Today's Parents

I attended a conference today at which a speaker talked about the horrible trends and statistical proof of depression and mental health related cases on college campuses. In the last ten years the number of students who have reported depression like illnesses has drastically increased. This speaker just finished writing a book about how technology, the global market, and terror have affected the culture and how they have shaped the minds of today's parents and the way they are raising their children. A claim she makes is that cell phones are one of the key factors and that now a mother's reach is extended to where her child is at all times. She said that there is too much pampering and babying and that we are raising a "nation of whimps". The over nurturing that is going on is preventing children from learning how to be wrong, how to lose, how to work with others, and how to problem solve. These are such important tools that one needs to have in order to be successful in college and beyond. I see many parents who are stressed. They feel they must raise the perfect being who will gain access and graduate from a top school. I am not saying that these parents do not love their children, not even questioning it. But, perhaps the overprotected over programmed children that are being raised today are not developing the correct skills needed to achieve their parent's goals.

The world today seems like a scary place. Why are parents going nuts? The media paints that portrait and the idea seeps into their minds. Children cannot walk home alone anymore and they all must carry cell phones in their backpacks. Is that really the case or are cell phones just easily purchased today in age? I feel that the advancements and instant media that exist today have opened the eyes and sadly scared most people in the world. News has never traveled so fast. Back in the day the issues in the world were only the issues you were exposed to and the ones you lived near. So the trends and troubles of the world to you may have been different then those of the person in the next town, state or country over. You had 10 channels if you were lucky and the Internet was for classified users only. Today, we learn that there are liars, thieves, rapist, molesters and murderers in all areas and sectors of the world. The bad guys have always been there its just that not every one has always carried a camera to catch their criminal performances. Stranger Danger has been and always will be around. Its just now he can talk to millions of children with a click of a button.

Will it destroy us?

I am the biggest fan of technology. I love gadgets. But, as most consumer products get smaller we often forget about the other end of the spectrum. Ipods, cameras, TV and phones are all becoming one. These things are so amazing compared to what was available just ten years ago. I enjoy their benefits and would never trade them in. However, just look at the picture. We are capable of constructing and designing things so much smaller then us as well as things that are quite shockingly larger. Imagine what will come in another ten years. We know already that the smallest things can harm us but I am talking about big things here. How will we not resist the urge to build a tower to space? What a great religious debate that could become. Is it against faith to try to build a scientific tower of babel to the heavens? The theme that our own technological creations can and will destroy us are seen in numerous movies and books. I believe and it may happen well beyond my lifetime that what we create will ultimately end us before weather or illness.

Greeting Cards

Should we give them or should we just offer our own original gratitude, thanks, and wishes?

What does this symbol mean to you?

I look at the ying-yang and notice how black and white share the circle but are separated. This inspires the idea of day and night, light and dark, good and bad. If you are to have one you must have the other. I also notice the small spot of white in the black and the small spot of black in the white. To me this says that you cannot have either one wholly. You must have a little bit of darkness in your light or a little bit of light in your darkness. Can we ever truly be one or the other, or must we always have at least a piece of both? Is that good or is that bad? What does this symbol mean to you?