Death of Morality
“Are you selling me music or your body? I think
only one is for sale.” (Much More Music Fan –
Uncovered – Naked episode)
Sexual innuendo this, erotic that! We are constantly bombarded with commercials, merchandise and superstars that drip with sex. Case in point – The Herbal Essence commercial that promises a shampoo that is better than sex shows an attractive brunette in the shower, oohing and aaahing as she “gets off” massaging her scalp. The phone rings, it’s a male caller that she tells she can’t go out with as she’s got to “wash her hair”.
I sit here day in and day out and become more and more disgusted as I watch these images – scantily clad females, that used to have a “good girl” image (Christina Aguirlera), that dance like pornstars. These stars and companies see that sex sells and have to blow with the wind (no pun intended). It makes me angry that most things that I buy have some sexual connotation that subliminally tells me my life will be better if I bought this product or looked like that celebrity.
I am upset that this world has reached up, grabbed me and pulled me into this cesspool. I think to myself, How dare they! When did this start? Surely this it is not my fault that things have gotten to this depth or shallowness. But as I step back into my memory I realize something that shocks the very fiber of my soul. I have been an accomplice to the murder of morals.
I am a thirty four-year-old teacher and a mother of three. I am appalled at what these children see and am afraid at what they may see as normal and acceptable when they grow up. I close my eyes and pray that I will be able to instill some morals and values in their hearts and minds. A possibility that seems almost impossible in this world.
Accomplice? It is true. In my fight for teenage survival into adulthood I began to experience music that, of course, my parents disliked. My love for this music led to rebellion in my upbringing. I am not saying that I lost my morals but they certainly, although ghostlike, came into question. During this phase of my life the video explosion took over. In this time so much changed and became acceptable and I was at the center of it, silently accepting these sexual encounters with the TV.
In the beginning videos were pretty clean, most of it contained the singers dancing and singing. Slowly, and no thanks to Madonna, I began to accept this sexual image just by tuning in. “Like A Virgin” was minor compared to her “Truth or Dare” video. Madonna constantly pushed the moral boundaries and others followed in her wake. I was shocked but yet I watched and in doing so I became an accomplice.
Same thing could be said about the lyrics. In earlier days much was left up to our imagination. I was able to interpret the songs as I wished. Now there is definitely no room for misinterpretation of the words. For example our little angel, Leann Rimes, has certainly become “twisted”. I really needed to know that she’s now a woman (I couldn’t already tell by her lack of clothing) as she tells us in her song, “Tic Toc” about getting off:
Hands on the clock
Time to make my body rock
Move with me, you get me
So hot that I can’t stop
Tic Toc
You got the spot
Here I come ready or not
Move with me, you get me
So hot that I can’t stop
We buy their CD’s, view their movies and in doing so we accept the conditions that are suggested in them. Conditions such as, having sex or displaying it anywhere, anyhow and that it’s okay to dress in barely anything, even a birthday suit. This is proven along with big business’ marketing ploy of creating and selling skimpy clothing to elementary and teenaged children. You think not? Check your local clothing store and you’ll find thongs for young girls. Aaah! Tell me why they need to wear something like this to school? There’s no use denying it, I’ve seen evidence of it as a 12-year old girl’s hiphugging sweat pants fall below dangerously low levels during a Physical Education class and expose the string that resembles her underpants.
One thing that makes me shiver is what this acceptance is doing to the rest of society. Some people put their little girls in these clothes and send them off to school. Who else sees them like this? At this point I question, if it’s so cute making these little girls into women why are there so many more sexual predators out there interested in them too?
You see a video seems harmless and that’s what they try to tell us. Unfortunately, it’s like dropping a pebble into the middle of a pond … its ripples are felt even at the shore.
This just didn’t happen overnight. It has been a gradual trend – a slow degradation of society’s acceptance to demoralization. A perfect example of this is our history of TV commercials. Commercials we see now would not have been allowed on air in the 80’s let alone in the 50’s.
Commercials you ask? I bet you can’t watch a round of them without this idea of sex being interpreted. Oh yes, from gum to cars (remember the small car that’s large enough for a ménage a toi?) and even diaper commercials. Open your eyes. Is sex so important we have to think, hear and see it 24/7? I don’t think so.
