In Friday's USA TODAY, reader Tom Seaman wrote this letter to the editor in response to the shootings at Northern Illinois. Read the letter below (courtesy of USA TODAY). Tom brings up some interesting views. While he says that Hollywood needs to cut down on violent imagery, he also says that parents need to better screen what movies and tv shows their kids watch.
Where does the line get drawn in terms of violence?
Tom brings up the role of religion. How much is religion part of the issue? How much is parenting part of the issue? Can school violence be truly linked to these issues?
Campus shooting is wake-up call
Tom Seaman - Mill Hall, Pa.
On Valentine's Day, America received another wake-up call: more than a dozen wounded and six dead at Northern Illinois University ("Student, shot in head, ran back for girlfriend," News, Monday).
* This shooting is a wake-up call for Hollywood to regulate violence in movies. Visuals are one of the most powerful means of teaching, and we reap what we sow. I'd like for screenwriters to stop sowing violence and death into the minds and hearts of our students.
* This is a wake-up call to the video game industry to re-evaluate the amount of violence in games. The evidence is clear. Children gain dangerous shooting skills by playing video games.
* This is wake-up call to parents to better screen what movies and TV programs their children watch.
* This is wake-up call to churches. We need to greatly increase our efforts to teach young people the ways of God. There are many students who are great at video games and strong in athletics but weak in their faith. This is a recipe for disaster in the future.
How many more school shootings before we wake up from our apathy?
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4 comments:
This is a hard one to chew, as I agree with Mr. Tom Seaman, until we get to the Church issue.
Religions play a big part in the Media industries. There are times when it’s hard to tell them from the Movie makers --- they all are after the Money. There are so many big churches, and these days the bigger the church, the more television shows they have.
Our churches have become one of the biggest businesses in America. Most of them rob the community blind, and many abuse the children. Our kids have lost faith in Religion.
In conclusion, WE, and I mean all of us, are at fault to what is happening to our children. We are so divided and live in a state of separation – and finger pointing. The government tells us how to raise our children, we can't even displine them anymore. It seems that there are a lot of things that need to be fixed in our society, how we go about doing it is beyond me. But I can say this, I started by telling my grandchildren the truth --- about every thing --- I tell them there is only one human race, and we are all one! When one person is hurt, we all feel it. This is what I believe!
This is a hard one to chew, as I agree with Mr. Tom Seaman, until we get to the Church issue.
Religions play a big part in the Media industries. There are times when it's hard to tell them from the Movie makers --- they all are after the Money. There are so many big churches, and these days the bigger the church, the more television shows they have.
Our churches have become one of the biggest businesses in America. Most of them rob the community blind, and many abuse the children. Our kids have lost faith in Religion.
In conclusion, WE, and I mean all of us, are at fault to what is happening to our children. We are so divided and live in a state of separation รข€“ and finger pointing. The government tells us how to raise our children, we can't even displine them anymore. It seems that there are a lot of things that need to be fixed in our society, how we go about doing it is beyond me. But I can say this, I started by telling my grandchildren the truth --- about every thing --- I tell them there is only one human race, and we are all one! When one person is hurt, we all feel it. This is what I believe!
It's a wake up call to all of us. Everything that was brought up in the letter describes something that wasn't thought of and that is everybody building walls.
Children build walls around themselves with video games and other forms of entertainment.
Hollywood builds walls by targeting those who want to be their audience and those who they want to slam.
I have personally seen many walls built by the church that exclude people of race, social standing, or generation.
We need to reach out to our neighbor and see if we can help the hurting. Maybe that might at least prevent one shooting.
In short, we may be to blame.
I need help on this one....
I say that because I totally agree with Amias and WIXY. This world has become a living, breathing, "Catch 22" situation.
Damned if you do, and damed if you don't.
Why are we so stuck?
Somebody help!!
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