Last Friday, author, historian and former presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan published an opinion article in the Wall Street Journal that I found both interesting and disturbing. Titled "We're Scaring Our Children to Death," the article discussed the proliferation of frightening images to which our children are continually exposed on television and the movies. The most recent example is the nearly constant airing, over several days, of frightening images of Cho Seung-Hui, the Virginia Tech murderer, glaring into the camera with his emotionless eyes, brandishing weapons, and ranting his litany of hatred. The aftermath of terrorist attacks, apocalyptic predictions about the effects of global warming, and televised dramas featuring unrelenting, graphic violence are all staples of modern news and entertainment programming.
It entertains and informs adults. But what does it do to our children?
I've written in this blog before about the role of the proliferation of violent imagery in desensitizing our children to violence, but Ms Noonan's article brings a fresh viewpoint to the discussion and is worth your time in reading - check it out at http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110009992. Ask yourself what type of adults we grow when we raise them on constant images of violent death, scientific disaster hype, and the newsworthy details of sexual predators. What happened to childhood?
The problem is, of course, worse in those countries where real violence, not just images, is a fact of life. Across the Middle East, and particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, generations of children are growing up scarred by relentless and random violence, much of it encouraged by the very religious leaders who ought to be speaking out against it. What type of adults will rule these nations in the future, having been shaped in childhood by a culture of constant violence and hate?
Children at home and abroad are being robbed of childhood. We can't do much about the rest of the world, but I think we ought to be paying more attention to the problem at home. The news and entertainment industries will continue to broadcast violent images - the adage, "If it bleeds, it leads" is a cornerstone of news broadcasts, and action shows featuring explosions and other violence are easier and cheaper to film than a thoughtful "Masterpiece Theater" drama. But we need to think seriously about what we're doing.
You only get one chance to be a child. And it's the job of parents (and grandparents, now that I'm one) to make sure that opportunity is used to grow happy children into healthy, well-adjusted adults.
Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.
Bilbo
Well i agree that there has been a dramatic increase of violent content in the media.Even Oprah which used to be a make-you-feel-good show has become more realistic in the sense that they broadcast more disturbing images.I know there are a lot of bad people in this world-paedophile,rapists psychopaths etc.But constantly being bombarded by news about only them and broadcasting the gruesome images only makes me more cynical and lose faith in the human nature.Why does news have to be only about the bad things?Why cant they run a centre peice on someone who gave generously to charity or rescued someone?Even if such things are mentioned its usually at the back corner of the newspaper.Im not saying we have to cover things up and pretend it doesnt exist but it would be nice to strike a healthy balance-for all our sakes children and adult alike!
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