First Lady: Turn Off TVs on 9 / 11

AP via NYTimes.com ^ | 9/6/02

[PFKEY]

I don't let them watch movies with violence...

A subject that has been of some concern to me ever since my now 4 y/o daughter started watching TV.

Although, my wife and I have somewhat limited most viewing to the cartoon network my daughter has watched several movies that she has decided she likes and has watched repreatedly.

She has seen a good deal of violence and at times concerned my wife and I for what we refered to as her 'blood lust'.

She seems to have a real good grasp on what is fiction and what is real. At this point everything on tv is fiction. It's all make beleive.

Examples of movies she has been enamored with at one time or another over the past couple years.

Indiana Jones. Star Wars. Home Alone. The Mummy.

[Severa]

I have a 3 yr old son and an autistic 5 yr old son. And my husband's in the Navy, sent out on a scheduled 6 month deployment less than a month after 9/11.

To say Sept 11th will be an interesting day for me is an understatement along the lines of 'That Hillary is one puta fea (ugly bitch)'

[Howlin]

Now, all these years later, it's on my mind quite often.

I'm right with you on that one. Same age, same thoughts.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Yes, and keep your kids out of public schools where they'll be told that the attacks were OUR fault!

Odd. My wife teaches 6th grade English and in her public school they will start the day by surrounding the school, saying the Pledge and singing the National Anthem and God Bless America. They will then have a program honoring a local fireman, a County Commissioner who taught school for 30 years, a nine year school board member also with 30 years in the schools, a DARE officer, a lady who started a foundation to get CHRISTMAS gifts to poor kids, and a former Gunnery Sgt who served in Desert Storm.

I missed the OUR FAULT part, but will ask.

[Jaidyn]

During my complacent years and after Viet Nam, I didn't spend any time in politics. Then, along came a local sheriff's race I got involved in the same year Clinton was elected. Both men, had similar traits which led me to see what our new president was all about, more out of curiousity than concern but that changed quickly when I recognized what we had leading our country. For me, it was either get involved and raise my voice or sit idly by while the world kept spinning out of control. I thought the sixties were the years of decadence but as it turned it, it was the nineties. The sixties was just the beginning, then a pause, then it came back to smack me upside the face.

[VOA]

I have to disagree. My kids have seen the images and had them explained.

I go with the same angle.
I fairly well remember spending the weekend with my parents (at my father's parents farm house)
watching the aftermath of assassination and the funeral/procession for
JFK.

I was six at the time, concerned and saddened.
But as much as anything, I could tell this was a VERY BIG deal and worth worryijng about
just from the concerned looks on the faces of the adults.

Of course, in those days of three-channel television, kids left to their own devices
couldn't get as swamped in the images as today.

[DeSoto]

I have to urge extreme caution about letting children to young too understand watch this coverage.

I was talking yesterday with an acqaintance on this subject and she told me a horrifiying story about her grandson. It seems that her son-in-law went to NYC on 9/12 last year to help in some capacity or another. The 5 year old boy kept watching the tower collapsing and saying "My daddy's there!" over and over again. The mom thought that he understood that daddy was their helping. But the boy kept thinking that the buildings were falling down over and over and over with his daddy now there. To say that the boy had a hard time was an understatement.

I am all for everyone to learn and understand what happened, but only at a time when such understanding can occur.

[WyCoKsRepublican]

Laura Bush, what a First Lady! God Bless you and yours and the "class" you've returned to the White House. We love you!.......

[rintense]

You have to go back to the thread where the NEA's 'official' stance on the September 11th attacks was to not blame anyone and to point out historically what the US has done to other countries. Whether teachers choose to follow that 'official' union thought is another thing.

[mombonn]

A week ago I would have disagreed. Now, I don't. I seriously doubt I'll watch anything, even Fox.

The only thing I would consider is just a replay, uncut, of the events as they unfolded last year.

I may watch the tape I made of the documentary those French brothers did. I may go to the FR archives and read the threads from last year.

I don't want sentimentality, I want renewed outrage.

NEVER FORGET

[DreamWeaver]

Not to cause any problems, but did you ever say this about Mama Clinton?

I too wonder if they ever had a problem with Mama clinton and her "It takes a Vilage".

[constitutiongirl]

Was it a documentary made by Spanish-speaking media? God forbid some people may want to see documentaries made by people in other parts of the world. Some of the best docs about the Chinese cultural revolution were made by Mandarin-speakers, much more insightful than an American team filming the 'official' line.

[constitutiongirl]

I guess after 8 years of Hitlery, some still expect the First Lady to act as co-President, Minister of Propaganda, and Chairman of the Center for Anti-American Intentions.

[GeneD]

More for the "we-must-replay-these-attacks-on-television-forever-so-we-can-never-forget" brigade:

With the anniversary of September 11th, there may be a lot of stories on television reliving the tragic events. Adults might watch them as a way of showing respect…and appreciation for the heroes. But children might look at those images and become quite confused and even frightened.

You know, any danger on the screen for a child can seem very close to home. After all, it looks like the danger's taking place right in their own living room. Ordinarily, young children can't tell the difference between what's close and what's far away, what's live and what's being rebroadcast.

So, it seems to me that one good idea is to try to limit what children see and hear on television. And, of course, what they need to hear most from us adults is that they can talk with us about anything they want and that we'll do all we can to help keep them safe no matter what goes on in the world.

It's such a good feeling to know that we're neighbors.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

You have to go back to the thread where the NEA's 'official' stance on the September 11th attacks was to not blame anyone and to point out historically what the US has done to other countries. Whether teachers choose to follow that 'official' union thought is another thing.

Because I am married to a teacher and my best friend is one, I know several hundred of them. About 20% are TEA members (Texas) and all but THREE of those are in because of the insurance. They don't care what the NEA thinks, just like I don't CARE what the Republican Platform is.

I don't think the NEA holds much sway in the South outside a few big cities.

[Concentrate]

I DO NOT NEED WASHINGTON DC ADVISING ME ON HOW TO RAISE MY CHILDREN.

You sound so bitter! ( And I can understand why, but it seems over the top.)All she did was express her opinion, which may help some. It's not like it was a mandate or anything.

In contrast, can you imagine what Hillary would say? "Ya know, I...." (barf!)

[Concentrate]

The NEA leadership is a bunch of traitors, plain and simple.

[rintense]

Exactly. Union socialists.

[bankwalker]

The previous one usually spoke in Chinese or Russian...

or PIG latin

[don-o]

You sound so bitter!

So be it. The idea that the Bushes have adopted the nanny-state mentality is what is really "over the top."

Or down in the pits.

Or something.

And saying that she ain't as bad as the Hildabeast, well that's like trying a compliment like, "For a fat girl, you sure don't sweat much."