Editorial

Many people were shocked at what happened during Janet Jackson's performance at the halftime show at the Super Bowl this year. But that pales in comparison with what is shown on MTV on a regular basis, including unrestrained sexual activity, violence, and self-mutilation.

Over the past 23 years, MTV has grown from a fledgling music network to become the most visible, visual, and vocal communicator of sexualized messages to teen and pre-teen audiences, according to the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families.

Powerful influence. Today, MTV reaches some 350 million households worldwide. Thirty-nine percent of the viewers are under the age of 18. Research has shown that 73 percent of boys and 78 percent of girls ages 12 to 19 watch MTV for more than six hours per week.

MTV has a powerful influence on today's youth. It helps define sexual values, not just reflect them, says the coalition. And that is very scary!

The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that "in the absence of effective, comprehensive sex education at home or in the schools, television and other media have become the leading sex educators of children and adolescents today."

Compare the amount of time kids watch MTV with the time they spend in religious education classes or attending Mass. I would wager a guess that most children spend more time watching MTV and less time in church-related activities.

Tips for parents. What can be done to reverse this trend? My first suggestion would be to refuse to allow MTV into my home. In fact, my husband and I didn't even subscribe to cable television until our children went to college.

The National Coalition started a Web site this year (www.stopmtv.org) that gives parents some excellent suggestions. The site includes information on requesting a "trap" from their cable company to block the channel.

The site also offers "talking points" for parents to use when discussing MTV with their teens. The coalition admits that getting rid of MTV in the home may present some tough parenting challenges. It encourages parents to sit down together with their kids, watch MTV, and talk through the messages that are being presented.

Parents should discuss whether MTV's programming, music videos, and song lyrics reflect the values their children hold to be true. Parents can ask their kids whether MTV encourages them to overstep their personal sexual boundaries. They can also ask how the values shown on MTV compare/contrast with what their parents have been teaching them.

Don't let MTV define values. Unless parents - and teachers in our schools and religious education programs, too - talk about these issues with our youth, they will be left with MTV defining their sexual values. This can lead to many problems in our society, including early sexual activity, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases.

The National Coalition's Web site (www.stopmtv.org) also has information on its Stop MTV Petition. Consider signing this petition and becoming part of this campaign to raise awareness and limit the impact that MTV has on our children. We must not let MTV define our kids' values.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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Vote for U.S. senators is crucial

To the editor:

On Nov. 2, voters in our state will choose a U.S. senator.

What few realize, though, is there is actually an office with a much longer term at stake. The next president will appoint at least two Supreme Court justices.

We must not forget that our senators will be voting on them. We cannot consider the Supreme Court only a presidential issue.

Instead, we must support Senate candidates who will then support our president's nominees. If a president's nominees are not confirmed, then the success of electing the president is fruitless. Thus, if you vote for a Senate candidate who will oppose your presidential candidate's nominations, you would be using one vote to counteract the other.

Lucille Lindloff, Reedsburg

Prayer vigil is life-affirming

To the editor:

Thank you to the Madison Diocesan seminarians and the Knights of Columbus who, under the direction of Bishop Robert C. Morlino and the Holy Spirit, sponsored the July 29 and 30 pro-life prayer vigil outside the Madison Planned Parenthood abortuary.

My husband Bob and I were blessed to be able to join in this charitable prayer witness in defense of innocent human life. From being shepherded by Bishop Morlino at the site in late afternoon to being led by the reverent seminarians in a late night "singing" rosary (by candlelight), the presence of God was evident.

We pray that other dioceses throughout the state and indeed throughout the country will follow this shining life-affirming example of the Madison Diocese.

Peggy Hamill, state director
Pro-Life Wisconsin, Brookfield