I want to solicit your support to change the environment our children and grandchildren are being raised in. Decades ago there was a movement to bring awareness about the polluting of our air and water by irresponsible corporations. I want to help bring awareness to the polluting of young minds. I am a capitalist and believe in free enterprise, but we cannot truly be free if our freedom enslaves or endangers others.
Our children are growing up in a sea of filth and breathing the air of violence. The entertainment industry is unfettered in their relentless attack on our youth for profit. Instead of investing in our young people they have depleted our greatest resource by bombarding them with movies, music, TV shows and web sites that are contaminated with sexually explicit, violent and perverse messages. The moral fiber of our children is being stripped away with hardly a protest.
John Adams, the second President of the United States and one of our founding fathers said “we have not government armed with power that is capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion”. He knew that our human passions needed to be “bridled”. He also indicates that government is not capable of dealing with a people that loses its’ morality. If we do not govern the pollution that is being spewed upon our youth every day by the entertainment industry we will drown in its’ filth.
The envelope is being pushed further and further by the entertainment industry. What was once innuendo is now blatant and in your face. Rap “Artists” like Scarface fill their CD’s with violent, perverse, sexually depraved lyrics that fuel the testosterone charged teen boys into despicable behavior. Our girls are taught by “artists” like Christine Aguilera to give their bodies to boys for abuse and abandonment. Movies, TV shows, video games and web sites abound that encourage violent and immoral behavior that is repulsive to most parents and grandparents without abatement. The entertainment industry has proven that they aren’t capable of producing a healthy product for our children, like a child that refuses to listen they need a time out.
Our government regulates the food industry, pharmaceutical companies, utilities and the environment, why don’t we regulate the entertainment industry? The first amendment is often used as an excuse; do you really think the founders intended it to be used to defend sexually explicit and violent material? It was written to protect political speech, religious freedom and a free press.
We hold corporations responsible when they pollute the environment, or produce a drug that has side effects, or when they manufacture a product that hurts or kills people. Why shouldn’t we hold the entertainment industry liable for the destructive results of their product on our children? In the last 40 years wince we deregulated the entertainment industry we have seen a dramatic increase in sexually transmitted disease in our youth, an increase in teen pregnancy and youth violence. The entertainment industry has contributed to the delinquency of minors.
For the sake of the future of our nation we must create a healthy, nurturing environment for our children that will help them raise the standard so that we will continue to be the greatest nation in the world. As Alexander De Toqueville commented when he was sent by France over a century ago to find out why there was so little crime in our nation “America is great because it is good, it will cease to be great when it ceases to be good”.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Hit the road Jack
The Following is a letter that I emailed to Jack Camper the President of the Tucson Chamber of Commerce. Most of you have heard about the calls for him to retire. I wanted to give him an opportunity to respond and share the positive things that they are doing to promote business on our radio station. He did respond to the email but has not agreed to appear on KVOI or to appear on the other talk shows that have been covering this story. I think it is time that Jack either step up and proactively represent the chamber or retire.
Dear Jack,
Since this controversy began I have been ambivalent about it. I know we have problems in Tucson and have been personally focused on changing the city council, but I don't know if the Chamber is part of the problem. I give our talk show hosts (Jim Parisi, Joe Higgins and Chris DeSimone) the same freedom news reporters have. I only step in if they violate FCC regulations (including moral and ethical issues). So I have stayed out of the controversy. I contacted you because I wanted you to be able to tell your story on Wake up Tucson or the Jim Parisi show. I contacted the hosts and they would like to have you on. I don't see the Chamber proactively attacking this controversy. It seems like you have adopted a bunker mentality. I think this is a mistake. If you were out there on the different talk shows (Jon Justice, Wake Up Tucson, Jim Parisi, KNST, John C. Scott) pitching the things you are doing it would not only resolve this issue, it would propel the Chamber forward. It reminds me of President Obama's stance to not go on Fox News. Certainly he feels more comfortable talking to "friendly" folks like Chris Mathews. But, if he crossed the line and went on Fox he would win over many who currently oppose him. Wake Up Tucson and Jon Justice have been pretty hard on Rodney Glassman. But, since Rodney went on their shows the buzz has changed. I am not involved with the people that are asking for your resignation, I am a member of the Chamber and have sponsored some of your events. I am not your enemy. You don't need to come on our talk shows, but you need to engage this controversy and turn it in to something positive. Otherwise it tells me that it is time for you to retire.
