Raising our children to be junkies!

To my disbelief, I found out that PBS is launching 24/7 children’s TV this fall.  Recently, the Toronto Star published an article written by Lynn Elber of The Associated Press that outlines how this “free, 24-hour offering will provide child-friendly fare during prime-time and other periods that draw kids…[and] member stations now get up to 12 hours daily of kids’ programming.”  The service will also be available online.  As Lyn puts it, “young insomniacs are in luck.”

What are we coming to?!  As soon as this becomes available, you’ll see countless mothers and fathers using this “service” under the pretext that it is good for their children.  So, rather than, you know, actually doing any parenting themselves, parents will choose abscond from their responsibilities.  In essence, this wonderful little solution allows one to position a child in front of the “boob tube” and let PBS handle their “programming.”  What’s more is that there isn’t a time limit; that is, the brainwashing is now available all day long!  Indeed, the tube is certain to turn our children into “boobs”!

In my opinion, the whole story is quite telling.  Basically, it amounts to feeding an addiction, whereby the children can get their “fix” whenever they want it.  And of course, for the providers of this programming, the younger the better!  By allowing our children to “consume” these “drugs” at such a young age, as they grow up, they’ll become “junkies”!  In my view, this is just another reincarnation of the fast-food mentality and the approach taken by conglomerates to control the masses!

What can we do about it?  It’s really quite simple: Turn off the bloody TV!  Take the time to speak to and with your children!  Take responsibility for their education!  But, if you don’t feel up to it, use these services.  Then, when your children become mindless drones, continue along the path of least resistance and…blame it on fast foods!

- B. J. T. Pepin