CONTROVERSY OVER DR. SEUSS
CALLS FOR BALANCE, PROPORTION
In this day when pop culture has embraced a rainbow of gender identities and sexual tastes, it’s hard to believe that there was once a time when people were shocked at salacious remarks and indiscreet behavior on television.
Does anyone remember Terry Rakolta (an in-law of Mitt Romney), who mounted a national boycott against the raunchy 1980s sitcom, “Married…with Children”?
In that bygone era, anyone disturbed by broadcast smut — no matter how deeply offended they might be — was met with the dismissive remark…
“Well, you don’t have to watch it, you know. Just change the channel!”
And if they objected…
“But this stuff is so pervasive on TV, children can’t help stumbling onto it.”
…the standard rejoinder was…
“It’s up to you to monitor what your children see. Besides, kids aren’t as impressionable as all that. They won’t be destroyed by an off-color joke or a little glimpse of tushie.”
…which inevitably led to the elevated pronouncement…
“One person’s moral values shouldn’t impinge upon someone else’s artistic freedom.”
Ah…such an innocent time that was.
