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Day 20
Teaching Them to Kill (Bill?)
By Al Menconi
An
important study showed that kids over
8 years of age log an average of 6 hours
and 45 minutes of media time every day,
amounting to 47 hours, 15 minutes a week. That’s
a full time job!
"This study really underscores
the importance of paying attention to
the messages and the information kids
are getting from the media, both good
and bad," said Drew Altman, president
of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which
conducted the study. ( Denver Post, 11/27/99
)
The Children Now’s survey of
1,200 boys, ranging in age from 10 to
17, revealed that their favorite entertainment
often depicts brutality as a heroic way
to solve problems. "Its gender straight-jacketing," said
Harvard psychologist William Pollack. "These
boys believe that in order to be real
men – like the ones in the media – they
have to be violent and aggressive." ( North County Times, 9/30/99
)
"The real impact is not so much
that violent images always create violent
behavior," says Dr. David Walsh,
president of the National Institute on
Media and the Family, "but that
they create an atmosphere of disrespect.
The kid who sees a violent movie and
imitates what he sees is very unusual,
but we’re seeing pushing, shoving,
and hitting among children occurring
with increasing frequency. There’s
a subtle shift from 'Have a nice day'
to 'Make my day.'" (PTC E-Alerts, 12/13/99
)
Where will it all end? Some say it’s
becoming disastrous and deadly: "Children
are no longer just at risk of being influenced
by the mass media. They are also being
psychologically trained to kill," says
Lt. Col. David Grossman, who sees real
comparisons in the depiction of media
violence with the methods used by the
U.S. Armed Forces to train soldiers to
shoot the enemy. Grossman points to a
study in JAMA (the Journal of the American
Medical Association) that estimated about
10,000 homicides, 70,000 rapes, and 700,000
assaults per year in this country are
a direct result of media violence. (Christian
Film & Television Commission Newsletter , 12/99)
Is it any wonder we see so much violence
in society? The next time you read about
a senseless act of violence by today’s
younger generation, remember what the
experts say is a cause.
Reflection: Are you
beginning to see a link between violence
and the media? Do the media you allow
in your home tend to emphasize sexuality
or violence? Both? Neither? What impact
does it have on you? On your family?
Do you still believe it doesn’t’ affect
anyone?
Response: After completing The
Full Tilt Media Challenge why
not continue to turn off your television
at least one night a week and play
a table game with your family? This
is an excellent way to find out their
true personalities and give you insights
for further communication.
Verse of the Day: Proverbs 22:24
"Keep away from angry, short-tempered
men, lest you learn to be like them
and endanger your soul." (Living
Bible)
Much of today's entertainment – especially
certain types of rock and rap music and
some video games – expresses the
heart of angry, short-tempered men (and
women). Their anger spills out through
their songs and games. Scripture warns
us over and over again that associating
with angry people will lead us to become
more like them. Hundreds of valid research
projects have found the same thing. This
verse warns us that if we don't stay
away from this type of entertainment,
it will ultimately undermine our spiritual
walk.
Do you get angry easily? Are you short-tempered?
Are you impatient with others? Maybe
you should evaluate your entertainment.
Do you entertain yourself with programs
or listen to music that reinforces anger
and violence as a way to deal with life's
problems? Do they portray angry people
in a positive manner; if so, you shouldn't
wonder why you are struggling in this
area. The Bible promises that you will!
Occasionally, a person will proudly
tell me that his angry music and violent
video games help him channel his anger.
It might help you channel and focus your
anger, but it doesn’t eliminate
your anger. It’s still there when
you finish playing that violent game
or turn off the angry music. May I suggest
that you give your anger to God? Ask
Him to take it from you and stop feeding
it with your entertainment.
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