A Growing Cause For Concern

Early Man started off a million years ago struggling to survive and the only thing he wanted was to live to see the dawn of the next day. Fast forward a million years and the scene has changed. There’s only one thing that every teenager wants- Gadgets, flashy sports shoes, expensive watches and so on. Has luxury finally succeeded in eclipsing necessities?

There’s a common complaint about children these days, that they are unable to appreciate the beauty of nature around them. They are only excited and amazed by the newest gadget to release. This is alarming and a cause of great concern. To see people as slaves of these gadgets in the future is a very mean prospect. In the case of gadgets, it actually makes the child unhealthy as rather than going out to play with friends, they prefer to be glued to their devices. The United States Of America, which is one of the most gadget-friendly countries in the world, is also one of the most obese countries in the world.

There are very few children in the 21^st century who are able to appreciate the value of art or appreciate the intricacies of nature and its wonders. Even fewer have any aesthetic sense. They associate happiness with money and articles bought with money. This reflects poorly on our current generation. However, all is not lost and there is still a chance for us to revert to better ways. You don’t have to forsake all your gadgets or do something just as radical. Just balance everything. Spend time on gadgets, but don’t strive for only that. Spend time on other forms of recreation as well. We can all hope for a day when children are freed from the bondage of materialism. May the Earth prosper.

- Sharon John

VIII-A