The dulling of the cable generation

STEVE SMITH

I suppose I really should thank Janet Jackson for supporting what

I’ve been yammering about for the past seven years. That is, nearly

all of what is shown on television is garbage.

Jackson only made it worse by ambushing parents during what should

have been a G-rated program.

Last Tuesday, an astute letter writer offered in response that

Justin Timberlake should also be called on the carpet for this

pitiful performance. After all, wasn’t he the one who ripped the

clothing of off Jackson’s body to reveal her bare breast?

Although it is a good point, the answer is “no” and here’s why.

As far as our society has come in furthering the status of women

-- we even have women on the Supreme Court -- we still have a long

way to go. And in situations such as this, like most other people, I

judge what I can’t see based on what I can see. And the reflections

of the women I see in our society through the media are not very

flattering.

Oh sure, there are always stories of heroic women or smart women

or strong women, but the stuff that sells soap is still very

demeaning. The women taking part in these roles, whether it’s a

commercial, a program or a music video, have sold out for a buck.

The fact is that Janet Jackson had 100% of the power in deciding

whether to go ahead with this scheme. If she did not want to flip the

switch to make it happen, it wasn’t going to happen and it didn’t

matter what Justin Timberlake thought -- he was in on it from the

beginning and I doubt he had one restless moment deciding whether to

move forward. It was not up to him.

In the end, Jackson made a choice that set a bad example for any

young women watching the Super Bowl and even the young men as well.

With her bad decision, Jackson showed young women and girls that even

in a position of power -- which Jackson achieved through her success

as a recording star -- women still have to revert to taking their

clothes off to get attention.

To the young men and boys in the audience, she gave approval to

perpetuating the perception of women in our society as little more

than sexual objects.

I have worked very hard as a parent to instill in my daughter a

sense of independence and empowerment. I have worked hard to help her

understand that her ability, hard work and attitude will do more to

help her accomplish her goals than anything else in life. And

although she did not see Jackson’s show because she does not watch

television (and has not watched for four years, thank you very much)

she has heard about it through friends, radio and the newspaper.

My daughter’s reaction to the halftime show is atypical primarily

because she has not watched television for so long and has not been

subject to the amount of manipulation of her senses that other kids

her age experience.

“Oh, so that’s what it takes to become rich and famous” might be

the common thought among girls who saw the show. They may not say

that out loud but that is the message they receive.

I don’t want to have to work any harder than I have to in order to

get my kids to understand that receiving respect first means

respecting yourself. I should not have to explain to my kids why

nearly naked women on TV and magazines get lots of respect and why

teachers, for example, get so much less.

But I may have to, thanks to the work of the cable generation.

Here’s my segue. I’ve been invited to speak to the PTA at Victoria

Elementary School at 7 p.m. on March 3. That’s a little over a month

before National TV-Turnoff Week. If you’re interested in learning how

to get your kids unhooked from the tube (and video games, if

appropriate), please attend this brief program. If you are a teacher,

I can help afterward with classroom ideas.

But if you come, be prepared. This is not a “chicken soup”

presentation, it’s a meat and potatoes show that I hope will be

meaningful for you.

Plus, I promise not to have my shirt torn off my chest.

Victoria Elementary School is located at 1025 Victoria St. in

Costa Mesa. See you there.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(949) 642-6086.