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screen. They should offer critical
comments and encourage their
children to do the same. What is
good about the program? What is
bad? And why?
It's not even necessary to be
there every minute or to sit
through every show. Just super–
vise what is being watched and be
aware enough to give analytical
guidelines as they are needed.
There is no need to be afraid of
interrupting the tube.
It
is not a
person.
If
the show is offensive, use
your power of veto. Flick the
switch!
lt is not realistic nor essential
to toss the TV into the trash
barre!. (Although sorne few who
have done just that wouldn't have
it back at any price. "Now our
kids are fun kids to be with," is
the comment of one gleeful par–
ent who got rid of the color TV
and replaced it with a small
black-and-white portable, which
is used only on a limited basis.) If
control Ís exercised, abolition
should not be necessary.
Aside from the merits or de–
merits of television itself, there is
another important consideration:
Aren't there more profitable
things your children could do
with sorne of the time they spend
looking at television- things that
will better prepare them for suc–
cess in life?
For the average kid "TY has at
the very least preempted the tradi–
tional development of childhood
itself. The time kids spend sitting
catatonic befare the set has been
exacted from such salutory pur–
suits as reading, outdoor play, even
simple, contemplative solitude,"
wrote Harry F. Waters in an exten–
sive
Newsweek
report (February
21, 1977). He then went on to
relate how famed baby doctor Ben–
jamín Spock took his stepdaughter
and granddaughter to New York
to see the Bronx Zoo and the
Museum of Modern Art. " But the
man who has the prescription for
everything from diaper rash to
bed-wetting could not dislodge the
kids from their hotel room.
'1
couldn't get them away from the
10
[censored] TV set,' recalls Spock.
'It made me sick. ' "
A group of concerned parents in
a Detroit, Michigan, suburb set
out with a realistic goal of cutting
the TV-viewing time of their
youngsters in half. Receiving the
cooperation of teachers they for–
mulated " Alternatives to Televi–
sion." Said one official of the local
parent-teacher association, " lf we
can get a household to cut down
even 1O or 20 percent, it's that
much more t ime to socially, men–
tally and physically develop. "
"Our intention was really to
inform parents that they do have a
right to say no or yes to what their
children watch and that there were
many alternatives many people
seem to have forgotten about," the
official explained.
The program was established
to promote five basic alternat ive
areas for chi ldren to invest sorne
of the free time they would other–
wise wile away in front of the TV
set: sports, hobbies, family rela–
tions, academic pursuits and so–
cial development.
Such a program automatically
requires a family to work to–
gether in a common effort and
thus promotes stronger family
bonds.
British Prime Minister Mar–
garet Thatcher recently advised
her nat ion's children: "Although
you can learn a lot from televi–
sion, you must do things your–
selves. You must be doers and not
watchers," she stated. A very bib–
lical pronouncement!
It may be difficult-even trau–
matic- at first. But once the par–
ental foot is fi rmly put down and
a strong hand begins to rule the
TV control panel, the results will
be seen. Provided with material
and inspiration from parents, ju–
venile imaginations can begin to
function once again and become
involved in creative endeavors.
The Right Channel
The Bible gives clear indication that
technical advances such as televi–
sion and satelli te transmission
would exist in the last days of
human civilization. (Revelation
11 :8-9 speaks of people around the
world being able to simultaneously
"see" events taking place on the
streets of J erusalem) . But the
Scriptures do not, of course, men–
tían such innovations by name.
Nevertheless biblical principies
suppor t what many experts have
said about television and its proper
use.
"Make the very most of your
time," enjoined the apostle Paul
(Ephesians 5:16, Moffatt t ransla–
tion) . Fill your mind with things
that are worthwhile-things that
are true, honest, pure, lovely, of
good report. "Think on these
things," Paul urged (Philippians
4:8). Unfortunately these positive
adjectives do not describe most of
what is now on TV.
The Bible places great emphasis
upon parents being actively in–
volved in teaching their offspring
right principies in each facet of
life. Those right principies are
defined in the laws of God. Listen
to what God says to parents: "And
these words which I command you
this day shall be upon your heart;
and you shall teach them diligently
to your children, and shall
talk
of
them [discuss them]
when you sit
in your house"- yes,
when you sit
in your house in front of the TV
set!-"and when you walk by the
way, and when you lie down, and
when you rise" (Deuteronomy 6:6-
7, Revised Standard Version) .
What your children see is
important.
If
they are looking at
wholesome, educational, edi fying
subjects, they will be benefited.
If
their eyes gaze for hours at vio–
lence, illicit sex, disrespect and
plain stupidity, their character is
going to be adversely affected by
what they see. Jesus, expounding
this truth, warned: "The eye is
the lamp of the body. So, if your
eye is sound [if it is used rightly
and wholesomely], your body will
be full of light; but if your eye is
not sound, your whole body will
be full of darkness.
If
then the
light that is in you is darkness,
how great is the darkness!" (Mat–
tbew 6:22-23, RSY.)
It
is time to barness the televi–
sion set in your borne! o
The
PLAIN TRUTH