Innocence?

There was this one song that came on every day in fifth grade. It was a decent song, but that's not why I remember it. In the first 30 seconds or so there was a swear, and everyone in the class would rush to the stereo and turn the volume dial down so you couldn't hear it. The thing is, it was edited already, so we couldn't have just left it alone, but it was much more fun knowing that we all knew the cuss word. We would do this everyday. I only raced to the stereo a couple of times, because I was a loner, but it still makes me happy that I did get to do it at least once. Like I belong to a secret club. The "Hot N Cold" club. Because that was the name of the song. You could listen to it if you want, but I'm not gonna order you to.

Sometimes I remember that ritual. And if that song ever comes on, I might just turn it down so you can't hear the curse. I wish I could go back to those days. When something such as small as "freaking" was a bad word. Nowadays, all songs consist of swear words. Like an endless bleep. I feel bad for little kids in fifth grade, who when they hear a cuss in a song, don't even blink an eye. They're used to it. I think that's a terrible thing to happen. Children today aren't as innocent. Or at least they are as innocent as long. Do they notice it slipping away? Or do they just wake up one day and start cussing up a storm? Do they feel pressure from other fifth graders to cuss and do bad things? Is it just the norm for them? Maybe.

Maybe they don't care one bit that songs are about bad things and the people around them talk about and do bad things, and the world is full of bad things. Maybe I just care about the innocence of the younger generation. Maybe I'm just sad that I'm not so innocent anymore. Maybe I'll just grow up and be the catcher in the rye, and have kids, and tell them: "Now don't you grow up on me." But they will. And I think I will be very sad for them. Maybe I just think to much.