I think that you make many valid points. I have often thought of the way our society presents so much to youth through the media and other devices. They produce an image of life that these youth accept as reality, and for many it is. Life in America has become one that is filled with violence and the naivety of children is destroyed at a younger age with each day. Our society cannot ignore the violence of the world today, we cannot shelter our children from it. I find it sad that the world is so violent, but that is the way it is. The media shows a reality that may not be true for some, but for others it is a harsh reality that they must face daily. Things like race do come into factor. It is a fact that African Americans create more acts of violence than the typical caucasian. This has to do with the issue of equality. Often African Americans inhabit the ghettos of America. They are not offered the same "protected" environment as the caucasian living in an upper class community. Although both are exposed to the horrors of the media, only one experiences it as a way of life.