Year 1, Day 29

Gen-X went through childhood with no fear. Unlike our parents, we didn't duck and cover under our school desks in anticipation of nuclear war, and we didn't have to mourn the assassination of a president and inspirational leaders. We never had to wonder where our country was headed, or why the death count of of American soldiers continued to rise near 50,000 with no response to protest. Instead, we skated through childhood unscathed and and quite hopeful. We believed the world was inherently good and that we could succeed if we put in the work and effort. There were never great obstacles that stood in our way. There was never a fear that we might not see the next day.

All that has changed with the immediate dissemination of informtaion and "breaking news" that flows from facebook to twitter, to the news, and to streaming websites. Immediately, you know if there is an Amber Alert, a possible terrorist threat, another case of swine flu, a creepy man that has hid a woman in his backyard for 18 years. Children see this and internalize this world as being a scary place. Is it more threatening than it was when we were children, or do we just have access to the information now? Regardless, it's no wonder that children are depressed and anxious in record numbers. They must fear abduction - is someone hiding in the bushes at every corner? They fear terrorism - are we waiting for the inevitable disaster to strike? They fear disease - we will have enough vaccines live through a pandemic? They fear global warming - will we live to have our own children or have we devastated this world with our actions? The fear of second hand smoke - will I get cancer from breathing your air?

What I learned today: The media sensationalizes every threat we could possibly be under. In my opinion, we not under great siege . . . these threats have existed even in our own childhood, but we didn't have the means and technology to know about them immediately, or ever. It is our job to make sure our children are hopeful and not devastated at what their futures hold. They shouldn't grow up scared. Scared to walk down the street and be abducted, scared to enter a public building, scared to shake someone's hand, and scared to throw anything away if there is not a recycle bin nearby. Today I take the pledge to make sure Jackson is raised knowing that his future IS hopeful and that people ARE, inherently good. Today I want to make sure that Jackson can sees the miracles in everyday life.