Dear Jack,
Since this controversy began I have been ambivalent about it. I know we have problems in Tucson and have been personally focused on changing the city council, but I don't know if the Chamber is part of the problem. I give our talk show hosts (Jim Parisi, Joe Higgins and Chris DeSimone) the same freedom news reporters have. I only step in if they violate FCC regulations (including moral and ethical issues). So I have stayed out of the controversy. I contacted you because I wanted you to be able to tell your story on Wake up Tucson or the Jim Parisi show. I contacted the hosts and they would like to have you on. I don't see the Chamber proactively attacking this controversy. It seems like you have adopted a bunker mentality. I think this is a mistake. If you were out there on the different talk shows (Jon Justice, Wake Up Tucson, Jim Parisi, KNST, John C. Scott) pitching the things you are doing it would not only resolve this issue, it would propel the Chamber forward. It reminds me of President Obama's stance to not go on Fox News. Certainly he feels more comfortable talking to "friendly" folks like Chris Mathews. But, if he crossed the line and went on Fox he would win over many who currently oppose him. Wake Up Tucson and Jon Justice have been pretty hard on Rodney Glassman. But, since Rodney went on their shows the buzz has changed. I am not involved with the people that are asking for your resignation, I am a member of the Chamber and have sponsored some of your events. I am not your enemy. You don't need to come on our talk shows, but you need to engage this controversy and turn it in to something positive. Otherwise it tells me that it is time for you to retire.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Don't Muzzle Me
I just got back from the National Religious Broadcasting conference. There was a debate between Barry Lynn (Americans United for the Separation of Church and State) and Craig Parshall (NRB counsel and constitutional law specialist). It was a great discussion. Essentially Barry believes that we should have freedom of religion as long as it is kept within the walls of the church or synagogue. He obviously does not appreciate that our nation was founded by those that came here so that they could freely express their religion and not have to cow tow to the Church of England. He would greatly limit public expression of religion and agrees with the College of Los Angeles in the Lopez case.
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4823
Craig Parshall argued that the 1st amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion. It would seem that this will be a defining issue in our time. Do we go the way of Stalinist Russia, or Nazi Germany and abolish religious expression unless it validates the state. Hitler did that when he locked up all the pastors that disagreed with him and got minions in religious robes to back him in his persecution of the Jews.
As Martin Niemoller said when he was asked why he supported the NAZI party:
“I find myself wondering about that too. I wonder about it as much as I regret it. Still, it is true that Hitler betrayed me. I had an audience with him, as a representative of the Protestant Church, shortly before he became Chancellor, in 1932. Hitler promised me on his word of honor, to protect the Church, and not to issue any anti-Church laws. He also agreed not to allow pogroms against the Jews, assuring me as follows: "There will be restrictions against the Jews, but there will be no ghettos, no pogroms, in Germany."
I really believed, given the widespread anti-Semitism in Germany, at that time—that Jews should avoid aspiring to Government positions or seats in the Reichstag. There were many Jews, especially among the Zionists, who took a similar stand. Hitler's assurance satisfied me at the time. On the other hand, I hated the growing atheistic movement, which was fostered and promoted by the Social Democrats and the Communists. Their hostility toward the Church made me pin my hopes on Hitler for a while.
I am paying for that mistake now; and not me alone, but thousands of other persons like me.”
Niemoller became and ardent public opponent of Hitler and spent 7 years in concentration camps under the Nazi regime. He is probably best known for this statement:
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.
So even if you aren’t a Christian the muzzling of those that you don’t agree with may also mean that some day that muzzle is placed on you.
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4823
Craig Parshall argued that the 1st amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion. It would seem that this will be a defining issue in our time. Do we go the way of Stalinist Russia, or Nazi Germany and abolish religious expression unless it validates the state. Hitler did that when he locked up all the pastors that disagreed with him and got minions in religious robes to back him in his persecution of the Jews.
As Martin Niemoller said when he was asked why he supported the NAZI party:
“I find myself wondering about that too. I wonder about it as much as I regret it. Still, it is true that Hitler betrayed me. I had an audience with him, as a representative of the Protestant Church, shortly before he became Chancellor, in 1932. Hitler promised me on his word of honor, to protect the Church, and not to issue any anti-Church laws. He also agreed not to allow pogroms against the Jews, assuring me as follows: "There will be restrictions against the Jews, but there will be no ghettos, no pogroms, in Germany."
I really believed, given the widespread anti-Semitism in Germany, at that time—that Jews should avoid aspiring to Government positions or seats in the Reichstag. There were many Jews, especially among the Zionists, who took a similar stand. Hitler's assurance satisfied me at the time. On the other hand, I hated the growing atheistic movement, which was fostered and promoted by the Social Democrats and the Communists. Their hostility toward the Church made me pin my hopes on Hitler for a while.
I am paying for that mistake now; and not me alone, but thousands of other persons like me.”
Niemoller became and ardent public opponent of Hitler and spent 7 years in concentration camps under the Nazi regime. He is probably best known for this statement:
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.
So even if you aren’t a Christian the muzzling of those that you don’t agree with may also mean that some day that muzzle is placed on you.
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