that, political considerations in Bermuda today are causing large sections of Bermuda's people to question whether or not they have a secure place in the Bermuda of the future.

Uncertainty and a loss of hope for the future will produce a people whose lives are frustrated. There are any number of Bermudian parents and their children at every level of Bermudian society who have lost their sense of control over their own lives. They may not, in fact, have lost control of their lives and their lives may be more comfortable and more secure than ever but what is important is that they perceive that they are losing. The frustration caused by this sense of loss will inevitably spill over into all areas of life in Bermuda. Violence often accompanies a loss of hope.

Violence has already become commonplace in the lives of our children. Is it any wonder that some grow up as violent and dysfunctional adults, batterers at home and criminals in the streets. Violence is promoted and desensitised everywhere and too often violence is glorified as the exciting and macho way to go. Far too little is made of the other side of violence, the consequences of violent acts. We are told too seldom of the horror and the misery caused by violent acts. Too often violent acts are simply made to look like fun. Thus troubled children who are crying out for attention turn to violence as at least providing negative attention rather than no attention at all.

Parents have virtually no control over the exposure of their children to violence. Protection is impossible because violence is everywhere. As children try to grow up in a complex and increasingly demanding world they are surrounded by violence. It permeates their lives.

Violence, often involving sex, is paramount in film and television entertainment which uses it for excitement. It is in the schools which means it is a part of the education process during the school day. Violence is present in neighbourhoods which means that children go home and play amid violence, making adjustments and taking it for granted. Violence is accepted as part of team sport which has now become television entertainment and has to attract high ratings to survive and sell the products. The evening news features the violent acts of the day and glories in the double murder Simpson case. Newspapers reflect a violent society, often failing to emphasise the consequences of violent acts. And all too often, before they get to bed, children are subjected to violence in the home.

Violence is too often seen by people as a solution to the frustrations of life. It is hard to tell where we will be by the turn of the century but it is easy to see that we are headed for trouble.