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Entitlement Mentality Hurts Teen

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 29, 2008

Regarding "Birthday Candles Unlikely for Bollea" (Metro, July 24):

I am inspired to write by your report that Nick Bollea won't have any candles for his 18th birthday. Neither did I, but not because I was in jail. It was because, in October 1954, I was at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., where I began my 27-year-long military career.

So what is the difference between him and me? I don't know him personally, but it appears to be the difference in parents. I judge from what the Trib has printed and what I see on TV that his parents have taught him that he is entitled to have and do anything he wants, anywhere and anytime. Mine taught me that the world owes me nothing and that I would have to earn anything and everything I wanted or needed, starting with the most important things - respect, trust and honor. Now, at age 71, I have those in abundance. And I earned, together with my wife, every penny we have.

We can't predict what young Nick will do when he is released, but people can and do change. Let us all hope that he will change so that he, at age 71, will have the deep sense of satisfaction that I earned.

LEO HILL

Valrico

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