But what has the 4th of July become?
It seems sadly reminiscent of Cinco de Mayo to me these days, and what I mean by that is a chance to party for the sake of partying.
Otherwise, it's a time of national pride and celebration. But what are we proud of? What the hell are we celebrating?
If I ask the average Joe on the street, he is going to say, "America is the greatest country in the world. That's why we're proud! That's why we celebrate!"
Really, Joe?
I'm going to need a more thoughtful response here.
Pride for the sake of pride itself has no place in this world. Pride in something is earned.
What is there to be proud of here?
We have the biggest guns and the most ignorant people?
Is THAT something to celebrate?
Someone, please! Tell me what there is to be proud of these days.
Our children are becoming monsters. I know you guys read about the bus monitor in NY!
If you haven't yet, then
here is a link to an article about it and
here is a link to the youtube video taken by students who ruthlessly bullied this lady and made her cry.
Who knows how long this bullying was going on and how long the school district refused to acknowledge it?
And where to horrible, hateful little children like this come from?
I was recently visiting in-laws in California. My partner's godmother told me about her experience in the public education system these days. She said that children as young as 3rd and 4th graders are having sex. She said for them, it is just like kissing.
She said children, young children, are coming to school with homemade bombs and other explosives. Just because they can!
I asked her what she thought was the root of all this and she said, "The internet." According to her, kids go online and find tons and tons of information and guides for doing things that their parents have no idea about. She said parents don't talk to their kids about sex and protection. They don't give them any guidance through all of the information they are inundated with daily.
Maybe it's because this tech-savvy world of children is hard to keep up with for some adults. Maybe no one assumed, hey! I should sit down with my 7 year old and have the sex talk. Maybe they're all clinging in vain to the innocence we revere in childhood.
But all of this begs the question - are human beings innately inclined towards good or towards bad?
Think about it.
All of these little human beings have all of the knowledge in the world at their finger tips, the good and the bad. But what happens to them? They are corrupted by it.
Maybe that story in the Bible was a warning. Maybe that "God" knew that the apple (information) corrupts. Maybe he wanted to protect the children.
But slow down! I'm not saying we should censor the internet and all that. I am a stanch believe that all information should be free and accessible. I do think though that people need to figure out how to live with technology and children. How do you protect your children?
How do we face the violent and sexual themes present in the groups of children going through the public education system today?
Let me know what you think.
And answer the poll about Joe Walsh on the side!
