Do you think life has become so devalued because of how we hear every single day, this one died, that one ..?

Yes. I do. I think, however, that that phenomenon began years ago during 1960's. As a child, the immediacy of television broadcast the riots in the streets of Watts and other locations, the death and destruction in Vietnam, the Soviet/Czech crisis in Czechosloviakia, the 1968 riots surrounding the Democratic Convention in Chicago, and the attacks on peaceful protestors in the South by dogs, police, and water hoses. I saw all those things and even then, as a little girl, I knew that it would have a permanent effect on our society.

I am dissapointed to say that it has. As violence has increased in our contemporary culture to immeasurable proportions, there is almost a palpable apathy among people in general. My belief is that this general indifference has led to the degradation of our current US society.

You see, I remember how things were--at least in the United States--before that era. There was a blissful ignorance, of sorts. On the whole, families may not have had very much, but they were a lot more at peace and content than now. Now that the media glorifies gore, not only through news, but in advertisements and entertainment, that time has come and gone. Particularly after the events of September 11th, we'll never look at things in the same way.

As one who still values life, and still prays for people when they are missing or are feared to be or known to be dead, optimistically, I would like to say that it's possible for the tides to turn. Realistically, however, I don't know how possible it is. I believe it was Jesse Jackson's 1988 bid for the Presidency when he coined the phrase, "Keep hope alive!" At this point, I believe a more realistic rallying cry would be, "Ressurect hope!"

No life has not been devalued by media coverage of atrocities. In my opinion, life is more precious because of it. I hold onto my son and my life a little tighter each time I hear about those things. It make me realize that life is so short and if meant for living not hate and hostility. I would love to have the answer to what to do to end the suffering, but I don't. I do know that I appreciate my family and friends more because I see that they are blessings that should be treasured.