tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12597943.post2892899606745476086..comments2024-02-28T04:20:40.719-06:00Comments on THE LAST LIBERAL STANDING: If U Seek AmyBob Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18171655256407149176noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12597943.post-72438903188562588962009-02-27T23:54:00.000-06:002009-02-27T23:54:00.000-06:00I have to side with K. on this one. Lee, I'm sorr...I have to side with K. on this one. Lee, I'm sorry but you are in a tiny minority of responsible, caring parents. The vast majority do not get involved (for a variety of selfish reasons). <BR/><BR/>K. is saying society must have a roll and certain values must be shared for society to survive. As a sociologist (at least based on my college degree), I have to agree. But I'm not sure how to get there.Bob Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18171655256407149176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12597943.post-80408648587930866442009-02-22T14:27:00.000-06:002009-02-22T14:27:00.000-06:00So KMcKiernan is calling for a return to puritanic...So KMcKiernan is calling for a return to puritanical values? At the same time throwing up your hands saying. We cannot do anything! Its all out of control! boohoo go cry in the corner?<BR/><BR/>A few points. My kids DO have my context. I can site many examples where they choose not watch shows, listen to artists or call people on their behavior based upon values instilled upon them by my wife and myself. Of course as a parent you have to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Maybe thats what your referring too.<BR/><BR/>Blaming the raunch of our culture is, to me, the same as that Demon Rum, That Devil Rock and Roll music, That satanic Dungeons and Dragons, those Godless Liberals. Great scapegoating, totally oblivious to the actual problem and just another example of fear mongering.<BR/><BR/>Hold people accountable for their actions. Hold yourself responsible for your actions. Of course you have to have some kind of baseline morality to start from. That might be the entire problem. The Admonishment, your crying for, comes from you.<BR/><BR/>When sexting occurs, I can think of a dozen laws that have been violated. Hey! enforce them!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16303771842312819728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12597943.post-79489713173013122742009-02-21T15:58:00.000-06:002009-02-21T15:58:00.000-06:00The deal is this... it would be really easy to say...The deal is this... it would be really easy to say, "Lee is right," that this is a family/parental issue. But the saturation and permeation of raunch in our current culture has changed the fiber of.. well EVERYTHING. Kids no longer have our context... they have their own, highly glossed, highly sexualized, pornified version. <BR/><BR/>And, we cannot keep up. And, talking to OUR kids is simultaneously crucial and not enough, for there are millions who obviously have NOT been talked to. <BR/><BR/>Wizard brought up sexting--the new trend where tweens take pics of themselves naked and send them to their tween boyfriends. Technology is changing children faster than laws can keep up. Many articles are starting to surface about this shocking trend, yet they all focus on how unfair it is that these kids are being treated like sexual offenders.<BR/><BR/>Um, how about how unfair that a culture exists which does not admonish such acts but bears and perpetuates them.K McKiernanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17123775383178388693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12597943.post-9913668085215544702009-02-04T11:28:00.000-06:002009-02-04T11:28:00.000-06:00wow..."I don't think I've ever said this before, b...wow...<BR/><BR/>"I don't think I've ever said this before, but I tend to agree with Lee."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16303771842312819728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12597943.post-66945295805417636912009-02-03T14:25:00.000-06:002009-02-03T14:25:00.000-06:00So funny...I haven't heard the song, though get th...So funny...I haven't heard the song, though get this--I actually OWN the album! Yikes, right? K has always liked Britney Spears, and we have rooted for her during that prolonged funk she found herself in. So on a whim, I bought K the album for Christmas. We like "Womanizer" and "Circus." But I haven't heard much else on the album.<BR/><BR/>As for the song, I will have to hear it first obviously...and read the lyrics. Context is everything. I try to give everything and everyone--and certainly every piece of art--the benefit of the doubt until I have have a full knowledge of what I could be defaming. So, commentary specific to the song will follow shortly.<BR/><BR/>Regarding the larger issue--the appropriateness of an overtly-suggestive song playing on Top 40 stations across the country for young ears to hear--it is very tough. I don't think I've ever said this before, but I tend to agree with Lee. If questionable content plays on the radio (or, as more readily occurs in our house, on the TV...did you SEE some of those superbowl commercials? Good lord...), it is our duty to explicate it for the kids. If they are going to be knowledgeable of this stuff, it needs to be on an informed, mature basis.<BR/><BR/>And the thing is, this song is really just the tip of the iceberg. The stuff being peddled to kids on TV and in movies (especially on TV) is a barrage of sexually suggestive and/or explicit images that have already changed the fabric of our culture, and will only continue to do so.<BR/><BR/>K is especially well-versed on this topic, and I will let her know that this thread is on-going.<BR/><BR/>More later...for now, allow to shamelessly plug Cinema Squared...head over there to see my Best of 2008 article.J McKiernanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17782117896470164252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12597943.post-67098620259404074292009-02-01T11:11:00.000-06:002009-02-01T11:11:00.000-06:00It could be argued that there has been a large jet...It could be argued that there has been a large jettison of Moral Authority. That many things once held sacred (almost facistly sacred) are now trite and old fashion.<BR/><BR/>With no concept of an immortal soul that is imperiled by your actions regardless of getting caught...<BR/><BR/>Nightly shows and entire channels that foist the Hollywood bacchanal onto a pinnacle. <BR/><BR/>TV shows that have no consequence for actions taken or deflected same.<BR/><BR/>Talking heads who believe an argument consists of shouting and name calling fallacy. Tearing someone down = having a better idea.<BR/><BR/>Scare mongering nightly news shows that make parents wary to let kids be kids. The entire concept that it is too dangerous out there. <BR/><BR/>The okay given to ridicule positions of authority. etc.<BR/><BR/>Exactly what kind of activism or legislation would change any of the above?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16303771842312819728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12597943.post-11004680804716296352009-02-01T07:13:00.000-06:002009-02-01T07:13:00.000-06:00Lee, I certainly agree with your approach and appl...Lee, I certainly agree with your approach and applaud your parenting skills. Although my children are long grown, we tried to do the same things and they turned out beautifully.<BR/><BR/>But, as a society, it is disturbing we are enveloping our children in a sea of sexuality. We are appalled so many of them are drowning. <BR/><BR/>The use of cell phones to take and exchange nude or sexually explicite photos of teens and preteens is rampant. This is happening because we are sending the message that this is the right thing to do.Bob Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18171655256407149176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12597943.post-4629954605253025462009-01-31T23:39:00.000-06:002009-01-31T23:39:00.000-06:00When songs of questionable content would come on t...When songs of questionable content would come on the radio, my wife and I would inform our kids what was being portrayed in the song, how we felt about it and why.<BR/><BR/>Then depending upon the degree of concern we had about the song, we would either; let it be or change the channel.<BR/><BR/>Shielding them from stuff only means they are going to experience it without parental context.<BR/><BR/>Same for books, movies, television etc. We had many of these discussions over the years and then let them make their own choices.<BR/><BR/>This is something that families do.<BR/><BR/>If there was a radio station that catered to kids to 18, I would let the manager know that it is not appropriate. Otherwise, it's is much less then your average Rap and Hip-Hop.<BR/><BR/>It really is a non-issue as far as I can see.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16303771842312819728noreply@blogger.com