Fear

Dear You,

In a recent issue of the Atlantic, I read about the growing problem of online predators. The story began with an anecdote -- a girl standing at a bus stop with her luggage nearby was engaged by a stranger who seemed to know a lot about her. Turns out, he had read her luggage tag, so was able to seem like someone who knew her parents. The article went on to inform us that anyone can deduce an astonishing amount of information from what kids put on places like MySpace and blogs they create.

Fearmongering has some merit -- we must teach children to be wary in today's world. But my worry is that we are sapping the present generation of their courage in an effort to keep them safe. It does not escape my notice that the current occupant of the White House could never have been re-elected had he not campaigned on a platform of 9/11 and the "War on Terror." Someone (was it Benjamin Franklin?) once said that anyone who wants to be both safe and free can be neither.

So it was a delight the other morning when, on my morning walk, I witnessed two little girls zipping by me on a tiny motorized bike. They were blissfully happy and laughing, and -- amazingly -- did not have pounds of plastic padding and helmets between them and the out-of-doors they were inhabiting at the moment. They waved as they passed . . . innocent of the dangers their parents -- all of us these days! -- seem eager to protect them from. I hope they never lose their courage, their independence, their joy in pushing against the limits of their lives.