The reality of a busy western society is that most people work all day so that they can pay the bills and buy all the flashy things which are advertised. Consequently not much energy and feeling remains for the event that matters most ... child care. In general most adults are exhausted, stressed and worried about their material existence - feeling unconformable under the pressure of economic demands, along with the competitive and aggressive environment. As such, many adults might not be in a position to be good parents, for kids derive their peace of mind from the parents’ loving care. And if the parents cannot provide proper care, children will inevitably become unsettled - not to mention the influence upon young of the racing consumerist culture, which today pervades everything. Hence it is not surprising that our children often suffer from depression (BBC news 6-Oct-2004: Parents fear depression in young).
The way to tackle this problem can only lie in rethinking the way we live our everyday lives. We need to slow down, work less hours in a day and value more our state of mind and heart, rather than the acquisition of toys. However, this does not seem to be happening, instead we view commercials which recommend various chemical cures which offer to makes us feel “fresh” despite continuing to ruin our bodies and psyche. Instead of having proper rest and a positive attitude, we reach for drugs, or maybe seek counselling, but there are not enough psychologists available (BBC news 17-May-2004: Drugs substituted for counselling). Our children get their portion of anti-depressant drugs as well, and this seems to be increasing (BBC news 18-Nov-2004: Child antidepressant use 'rising' )
So we, the “developed countries”, do not seem to live naturally, and then try to remedy this with technology, with more “management”. Maybe we should start to contemplate that the future, primarily, does not really lie in faster and faster technology but in human good-will?
"For what profits a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Mt 16:26