A MOTHERS THOUGHTS on an HIV MUPPET

Home Sweet Home ^ | Saturday, July 13, 2002 | Katherine Jenerette

[kjenerette]

I guess this public education is paying off after all. I can't wait to start teaching my critical thinking class at the college. This issue of "Kids: "HIV 'r'US" is so bogus that it deserves classroom examination. Unbelievable isn't it?

Katherine

.223 Rem (5.56mm) - I just love my M-16A2...and my Car-15

[Barnacle]

Katherine,

You wrote a great essay. My wife enjoyed it too. I apologize for quibbling about the "-" thing.

Sincerely,
Barnacle Bill

[pepsionice]

Its simple...you just turn Seseme Street off. Don't let your kid watch the show. Then you turn around and send a letter to your congressman to turn off PBS funding. I have already done that with 3 congressmen and will continue to do it. PBS can go and get commercials, and watch how quick the sponsors dictate what is allowable under their name. Capt Kanagroo was the greatest kid's show ever, and its the benchmark of kid's shows today. It still ranks as number one. And they never would have gone to such a silly point as adding some gay dying muppet!

[Barnacle]

BTW, my post #22 was not inspired by you reference to firearms. ;^)

(I'm into .223 Rem (5.56mm) too.)

[kjenerette]

Thanks for the note. I really like your name, especially since me and my family live 1/2 block from the ocean. My favorite place.

Tell your wife she's a great gal...you already know it - anyone who calls her husband 'Barnacle'...

Thanks again, Katherine & Van Jenerette

www,jenerette.com

[wardaddy]

Bump...and nice profile page Mom!

[Barnacle]

Capt Kanagroo was the greatest kid's show ever..

Yeah, that's what I thought too. But it turns out that the Dancing Bear was just some guy dressed up in a costume.

[blackbart.223]

"Its simple...you just turn Seseme Street off."

Not a problem. PBS is never allowed in my house.

[kjenerette]

You ain't doin half bad yourself...by the looks of your profile page. You have been there and back and I would say that you are a credible person to address this 'Sesame Street' muppet mess with a great deal of authority....Whoa to the flag of Mississippi on your page...!SCV all the way.

[FlyVet]

We stopped watching Sesame Street long ago...

Never did like it, even as a kid in the 70's. I and my brothers were stuck on Captain Kangaroo. Plenty of our friends thought Sesame Street was the coolest, but we never got into it. The Captain was more real I think, and like Mr. Rogers never did try to fill kids' heads with political sludge.

[blackbart.223]

"This issue of "Kids: "HIV 'r'US" is so bogus that it deserves classroom examination. Unbelievable isn't it?"

It's sad when you think about it.

PS My favorite .223 is a Ruger Mini 14. It's has a 3 to 9 scope and shoots dead on out to 500 yards.

[Barnacle]

You're a gracious and forgiving Lady and Patriot.

[kjenerette]

Nice comments. I liked Mr. GreenJeans myself. BTW my step son is a USAF Academy Grad '93. My 9-year old wants to become a Navy Pilot. Lord, I was Army, my husband was Infantry, but the children all love the jets...go figure - what's a Mom to do?

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

I think the purple telletubby and the gay muppet were seen in Key West last month.

[Land of the Freep]

This is a snippet of the Yahoo story on the HIV Muppet:

“The Muppet character will join the cast of the children's show [in South Africa] in September to help educate children about AIDS at the urging of the South African government.

Some 4.7 million South Africans — one in nine — are HIV positive, more people than in any other country in the world.

There are no plans to incorporate an HIV-positive Muppet in the American or other versions of the show, said representatives of Sesame Workshop, its New York-based production company.”

---

It doesn’t appear that the lovable HIV Muppet will appear on the American TV version, so you shouldn't have to protect your children from it, or explain this very difficult issue to them.

But I was thinking that maybe this Muppet was the least or your problems. How do you explain away the deaths of two (possibly) beloved uncles to them without dealing with this issue eventually? Weren’t the uncles more lovable and real (and thus more dangerous to your children’s innocence about this subject) than any puppet that Sesame Street could ever create?

I totally understand wanting to protect them from subject matter on television that might make give them the wrong message or make you uncomfortable. But how do you shield them from the tragic HIV realities of your own family?

[sarasmom]

BTTT

[FlyVet]

Re #34: I remember them all, Mr. Green Jeans, Mr. Moose, Bunny Rabbit, Mortimer, Lariat Sam. No matter on the jets, all branches of the services have aircraft and we're all on the same side. I'd say infantry is the toughest and most noble profession although pilots don't have an easy time of it in war. I grew up playing with toy guns, toy airplanes, toy soldiers, no wonder I ended up in the AF. Two of my brothers used to "play the guitar" on their teddy bears, both ended up being part-time musicians. Who knows how a kid will turn out? I think a lot of it is decided before they are born.

[SamBees]

Is this HIV positive Muppet also homosexual? If not, do they plan on including a homosexual muppet?

[kjenerette]

Of course, this is something I will deal with on my terms with my children....not on Sesame Street producers timeline or anyone elses. I have a pretty good grasp on reality(military - world-etc.) and I don't need my pre-schoolers told by some 'outsider' about family matters. Period. I'm so glad that so many people are concerned about 'my' children...please remember one important overriding point. I AM THEIR MOTHER.

Katherine