the FBI for aleged abuse at a different youth boot camp but the charges were dropped. This mentality shows a man who is clearly not in control of his id, and whom does not consider the consequences of his actions. When given the total control over the campers, he abused it and did not make rational decisions when it came to their treatment. Discipline of a problem child is one thing, but physically abusing him, depriving him of water, and threatening him with a knife is not at all rational. It was due to this severe mistreatment at the camp that one of the campers, 14 year old Tony Haynes, died. Treating the campers this way brought Colonel Long some type of demented pleasure, and he lost control of his will to be rational. Many of the younger kids came from broken up families and looked at Long as a father figure, which is scary considering how he treated them. What is more unnerving is Long's attitude toward the whole situation of the camper's death; he was very indifferent and pointed his finger at everyone but himself when it came to the blame. The next person from the article to be classified is R.J. Corriere, the stepfather of one of the campers. Corriere sent his stepson, Justin Boe, to the boot camp after Boe repaetidly ran into trouble with the law and tried to stab him with a shovel handle. After sending him to the camp, Corriere reguarly checked up on his stepson to ensure he received tough yet humane treatment. Corriere saw the boot camp as an oportunity to instill dicipline and respect into hi stepson and make life smoother for both of them. He was looking out for both of their best interests, and after years of struggling, looked at the youth boot camp as a last resort. His attitude and actions relate to the super-ego. He made rational decisions and seeks long term happiness for his family. He was willing to work with his stepchild even after having his life threatened by him. At no point was revenge or hatred a part of the decision to send Boe to boot camp. This is evident because of t
Some common words found in the essay are:
Major Jones, Colonel Charles, Justin Boe, Freud Freud, , Tony Haynes, Using Frueds, Black November, Grateful Jones, boot camp, RJ Corriere, youth boot, drill instructors, youth boot camp, boot camps, boe boot camp, drill instructor, control campers, rational decisions, treating campers, sgt major, youth boot camps, drill instructors disallusioned, colonel charles,
Approximate Word count = 1585
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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