It all started a little over a month ago when a certain
young entertainer decided to do a nasty performance and suddenly everyone was
talking about it. “What happened? She
used to be so sweet?” “How could her
parents let her do that?” “She was a
role model to so many kids. Why is she
acting so disgusting?” It was all over
social media, pop news, even making the regular news headlines, and my friends
were discussing it. I never watched the
actual performance, but I saw enough of the aforementioned headlines to know
how vulgar it was. She continues to stay
in the news with one disgusting thing after another. And people keep talking about her. (I know, I am too.)
It got me thinking. I
was actually surprised more by the reaction of the public then by the singer. This is a young woman who grew up in the
spotlight. All she knows is that women
are expected to act a certain way in this business or they haven’t “made it” or
“grown up” yet. She doesn’t even have to
be in the business to feel this way. Young
women don’t know that they are beautiful even when covered up. They don’t know that they are more attractive
to boys when they allow themselves to be more mysterious. They don’t understand that how they dress can
either make them a piece of meat or a respectable person with a brain. Young women think that, in order to get
attention, they have to act and dress a certain way. They are taught this by peers, media, and
sometimes even their own mothers.
Our culture has completely lost its censorship. Morning TV ads now show racy commercials and
the talk shows’ talking heads can’t seem to stop talking about sex. A television show is completely based on
adultery. There are reality shows based
on teen pregnancy. And don’t get me
started on MTV. Isn’t it just porn set
to music? We can’t even watch a funny
video on YouTube without some little side bar video of pornography being
displayed. We see women degenerated to
objects on billboards as we drive down the street, on building-sized ads while
walking through the mall, and magazine covers with explicit captions, standing
in line at the grocery store. We listen
to radio stations, where song after song is about fornication. And it’s not just the media. I can’t even go to a church campout without
seeing young women in the neighboring camp wearing next to nothing. My friend asks, “Where does it go from here?” I say, “Naked is all that’s left.” My husband drives my son to his basketball
game and a lady crosses the street in front of them wearing only a bikini. I walk into the library and on the front
display case is a gay novel with a disgusting image. These images get burned into our brains. How am I supposed to protect my children’s innocence
in this world?
I started pondering. Then
I realized that I was part of the problem.
I had watched PG-13 movies that acted out sacred relations. I had watched these television shows where
one woman would date and kiss and have premarital relations with more than one
guy. I had purchased music by singers
who were half-naked on their album covers.
I thought I wasn’t in the wrong because I would change the channel when
an awkward scene came on, cover my eyes at the theater, skip the scene on the
DVD, or only listen to the good songs. But
I PAID to see that movie, I
was part of the ratings on that TV show, I BOUGHT
that album. I was giving my money to
people who were using something so sacred and holy and turning it into
something vile and ugly. We all are the
problem. We all are buying into it. And that needs to change.
I am going to stop buying anything that doesn’t hold up to
my beliefs. I am going to refrain from
watching shows that don’t have a high ethical and moral standard. I am going to really review a movie’s ratings
before I rent or buy a ticket. I will
only shop at stores that don’t objectify women to sell their products. I will only buy clothing that will hold up to
my standards of modesty. I refuse to
listen to any music that is suggestive in any way. I refuse to watch TV networks that show scandalous
advertising. I know that sounds like
burying your head in the sand, but it’s not.
We can seek out wholesome, uplifting, and inspirational entertainment. I watched a conference broadcast from my
church last weekend and it really got me thinking that we need to take a stand
for what’s right.
They say we are the “silent majority”. Well let’s be the silent majority. If we stick to our beliefs and refuse to let
the entertainment industry push us around, by our silence they will feel it in
their pocketbooks and they will have to make a change. They will see that good, enriching entertainment
is what we want and they will make it.
Please spread the word. I alone
cannot do this by myself. Maybe this
blog is only read by close friends and family.
Maybe no one decides to change their media habits. But if I alone am the only one who does, that
is the best I can do for me and my children and this blog would be worth it.
