COMMENT: I was hugely disturbed by two things recently. One was the mental health and suicide statistics for New Zealand, the other was watching the movie Spotlight which details the investigation into child abuse and the systemic cover up by the Catholic church in Boston (as well around the world).
I was frequently abused by a relative (as were some cousins) during my childhood and it is clear the adults, who must have suspected, did nothing and even when told directly, went to ground. There are two types of wrong - the first is a direct act of harm. the second is withholding good.
In 1983 Neil Postman wrote a piece called the Disappearance of Childhood. He made a convincing case that childhood was an incredible social construct that came from the ability to separate adult knowledge from that which could be accessed by children - by and large through literacy levels and the caring and protective approach taken by the adults in the family and societal institutions such as schools.
This is the best time in the history of humanity to grow up. People across the planet are better fed, better educated, live longer and have more career opportunities. This perspective does not suit crisis-based media and politicians and adults who need some form of desperation to seek funding to perpetuate their organisations and causes.
Children have always been dumped on by insecure adults and those with causes who seek to lay blame. Children are also seen to be an easy market for gaming, social media and IT entrepreneurs. Children get neglected by family members who work too many hours, drink too much and simply don't know how to make time.
