I made a terrible mistake today...I read the newspaper. I have always been aware that bad news sells papers, and so the focus of the media will lean towards the tragic. I expect there to be article, after article of bad news, by reporters that seek the negative to the exclusion of the more common, everyday examples of why humanity isn't a lost cause yet. I expect natural and man made disasters, accidents and wars. That's not what upsets me...what upsets me is the increasing frequency and acceptence by society of extreme violence. Teenagers being set on fire over videogames, or beaten to death over text messages. Rage killings are on the rise, and I don't know what or who to blame. I won't point a finger at entertainment ventures aimed at adults...there have always been violent movies. I think I blame parents...I think...When I was growing up we had some very, very violent and gory movies...the late 70's and early 80's were splatter central on the big screen. Robocop, Predator, Total Recall, Rambo, Dirty Harry, Scarface, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street...Violence is nothing new. It's society that is changing...Violence in film used to be an escape, over the top entertainment spectacle...but more and more we are living in a violent society. We are living in an America where children are murdering children...not that I'm saying that is new either, but instead of being a fringe element, instead of being gang related (which is still tragic and has always bothered me) but it is mainstream. It is all around...in sleepy, close knit communities. Children are not being given the tools or the knowledge of how to control their impulses. They are largely unsuppervised and are growing up faster and faster due to the rise of the information age. They cultivate online personalities, in an environment without social guidance an arena where peoples thoughts are unfiltered and you can be anyone.

Im probably talking out my ass, I'm certain I'm way off base, and certainly I don't have the answers. All I know is that my daughter doesn't go a minute of the day without knowing how loved she is. She doesn't go a minute without someone nearby to guide her and teach her. She isn't being raised by the internet or the media. Of course she explores the world around her, and as she grows she gets more and more independent, but I will not leave her to her own devices as she grows. I won't let this sick society teach her it's twisted ways.