Supreme Court Allows Internet Porn to Continue
A commentary by
Bruce Gore
United Church of God pastor, Birmingham and Gadsden, Alabama, and Rome
Georgia
Tuesday, June 29th the Supreme Court struck down a ban on Internet
porn designed to protect children from exposure to lewd and obscene sexual
matter on the Internet. This decision of the high court allows the continued
exposure of children to obscene subject matter.
The 1998 law, known as the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), never
took effect. It would have authorized fines up to $50,000 for the crime
of placing material that is "harmful to minors" within the
easy reach of children on the Internet, according to the Associated Press.
Parents often do not realize the powerful influence and potential damage
to children that the electronic media exerts through the Internet, electronic
games and television. The court's decision means that only parents
may carefully monitor media content accessible to their children.
Recently, the American Pediatric Association began recommending that
children under age 2 not watch television at all. Unfortunately, TV remains
as an electronic baby sitter in most modern families.
No period of time in the development of a child's mind is more
important than the first two to three years of life. Yet, according to
numerous studies, children who are allowed to watch TV several hours
a day are more likely to be obese, less literate and more deficient in
good social skills than those who watch little or no TV.
In February 2004, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report reviewing
more than 40 studies on the role of media in the nation's frightening
increase in obesity among its children. "The report concludes that
the majority of research strongly indicates that children who spend several
hours a day watching television are more likely to also be overweight.
"The health implications of childhood obesity are staggering," says
Vicky Rideout, Vice President and Director of the Kaiser Family Foundation's
Program for the Study of Entertainment Media and Health. "While
media is only one of many factors that appear to be affecting childhood
obesity, it's an important piece of the puzzle."
Like it or not, what they watch is teaching children their future values.
The constant diet of early evening sitcoms featuring young couples engaged
in one intimate relationship after another is not the example that prepares
children to build good marriages and stable families.
Children need to be encouraged to read, to use their minds. They need
to come up with ways of entertaining themselves instead of passively
sitting in front of a TV. Learning how to interact with others their
own age is valuable preparation for adult life. It gives them the opportunity
to learn how to relate to others and become skilled in negotiating their
way through difficult social situations and conflicts.
Dr. David Walsh, president and founder of the National Institute on
Media and the Family, published a paper, "Seven Building Blocks
for School Success." According to him, these building blocks are
the key to children becoming good students. They provide opportunities
for real human interaction and resourcefulness that television and other
electronic media do not.
A key building block is "the ability to pay attention." Explains
Dr. Walsh, "Evidence is growing that early TV exposure undermines
all the building blocks, and the new study is proof that tuning into
the tube at an early age contributes to attention problems and hampers
learning."
A nation's future, to a great extent, lies with its youth, with
the type of adults they become! Will they be responsible, moral, honest
and willing to put the real interests of their neighbors and country
ahead of their immediate personal desires? Will they listen to the biblical
advice, "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is
well pleasing to the Lord" (Colossians 3:20).
Parents need to recapture the leadership of their families. A good
start would be to minimize the influence of television on their children—and
on themselves. Controlling the content of what is watched would be another
step in the right direction. Both the lives and future of children greatly
benefit from increased parental involvement.
Maybe it's time to rearrange your furniture. Go to each room
of your home that has a TV. Notice how the chairs are arranged. Then
ask yourself: what does my chair arrangement say about my family priorities?
Has TV been stealing the impact and influence you should have on your
children? Or do they receive more time devoted to their guidance from
you, their parents, than from the electronic media? Seriously consider
the impact of electronic media on your children! They will be the true
beneficiaries. |
