Well, when I was young everyone faced a risk of being sent to war... the day the lottery was held for being sent to Viet Nam was not a good one. But, this is off topic and I am not a good person to discuss this with. For despite my anti-war views, one of my kids enlisted and is a Marine. See, you can't protect your kids! I wanted my kids to be strong and independent and that's just what happened. And there are many people who see the military just as one would see any viable career.
As a former teacher, I saw my share of kids whose needs weren't met. But, you know, this happened when I was a kid, too. It was just hidden. We had alcoholic parents, abusers, lots of moms popping pills, and I remember one dad who suddenly "disappeared" because of some funny business with his teenage daughter. And I grew up in a very nice upper middle class suburb. Yet, we were all supposed to be perfect families. My DH endured horrible verbal and physical abuse growing up. He couldn't focus in school and didn't achieve his potential until long after he left home... yet no one ever thought there was a reason for his behavior, because they didn't see the big picture. My mantra is "there is always a reason for behavior."
There's a difference between kids not having basic attachment, good parenting, or unsafe living conditions and giving your kids freedom. And most of the time, I found that there are often very good reasons for parents acting this way... poverty, substance abuse, spousal abuse, or just plain ignorance about good parenting.
Bad things have happened in history throughout time. You can't let that affect the way you live your life.