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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
The Solution's Simple: Just Turn the TV Off!
I’m glad our Constitution includes the first amendment. It protects the right of the people’s freedom of expression, but battles have raged in our courts regarding the limits of that amendment. What about obscenity – is it really protected by it?
Consensus has been reached that some limits are attached to it. You cannot shout, “FIRE!!” in a crowded theater if there is no fire. Punishment for libel and slander are severe, but other serious questions remain. For example, what constitutes obscenity?
In 1957 the Supreme Court defined obscenity as material in which:
“…applying contemporary community standards, the dominant theme as a whole appeals to prurient interests.”
Those words are so vague and so evasive that obscenity laws are seldom enforced in any community.
Some civil libertarians argue that any limitation is a form of censorship forbidden by that first amendment. They also claim that books, TV, movies and music are not a negative influence on our society, collectively or individually.
Complete suppression of artistic expression has danger. We do not advocate that, but calling restraint ‘censorship’ is just a smokescreen, and a very poor one at that.
HELP? OR HARM?
If we deny that someone can ever be harmed or corrupted by a book – or a play or a movie – we also must deny that someone can ever be benefited or improved by them. If the capability of “help” exists, it must be admitted that capability of “harm” also exists.
Certain medications are capable of giving aid to the sick, but we place restrictions on obtaining them because they are also capable of harm. No, this is not a plea for censorship.
“CAN’T LEGISLATE MORALITY”?
This charge is pure nonsense. In the first place, we have “legislated” many forms of ‘morality’ for centuries. Rape, murder, child abuse, embezzlement, “insider trading” and sexual harassment are in the news constantly. Men and women are charged and convicted of these offenses on a regular basis. Such ‘legislation’ cannot guarantee moral behavior, but it does serve as a means of protecting individual rights, and punishment is routinely meted out on these and similar charges.
“JUST TURN OFF THE TV”?
At first glance this solution appears to have merit. If you don’t like the action on the screen, just “turn the dial” or touch the remote. This way everyone has control of their life. It does sound good at first. However, while that may prevent my family from being offended by the language, nudity, violence or “prurient” behavior, it does nothing for the society in which we live.
That is like suggesting that the solution to a neighborhood drug problem is for me to refuse to buy illegal drugs. The obvious problem is seen in the news daily; the person/s who do use and distribute those illegal drugs may come and rob my house – and yours – in order to obtain money for the drugs they want.
That is not the solution! Mark it well: Evil has an impact on us all!
Proof of such statements is found in the most likely places, our local and national news.
- A Boy Scout troop leader was tried, convicted and sentenced to thirty years in prison for assaulting two members of his troop. A subsequent search of his house produced over 600 lewd pictures of children.
- A man, having been convicted of molesting over 100 children in a major American city, admitted that he used pornographic films to break down the children’s resistance to his advances.
- A Wisconsin man, convicted of molesting 15 young children, admitted that the ideas for his actions came from pornographic magazines.
WORDS CAN SELL…AND CAN HURT
Every January brings stories of millions of dollars being spent on Super Bowl commercials. Why? Because sellers know words and pictures persuade viewers to buy.
If the owners had to support the publication of daily newspapers without funds brought in from local merchants’ advertising, none of us could afford them. Words…written on paper…can promote and sell that which a nation produces.
It is also true that words…written on paper…can sell the wares of Satan to old and young alike. That’s why parents must be willing to turn off the TV or change the channel when the fare is salacious and “prurient” (look up that word). We also must be willing to refuse to purchase – by satellite or mail – that which is biblically and morally offensive and harmful to us and to others. We may even be forced to refuse to patronize some merchants for these same reasons.
Jesus said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits,” Matthew 7:16, 20.
Carl B. Garner
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“The decline of literature indicates the decline of a nation.”
“Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak,”
“Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another,”
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