Where is the Line?
I was dismayed upon receiving some news today. I am not sure exactly which part got under my skin, but here is the background: A PBS show that we watch almost every day, "Postcards From Buster", has been involved with some controversy lately. Little did I realize that any show on PBS could be viewed as controversial, but here it is. In one of the episodes that hasn't aired yet, Buster (the premise of the show is that Buster is spending time with his Dad, who is a private pilot for a band. Buster flies around the country with them experiencing lifestyles and cultures that are new too him. His hometown of Elwood City is big and diverse, but Buster sees more "on the road".) heads to Vermont and learns about "farm life and maple sugaring". It just so happens that the couple who own the farm are a female same-sex couple.
So suddenly there is a massive knee-jerk reaction from the newly appointed secretary of Education condemning the fact that federal money was used in such a manner, and requesting a refund for the amount of money spent on the production of the show. The statement that "Many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed on the episode" was what really bothered me.
I have done some thinking since I read the article and I have come to some conclusions. If you don't like them, bugger off, this is my blog. For the last 50 years, since the dawn of the television age, downplaying and ignoring gays and lesbians has only seemed to increase the intolerance and ignorance of the American Public. Things have been getting better, from what I hear, and discussions have been started especially in states with the marriage issue bubbling to the surface, but wasn't it just a few years ago that the nation was shocked by the beating death and then dragging of the man down in Alabama or something. Do a google search and there are thousands of results about baseball bat attacks, random attacks, and more. My view is that the previous way of doing things obviously isn't working, and if children are introduced to gay and lesbian people and fictional characters, along with a healthy dialogue with there parents maybe kids will grow to learn that they are not monsters to be attacked or insulted. The concept that the Federal Government is making the choice between what is presented to my children is much more disturbing then showing a farm in Vermont with two Mommies.
When I worked at a bookstore before I became a stay-at-home Dad, I worked with the most diverse group of people I ever met. I was in the minority, being a straight man. It was initially very awkward for me. But that's just it, it was awkward for ME, because it wasn't something I had really been around before. But after working there for more then four year, I value every person that I met, and am very glad for the informal diversity education that I received. It was invaluable.
Another thought......one of the other "Postcards for Buster" episodes had to do with Buster learning more about Muslims in America (Chicago specifically). It was very interesting, but I wonder what the Education Secretary would have said if that show was sit to be release closer to the time of September Eleventh. I don't think that there is much difference between religious intolerance and sexual intolerance.
Also this is the summary for the offensive episode that started the whole debate.
So suddenly there is a massive knee-jerk reaction from the newly appointed secretary of Education condemning the fact that federal money was used in such a manner, and requesting a refund for the amount of money spent on the production of the show. The statement that "Many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed on the episode" was what really bothered me.
I have done some thinking since I read the article and I have come to some conclusions. If you don't like them, bugger off, this is my blog. For the last 50 years, since the dawn of the television age, downplaying and ignoring gays and lesbians has only seemed to increase the intolerance and ignorance of the American Public. Things have been getting better, from what I hear, and discussions have been started especially in states with the marriage issue bubbling to the surface, but wasn't it just a few years ago that the nation was shocked by the beating death and then dragging of the man down in Alabama or something. Do a google search and there are thousands of results about baseball bat attacks, random attacks, and more. My view is that the previous way of doing things obviously isn't working, and if children are introduced to gay and lesbian people and fictional characters, along with a healthy dialogue with there parents maybe kids will grow to learn that they are not monsters to be attacked or insulted. The concept that the Federal Government is making the choice between what is presented to my children is much more disturbing then showing a farm in Vermont with two Mommies.
When I worked at a bookstore before I became a stay-at-home Dad, I worked with the most diverse group of people I ever met. I was in the minority, being a straight man. It was initially very awkward for me. But that's just it, it was awkward for ME, because it wasn't something I had really been around before. But after working there for more then four year, I value every person that I met, and am very glad for the informal diversity education that I received. It was invaluable.
Another thought......one of the other "Postcards for Buster" episodes had to do with Buster learning more about Muslims in America (Chicago specifically). It was very interesting, but I wonder what the Education Secretary would have said if that show was sit to be release closer to the time of September Eleventh. I don't think that there is much difference between religious intolerance and sexual intolerance.
Also this is the summary for the offensive episode that started the whole debate.
posted by Tim @ 1:25 PM
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