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Causing
Little Ones to Sin -
'SOUTH
PARK - THE MOVIE
by
Charles Colson
A
new movie features pornographic perversity, wall-to-wall obscenities, and
blasphemous references to God - and the film is aimed directly at young people.
I'm
talking about the cartoon movie 'South Park', based on the TV series, and its
perhaps the most extreme example of the way Hollywood deliberately corrupts our
children.
To
give you an idea of just how foul this movie is, it was originally given an
NC-17 rating - what used to be an X-rating. Only after intense negotiations with
the Motion Picture association of America was the rating reduced to an
"R".
But
if you've heard anything about this film, you'll understand why the rating
should have stayed at NC-17.
One
scene shows a little boy searching for porn sites on the Internet. When
he finally finds one, he discovers that it features his own mother.
Another
third-grader refers to God using profanities. And believe or not, the
film even features graphic homosexual activity involving Satan.
This
is "undoubtedly one of the filthiest mainstream films ever released"
says New York film critic Rod Dreher.
Keep
in mind that we're talking about a cartoon, and that the TV series on which it
is based has a huge following among adolescents and even pre-teens.
Almost
certainly, says Dreher, many of these underage children will get in to see the
film - and then will emulate the depraved characters in it.
In
fact, that seems to be the film-makers' intention.
The
movie plot features a gang of eight-year-old kids who sneak into an NC-17 rated
film and afterwards spout curse words incessantly. The children's parents are
portrayed as hysterical prudes, hopelessly out of touch with reality.
And
in the end, its the parents - not the children - who see the error of their
ways.
The
film mocks the very idea of childhood innocence and the idea that parents should
try to protect that innocence.
As
cultural critic Neil Postman explains, commercial institutions today view
children as markets to be exploited, not children to be protected.
In
his book 'Saving Childhood' film critic Michael Medved says "This careless
assault on the innocence of small children can be directly connected to the
development of more dangerous behaviour in maturing adolescents : suicide, drug
use and promiscuity." And entertainment that includes "crude language,
vulgar scenes, and steamy sexuality" tends to make children "more
aggressive and insensitive" - Medved writes.
In
the wake of Littleton, Hollywood promised to clean up its act, yet, just a few
weeks later, they're offering up unspeakable filth like 'South Park' to our
kids. That's why its up to parents to be more vigilant than ever.
What
can you do?
1.
Write a letter to your local movie theatre, asking them not to screen the movie.
2.
Write to the newspaper expressing your opinion
3.
Write to any shops which put this movie on sale, asking them not to sell it
4.
Pass this flier on to other parents who may be interested.
If
you are a Christian, pray for your city.
"Righteousness
exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" -
Proverbs 14:34
Distributed
by Richard Gunther
Source : The NZ Challenge Weekly, Vol. 57, Iss.26