Violence in the South

This Christmas was one of the oddest I've ever experienced in North Carolina. I've always associtaed the state with a general peacefulness, particularly around the holidays. I'm not sure why I have made those associations, since the area I lived in there was one of the worst in the country, but I have always felt safe way out in the country on the farm, curled up in front of our logs (yes, gas) and drinking hot chocolate while an animal rests on my lap or at my feet. But this year maybe I heard too much news or something because everything was different. There were around eight news stories about parents killing their children, or injuring them so badly they would be in the hospital for months. One woman placed her best friend's 2 year old in scalding hot water because she was angry at the friend, killing the toddler. Another man was jailed for beating his son, and for previous abuse found in the way of broken bones. Why hadn't the child said anything before? Because he was 11 weeks old. TWo children were purposely run over by their parents the day after Christmas. When did the celebration of Jesus become more a celebration of Herod's desire to kill every baby boy. I couldn't believe what I was hearing and stayed in tears almost constantly. I have such a deep, intense love for children I'm close with, I can't imagine ever harming anyone's child. And that sounded a lot worse than some of the things that were going on up here.

But it got me to thinking about people now. I wonder if things were this bad forty or fifty or one hundred years ago. It's a fact that depression is on the rise here, and that more people will develop it. It's a fact that our economy is not in the best shape, and that it's hard to find a job, keep a job, and live. More people in their twenties are moving back home to live with their parents, who are also still working because rumours are flying about Social Security and where it's going. I will most likely not have any social security, and am forced to start working on different options for my own retirement thought it's decades and decades again. And did I mention that my parents pay for my health insurance because I can't afford to? Divorce rates are higher than ever, and yet a ton of my friends under 25 are getting married and settling down and having babies. Food prices are on the rise, gas prices are on the rise and natural disasters seem to be occurring with more regularity.

Since I've depressed my audience, I'll now move back towards the violence parents exhibit towards their children lately. I'm aware that there are plenty of normal families out there, but there are also reality tv shows based on parents that aren't doing such a great job. Everything is changing with the mood of this country. My grandmother's family came here because of the amazing opportunities offered. Now I'm thinking about eventually moving to Europe because of the amazing opportunities there, and more Europeans are electing to stay in Europe and feel sorry for the poor Americans. I'm not unhappy about being born American, not in the least, but I'm curious about what's happening, why everything is shifting. I'm reminded of "Pleasantville" when the teachers are going on and on about how everything is going downhill in the world and then Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon are transported to PLeasantville. On the surface everything is perfect, until they delve in the restrictive world that lies beneath piles of pancakes and a winning basketball team.

Maybe I've just spent so much time sugarcoating what my life could be that I'm not appreciating how lucky I am to have a farm to escape to, and an apartment in Manhattan, and animals and people that love me. I have friends and a boyfriend and a job and plenty of free time in the evening to watch "Friends" reruns and read long novels. I had a wonderful Christmas. I saw my grandmothers and great-aunts and family and some friends. I watched movies and ate cake and snuggled under the covers with my cat Edie. I can only hope that as 2006 quickly approaches I am able to look ahead to something bright and wonderful and decisive. I can only hope that people will find their anger dissipates as we work towards another year, a better one. With a better me.