I look back on some of the antics of my youth where, quite frankly, situations could have turned out otherwise and I'd not be here. Yet each one was a learning experience and I didn't do that or even that class of thing again. I wonder if sometimes we live in a world where kids are wrapped in cotton wool to the extent that they never develop the capacity to hear the voice in their head that says "don't, this is stupid".
The biggest carnage comes from cars. Kids as drivers never seem to realise that they are in control of a deadly weapon, one just a likely to kill them as anyone else. Too many are taught the basics of vehicle control, but are left to fend for themselves in traffic and we hope they'll work it out along the way. Some do, but many don't or become so fixated on the technical control thing that they are indifferent to what havoc their presence wreaks.
In Bulgaria there is a habit of putting up death notices on posters with pictures around town. It is hearbreaking to realise that most of them are either over 50 or between 18 - 25, almost all of the latter are from car crashes. keep to the Fen Causeway
kids who don't believe in their future may not care as much, or have that warning. "There is mysterious music in democracy, when people decide to believe in themselves." ---Bill Greider, The Nation.
But kids with a bright future --who KNOW they have a future- seem to have an internal alarm--a warning that says, "Don't wanna miss all that good stuff,-- better cool it"
