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Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Celebrating Moral Bankruptcy on CBS

If you look in the dictionary under "morally bankrupt," I think you'll find a picture of Mike Kelley, the creator of a depraved new show coming to CBS this fall.

From CBN News:

It's called "Swingtown," and explores a world of drugs, sex and open marriage in suburban America during the 1970s.

It was bad enough for those of us who had to live through the 1970s; we don't deserve to have that sad decade shoved back in our faces again.

The article quotes Kelley as not understanding why some people might have a problem with the show:
"I don't understand why this show is so threatening. But I don't understand why gay marriage is so threatening either," Kelley told Los Angeles Times.

"I understand there's going to be a portion of the available audience that will just say, 'I can't do this, I can't go there,'" he added. "Too bad, because there is so much to embrace in this show. I think people who reject it have a problem with fear in general in their lives."

No, I think people who reject it have a problem with a lack of decency in the culture--the culture they have to live in.

I wouldn't want to be in Kelley's shoes, come judgment day.


10 comments:

Bob Schwartz said...

You know Bob, they have this new fangled device for TV's now. It's called a remote control and it lets you change the channel if there is something on you don't like.

You should try it some time.

Bob Ellis said...

You know, Bob, no one is an island unto themselves. My children and I have to live in the society that's being turned to rot by normalizing and desensitizing to all this garbage.

Speaking out against it is called social and moral responsibility.

You should try it sometime.

Carrie K. Hutchens said...

Look at the commercials that keep showing up during hours children might be watching television on come into the room. The excuse for that is?

Anonymous said...

Bob (Ellis),

What kind of movies and television shows do you like? Do any of them happen to depict violence? Doesn't some part of you get a thrill from watching an action film where the hero shoots the bad guys?

If so, you're a hypocrite, and no better than any of us. Stop complaining.

Bob Ellis said...

If I said I don't watch movies or TV with violence, would you then agree with me that this show is morally bankrupt? Somehow I doubt it.

Some media bias can be gratuitous, unnecessary and harmful, but what I think you fail to understand is that some violence in our fallen world is appropriate. Sometimes a person must fight to defend themselves or others from a perpetrator. Police sometimes must shoot someone who is intent on harming them or others. Military forces must use violence to defend our country and our allies against bad guys.

The TV show in question is said to explore "drugs, sex and open marriage."

Is there any recreational drug use you consider legitimate and appropriate? Is there any adultery you consider appropriate? Is there any wife-swapping you consider appropriate?

Alex said...

Bob,

From a libertarian perspective, you really have no cause for complaint. The producers of this show have every right to put it on the air. No one is forcing you or anyone else to watch it, and you have every right to reach for the remote and change the channel.

If you're worried about you and your family being exposed to television that you find inappropriate, then it's your prerogative to tell your kids not to watch it. But some people may want to watch this show (not me, simply because it just looks stupid), and they are entitled to do so.

Bob Ellis said...

I'm not a Libertarian, Alex, I'm a conservative. Conservatives are for limited government, but see a valid role for some government. In this case, however, a governmental role isn't necessary.

I protest the show as my right to free speech as an American, and as a television consumer. I don't think we need government to hammer TV shows every time they push the envelope (though "wardrobe malfunctions" and F-bombs cross the line), but people can and should influence TV programming with their voices.

If enough people speak out about trash like this, the networks (or their advertisers) will hear, and the show will go down in flames. That's why I'm speaking: to add to what I hope would be a chorus of voices telling the network and advertisers: "We don't want the society we live in subjected to this rot."

I agree with you that it looks stupid. I lived through the 1970s, and have no desire to see that stupid decade resurrected in any fashion.

Alex said...

I don't even think you need to waste your energy, though. Ten bucks says the show will last three more episodes before it gets the axe.

By the way, just because you're a conservative doesn't mean you can't be a libertarian; look at Ron Paul.

Alex said...

I don't even think you need to waste your energy, though. Ten bucks says the show will last three more episodes before it gets the axe.

By the way, just because you're a conservative doesn't mean you can't be a libertarian; look at Ron Paul.

Bob Ellis said...

I hope you're right about the show not lasting, and think you'll probably be proven correct. I've been surprised by bad shows before, though, so want to be sure and speak my mind (to help educate those advertisers and better ENSURE it'll only make 3 episodes). :-)

Conservatism and Libertarianism are close cousins, but they do have distinct differences. And those differences are part of why many conservatives couldn't support Ron Paul (myself being one of them). He had a R after his name, but his philosophy was really more L than R.

 
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