I'm not sure why there's this anger in the youth, but we need to

Opening Scene – Narrated by Host

The room was dimly lit, the soft flicker of the table lamp casting shadows across the walls. Outside, the world had settled into the quiet rhythm of the evening. The sound of distant traffic, muffled by the glass window, blended with the stillness of the space inside. Jack sat in a chair by the window, his fingers tracing the edge of a coffee mug, though his eyes were focused on nothing in particular. His mind seemed caught in a swirl of thoughts, each one unfinished, too quick to fully process.

Jeeny stood near the door, her eyes casually observing the way he seemed lost in thought, the way he always did when something was weighing on him. She knew the signs, the quiet frustration that built up in him without his realizing it. She waited for him to speak, but the silence between them remained thick.

Host: The stillness hung between them, as if the words needed to come from somewhere deeper.

Jeeny: Her voice was calm, but intentional, breaking the silence in a way that felt almost necessary. “Jack, I came across a quote today that made me think of you. It’s from Crystal Bowersox. She said, ‘I’m not sure why there’s this anger in the youth, but we need to talk about it. Kids need to get help if they need help, and bullies need to be helped as well.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: His gaze lifted slowly, and he sat up straighter, as if her words had sparked something in him. “Anger in the youth…” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, the weight of the quote settling in. “I think there’s a lot of truth in that. It’s easy to dismiss anger, especially when it comes from young people. We’re quick to judge it, to label it as rebellion or defiance, without really understanding where it comes from.”

He paused, his voice quiet but reflective. “I think what Crystal’s getting at is that we don’t talk about the root causes of that anger enough. It’s not just a phase or something they’ll grow out of. There’s a lot more going on beneath the surface — things like loneliness, confusion, and the pressure they feel from the world around them.”

Jeeny: She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Exactly. We often see the anger as the problem, but it’s just a symptom of something deeper. These kids are dealing with so many pressures — from school, from home, from society. But instead of getting to the heart of the issue, we often push them away, or worse, we dismiss their anger as something that doesn’t need attention.”

Her voice softened, her eyes filled with empathy. “What’s important, though, is that we don’t just give them the space to express that anger. We also need to help them understand it, give them tools to manage it, and show them that it’s okay to feel those emotions — but that there are ways to work through them. And the same goes for the bullies.”

Jack: He nodded slowly, his fingers still tapping the mug, though his focus was now fully on the conversation. “The bullies, yeah. It’s easy to see them as the bad guys, the ones causing harm, but no one really asks why they act the way they do. It’s easy to say they’re the problem, but we don’t often ask what’s going on inside of them. A lot of times, they’re just as lost and hurting as the people they’re bullying.”

He sighed, the tension in his voice rising slightly. “We need to look at the whole picture — the kids who are angry and the ones who are bullying — and understand that there’s always a deeper story. It’s not just black and white. It’s about helping everyone, not just punishing.”

Jeeny: She smiled softly, the warmth in her eyes reflecting her understanding. “Yes. What Crystal is really getting at is the need for compassion, for understanding. Anger and bullying don’t come from nowhere. There’s always a story, a reason behind the behavior. If we want to solve the problem, we need to look at both sides — not just the actions, but the reasons behind them.”

Her voice grew a little firmer, more encouraging. “What’s important is that we don’t treat these kids as problems to be solved, but as people who need support, guidance, and the opportunity to learn. The anger they’re feeling isn’t just about them being ‘bad’ or ‘difficult.’ It’s about them needing help, and us being willing to give it.”

Jack: His eyes softened, the weight of the conversation beginning to sink in. “I think that’s where we miss the mark. We try to fix the behavior, but we don’t always deal with the emotions. Anger and bullying aren’t things you just stop by saying ‘no’ or punishing. They need to be addressed from a deeper place, where we show compassion, empathy, and understanding.”

He smiled faintly, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Maybe that’s the answer. It’s not about trying to correct them, but about helping them find healthier ways to express themselves, and giving them the tools to deal with their emotions before they turn into something destructive.”

Jeeny: She smiled warmly, her voice gentle but firm. “Exactly. Compassion, patience, and understanding. It’s about giving kids the opportunity to grow, to express themselves, and to heal. Not by shutting them down, but by listening, by helping them understand their feelings, and by showing them that they don’t have to hurt others to feel seen.”

Host: The room fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of their conversation settling into something more peaceful, more real. Jack seemed to have found a new sense of clarity, a deeper understanding of what it really meant to help the next generation — not by just punishing their actions, but by understanding their struggles and giving them the tools to manage their emotions.

Outside, the city continued its steady hum, but inside, there was a quiet recognition: the answers lay not in condemning, but in offering help, in listening, and in compassion for both the victims and the perpetrators of anger and bullying.

End Scene.