Responsible Parenting
I know that everyone is worried about the state of our economy and health care. These are serious concerns. But I have become increasingly worried about the state of our sense of morality.
What does it mean when Whoopi Goldberg decides that what Roman Polanski did to a 13-year-old girl was not “rape-rape”? I have no idea what she is talking about. The last I knew drugging then penetrating a 13-year-old was illegal and called rape. Perhaps Ms. Goldberg has a whole new way of viewing things. In her world, I wonder if you can be pregnant but not pregnant. Or maybe that is called being a little bit pregnant.
Certainly we are all entitled to free speech in this country. But when Hollywood icons spew forth such inappropriate and simply wrong information, I worry about the impact on our children.
And then we have David Letterman doing comedy routines about his infidelities. There is nothing funny about cheating. And to joke about this and laugh with his audience about the “chilliness” in his house is a sad statement about what we are willing to tolerate.
I suppose stars have always been able to get away with inappropriate behavior. After all, where would tabloids be if everyone behaved? And we don’t want to put anyone else out of work. But wouldn’t it be great if stars recognized that they have the power to influence many people? And they used that power in a positive way. Or, at the very least, they refrained from making such stupid comments as it was not “rape-rape.”
Since I am relatively well-grounded in reality, I doubt that this will happen in the near future. So, parents, please pay attention to what your kids are watching on television and reading in the media. Talk to them about important issues such as rape and adultery. Teach them about respecting others and not abusing power. Because we can’t count on the village to raise our kids. We must do it ourselves.
