A small idea during this particularly tough week for Americans.
In addition to calls for additional gun regulation, including background checks for those that purchase at gun shows . . . the role of violent movies and videogames as well as social and psychological issues seem evident.
It seems that the role of technology -- in its role in breaking down the unity and value system of America -- is underestimated.
When I came home from elementary school, a favorite show was "Leave it to Beaver" -- in black & white and reruns, of course. Being a newly-minted immigrant to America, I took the show to heart and believed that it represented American values. With only 3 channel, my classmates and I generally watched the same TV shows at night and discussed them the day after. There was common ground in the things that we thought about, enjoyed . . . connected about.
Now with a 1000 channels, Netflix/Hulu, iTunes -- students can become very narrowly focused, watching and listening to materials shared with very few of their classmates.
And somewhere -- perhaps in separating church from state -- schools became afraid of teaching values and focused on math, science, and a bit of reading (in order for our children to ready themselves for a technological world).
In my daughters' school, they are trying to bring back some of the core values that made the school and America great. We can all agree that treating each other with respect, being inclusive of others, minimizing cliques, and reduce bullying . . . are value that we can all agree on.
Bringing back more common ground (while celebrating our diversity), connectedness and teaching core values at schools might help to reduce the numbers and extent of "outcasts" amongst those learning to become adult members of society.
The America of "Leave it to Beaver" can co-exist with smartphones and "Call of Duty".
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