Teen 2 Teen

Hollywood Morality

by Brittney K Williams with Brandon Jubar

The world can be an ugly place. And thanks to movies, television, and the Internet, the ugliness can be mass marketed in slick packages and labeled entertainment. So what should a high school student do when exposed to objectionable subject matter... in the name of education?

by Brittney K Williams with Brandon Jubar

The world can be an ugly place. And thanks to movies, television, and the Internet, the ugliness can be mass marketed in slick packages and labeled entertainment. So what should a high school student do when exposed to objectionable subject matter... in the name of education?

No Rating = No Problem (?)

Maybe it isn't a huge issue, but it upsets me very much. Perhaps it should be a big deal. What I am talking about is this: when our History class watched the movie "Saving Private Ryan", we had to have signed permission slips from our parents. The movie had an "R" rating because of the violence. The funny thing is, an "educational video" that we had watched a few weeks prior was far more graphic -- the blood and violence were real -- yet it was considered "no big deal".

I have attended public school my entire life, and this video was the most violent thing I have seen. People were getting shot, their heads blown off, and it was all bloody and disgusting. I couldn't even bear to watch it. I simply put my head down. It seems strange that we need a permission slip to watch Hollywood violence, but do not need parental approval to watch the real thing. Does the label "educational video" make it okay to show graphic violence? If something is not rated by the motion picture industry does that automatically make it acceptable? Are we now relying on Hollywood to tell us right from wrong?

Though I strongly object to things like this, I have felt like I couldn't say anything. I'm just a single student in a public school. Do I have the right to push my morals onto my fellow students?

The Lord's Name In Vain Is No Longer Vulgar

In my government class this year, we watched a movie while studying elections. It was a movie the teacher had rented from the video store, and I don't even recall the name. What I do remember, however, was that as we watched it, my teacher tried his hardest to turn down the volume or bleep out whatever he could of the swearing. Well -- at least some of the swearing. Actually, he just tried to censor the "f-word" and the "b-word". And maybe the occasional "a-word".

But what I noticed is that not once did he bleep out "Jesus Christ" or "G oddamn". Apparently those words are no longer considered offensive in the public schools.

It was extremely offensive to me, though.

Now this was one of my favorite teachers, and I probably should have said something -- but I didn't. As I said before, it is a public school. I guess I figured that speaking up would be preachy or something. Looking back, I know that speaking my mind would not have been bad, but that's not the point. The point is that it happened -- and it's just unfortunate.

This teacher, whom I like and respect, went to great lengths to make it so we couldn't hear the words we hear everyday in the halls, but left in the worst of all. Because for me, taking the Lord's name in vain is far worse than any of those other words.

Don't Shield -- Teach

I really believe that it is better to be exposed to the horrors of life while in a safe environment, like school. In fact, I have tried to explain this to my parents. Whether they believe it or not, my parents know everything about me -- if I have tried a cigarette or alcohol -- what my thoughts are on everything from religion to sex -- you name it. They know it all.

But even knowing that I am open with them, they still try to hide me from everything they think is bad. They don't want me to be exposed to the nasty things in the world. It's almost as if they are afraid I will start making bad decisions and they won't know what's going on in time to save me.

I tell my mom that I want her to know everything, and that really is true. I want to know that no matter what comes up, I will be able to talk to her about it. Even if I can't talk to anyone else about it, I want to know that I can talk to my mom.

But my point is this: I would much rather see everything for myself -- even the horrors of the world -- while I am still living at home with my family. Whether the bad things are on screen, compliments of Hollywood, or actually happening to me, I know my family can help. They can help me learn and they can help me grow. And I would much rather face the world now, with their love and support, than have to tackle it all later -- when I'm out on my own.