Thanks a lot to Nestor U. Torre for his column, “When TV turns offensive and intrusive” (Inquirer, 6/12/12). This is most refreshing coming from a top media practitioner.
Torre wrote: “Since it’s an invited or uninvited guest in people’s homes, TV should make sure that it doesn’t ruffle the sensibilities of its hosts…. What could kids at home be thinking? That’s it’s OK and even fun to mention private things on a public medium like TV? And, therefore, that it’s OK to do the same at home, at school, and wherever else they choose to be forthcoming, audacious and fun?”
We put grills in our homes and install good-quality door locks to keep the family safe from intruders. Yet we have inside the house TV, Internet, etc. that tarnish children’s clean minds and hearts, and deform them with cheap and offensive media content.
Families and the media can study an approach that serves well the relationship between them.
Parents are the children’s primary educators. The media take the role of substitute educator if families are not vigilant. The media should not be allowed to convey messages that they are not entitled to convey.
—LELLA M. DE JESUS,
Commission on Family,
Mary Mother of
Good Counsel Parish,
Parañaque City