My son came into the living room early this afternoon, and without a word, tuned the television to the Cartoon Network. He just smiled as the images came up on the TV. It was Bugs Bunny...one of my favorites...and I spent the next several minutes watching quietly.

I used to love watching the Saturday morning cartoons. There was nothing quite like eating cereal while watching Bugs Bunny and the Road Runner. And not just Bugs Bunny...every Saturday there was a steady stream of cartoons to chose from.

Saturday belonged to the children...young or old...and I for one miss those days.

I don't know exactly when the Saturday morning cartoons vanished. I believe it happened slowly, replaced by something thoroughly adult, I'm sure. I can't help but notice that since thet cartoons have gone, so too has gone the innocence of youth.

There was a time when children created new worlds in their imaginations, they played in the yard with nothing but sticks and mud, and they watched cartoons on Saturday mornings. They were sheltered from the horrors of the world, not dragged into it, kicking and screaming. The only violence they were subjected to came in the form of an assortment of Acme cartoon gadgets blowing up a cartoon coyote.

So whose idea was it to take away the cartoon violence only to replace it with violent movies, video games, and real life news?

I, for one, think we need our cartoons back.

In my house Bugs Bunny is still a staple. As my son did this afternoon, we embrace it every chance we get. There is a lesson in there...I'm sure of it!

Until the next time...I'll be flipping the channels looking for cartoons!