In my day, the big brother phenomenon was a definite part of a youngster’s life who might happen to have a big brother. Their role in life was to keep the little ones safe and secure. All too often they had to sacrifice their own wants and desires in order to carry out this role. They served as an extension of what one’s father stood for. It fell upon them automatically and all too often called for self-limiting aspirations.
One has to search real hard today to find its equal. All too often it is one’s older brother who introduces the young ones to vaping, pot, drugs, booze, and pornography.
It was that extra set of eyes and hands that helped to keep us little guys on the right path. Our dads in those tough times had to concentrate on the economic survival of the family, often working two jobs or a ton of overtime to make ends meet. It fell upon one’s big brother to substitute his control, power, and experience for our old man’s. We had within our immediate comings and goings a role model easier to emulate than a Saturday matinee running of Tarzan or Superman.
There is no question that crime within city neighborhoods is making city life an ordeal. The cop on the beat often had the help of a big brother when it came to make city life a safer and more beneficial experience. My own life was made happier, safer, and much more valued because my big brother took his job as seriously as my father took his.
SAM ALFONSI
Diamond Beach
