Freedom Of Speech vs. Morality

Welcome back to The Expressionist Magazine

This article is something that’s near and dear to my heart, something I wish and hope that everyone who reads this will listen to and apply to their everyday lives.  I don’t know if you actually look at the entertainment industry nowadays, but it’s grown out of control on so many aspects.  For instance, look at the celebrities with their drinking and drug use.  They seem to have total disregard to their community, mocking the judicial system by getting off easy simply because of their name.  We also can’t forget to mention the violence and vulgarity on the silver screen that’s piped through our television and radio.  Things are not like they used to be.

Growing up in the 80s, it was taboo to say the word “damn” on the television or radio.  Now anything goes except the “f-bomb” and sadly enough, the word God.  In today’s radio and television we glorify sex, murder, gangs, blood, guts and gore.  Though absolutely hilarious, we show television programs that depict people doing stupid stunts that we all want to try.  Now, none of this stuff would have been seen 20 some years ago. Yet, today this is what our children are watching and want to be like. Where did our values go?  Ask the ACLU.

Despite all the violence, swearing and sex on television, the silver screen, radio and the Internet, those that watch also idolize these situations and celebrities that are running a muck.  This is a scary situation that predicts a dismal future.  Why you ask?  Those that idolize and want to replicate these stunts and behavior are our children.

Since the 1980s with morals in the trash can, we have seen a huge increase in violence.  I don’t know how many times children and those easily influenced have been on trial for a crime they saw or heard through music, television or the movies.  They literally act them out in real life, forgetting that this is not the way of life we live.  Those on the silver screen that were killed or raped or what-have-you, are sitting nicely in their trailers collecting a huge paycheck to “act” that incident out and “play” a victim.  However, our children don’t know that, and neither to the easily influenced.  That does not excuse the fact that now their lives are forever ruined and the reality of their actions slap them hard in the court of law.  They don’t have a name to get them off of their crime, and their victims may not always get up or live their lives the same again.

With this new revolution of “anything” goes I have also seen an alarming increase of parental disrespect by children that the parents just take and do nothing about.  I see troubled teens turning to the fantasy world for answers, when their parents are right in the next room… or are they?

That’s exactly my point, as parents it’s our duty to monitor what our children are watching and listening to.  It’s okay to let them watch that stuff and listen to those explicit lyrics in music as long as you do your job and parent them.  Talk to them about that song or movie, tell them what is right and what is wrong and why it’s wrong and what the consequences are.  Tell your children that talking back, and disrespecting you as a parent is wrong and will not be tolerated.  Let them know that you are always here to help them out with any problem they have, and that the only role model they need in their lives is you.  Like it or not you are their role model, and they should mimic you in everything you do; another reason to live life the best way you can.  Modern America, with all the goodies and luxuries we want, condemns us to work almost around the clock.  Yet, those who suffer are the children, despite the fact they can go to school in their own BMWs.

Don’t let them be influenced by these celebrities, and don’t let fantasy glorify your children or family into doing something that they will forever regret.  As America turns for the worst down the road of morality, it’s our duty to remind those what the right morals are that our founding fathers infused into our great country.  Be their parent and not their friend, that is the only way you can keep from seeing your child’s face in the newspaper for something you absolutely don’t want.

I can think of two great songs that depict what I am saying to the fullest.  Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young sang, “Teach your children well, their father’s hell did slowly go by, and feed them on your dreams, the one they picked, the one you’ll know by.”  And probably the one by Whitney Houston, “I believe that children are our future, teach them well and help them lead the way, show them all the beauty they posses inside.”  It’s a simple thing to do, while lending wisdom to your child and spending quality time with them.