After the Super Bowl "coming-out party" of Janet Jackson’s breast, the Federal Communications Commission announced it would raise fines for indecency on radio and television, and limit words and phrases on-air talents can say during broadcasts. Sounds like a good idea for protecting kids’ morals, right?
I won’t argue media censorship is unconstitutional because I am not a big fan of the Constitution, anyway. But once the media are censored, other things have to be censored, too.
The FCC and other groups want to limit what talents like Bono, Howard Stern and others say because the media have once again become an easy scapegoat for something that has gone wrong with America’s social fabric.
Parents and teachers do not want to have the responsibility to teach kids what words and actions they pick up from TV are "socially" frowned upon, but might not be "individually" wrong. (As the old saying goes, "To each his own.")
The hindering of television and radio programs kids can watch or listen to could be dangerous. Just let them experiment with whatever programming they choose. At the same time, kids should get guidance from their parents and teachers so they could learn about what they just watched or listened to. The fact is, meanings of words and actions are derived through learning. (When I have kids, I plan to let them watch and listen to whatever they want, as long as what they see and hear is explained to them.)
The lesser-known cause behind tighter censorship is the politicians in Washington, D.C., who don’t have a clue as to what they are doing anyway because they are the drones of even more uneducated constituents. They do not understand that the actual sources of vulgarity and violence influencing kids are capital and corporal punishment, sports, war and violent protests.
If the FCC, stressed-out media censorship groups, Democrats, Republicans and wild and crazy activists really want to crack down on social institutions that negatively influence kids, be consistent and start banning fighting in hockey and wrestling, stop glorifying certain amoral wars and — the one I would enjoy — stop protesting.
