School violence: What is to be done?

It was absolutely horrifying to read of your brilliantly designed "toy" weapon. Any parent reading about that would silently cringe and thank God that the weapon wasn't patented and put on the market for boys' fun and games.

It brings to mind that in the event the "toy" were being manufactured in China, there would be double, or triple, danger.

It seems mankind cannot restrain itself from making ever more effective weaponry.

It was Boudelaire, I believe, who said that technology would be mankind's downfall. With our modern weaponry included under the umbrella of technology (and why wouldn't it be?), the philosopher was absolutely correct.

In my opinion it is largely a question of when, not if, we will experience this downfall.

What is truly a solemn contemplation is that before this happens, children will not have had the joy and satisfaction of creating while in the dedicated business of playing, building conscience and ethics all the while enjoying themselves at something other than some fake electronic world.

Do children (girls, primarily) jump rope anymore? Play hopscotch (no, no, that would be criticized as graffiti)? It's a sad commentary on our present state of affairs.

It seems there are many of us Sf worried about the direction our leaders are taking us. And we only have to look at what is happening to our children to fear the very worst for America.