Our society has become so wrapped up in their “rights”, for example, freedom of speech and expression, but like anything we have to remember the “responsibilities” that come with these rights. Responsibilities of not infringing upon other’s rights and looking at who it may be affecting (the minds of children). If we are going to continue down this path we will also have to accept the slow decent into demoralization.
As I sit and sip on my smooth Baileys drink the shape of my glass reminds me of its commercial. You know the one where a drop of Baileys falls on a woman’s breast and the gentleman hesitates to wipe it off. All in the name of “adventure” (that can’t possibly happen without this drink). It fills me with anger and I remember I am not alone in my contempt for this sexual onslaught. Call it what you will but each of us in some way has become a victim or an accomplice to this destruction of ethics. Maybe we can even see ourselves as sharing both these roles.
Whether you’ve decided you’re a victim or an accomplice there are a number of things that could be done to crash this sickening slide into the cesspool of life. One way is to not buy their material. If we all did this they certainly would feel the pinch. Secondly, we could start turning the station whenever the revolting videos, commercials, etc. are displayed thus, decreasing ratings. Another way is to start writing letters to video and radio stations as well as lawmakers and the stars themselves, stating how you feel. A fourth way is to rally your legislature. Get your voice heard by people who are supposed to be representing your opinions. One voice is small but if everyone tried some of these there would certainly be a response. I am venturing a positive one at that.
What do you choose to do? If you choose to sit back and let the tides sweep you away then really do you deserve any better? Stand up and let your voice be heard. You are not alone. Don’t be a victim by choice; exercise your rights by remembering your responsibilities.
Sidebars – Here’s some more of what some celebrities, fans and critics had to say about nudity in the MMM Uncovered – Naked episode. You decide how important it really is (or are some trying to make excuses for their behavior).
Jon Rice (Goo Goo Dolls) – Not relevant to what I do.
Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) – Music comes first.
Alanis Morrisette – It felt natural for me to be naked.
Madonna – I felt I was going to liberate myself.
Sheryl Crow – Sexuality is deeper than what you’re wearing. It goes beyond the
clothing.
Fan – Something’s need to be kept at home.
Music critic commenting on Christina Aguirlera – It’s the same as throwing
a half naked chic into a gum commercial – to get attention
only one is for sale.” (Much More Music Fan –
Uncovered – Naked episode)
Sexual innuendo this, erotic that! We are constantly bombarded with commercials, merchandise and superstars that drip with sex. Case in point – The Herbal Essence commercial that promises a shampoo that is better than sex shows an attractive brunette in the shower, oohing and aaahing as she “gets off” massaging her scalp. The phone rings, it’s a male caller that she tells she can’t go out with as she’s got to “wash her hair”.
I sit here day in and day out and become more and more disgusted as I watch these images – scantily clad females, that used to have a “good girl” image (Christina Aguirlera), that dance like pornstars. These stars and companies see that sex sells and have to blow with the wind (no pun intended). It makes me angry that most things that I buy have some sexual connotation that subliminally tells me my life will be better if I bought this product or looked like that celebrity.
I am upset that this world has reached up, grabbed me and pulled me into this cesspool. I think to myself, How dare they! When did this start? Surely this it is not my fault that things have gotten to this depth or shallowness. But as I step back into my memory I realize something that shocks the very fiber of my soul. I have been an accomplice to the murder of morals.
I am a thirty four-year-old teacher and a mother of three. I am appalled at what these children see and am afraid at what they may see as normal and acceptable when they grow up. I close my eyes and pray that I will be able to instill some morals and values in their hearts and minds. A possibility that seems almost impossible in this world.
Accomplice? It is true. In my fight for teenage survival into adulthood I began to experience music that, of course, my parents disliked. My love for this music led to rebellion in my upbringing. I am not saying that I lost my morals but they certainly, although ghostlike, came into question. During this phase of my life the video explosion took over. In this time so much changed and became acceptable and I was at the center of it, silently accepting these sexual encounters with the TV.
In the beginning videos were pretty clean, most of it contained the singers dancing and singing. Slowly, and no thanks to Madonna, I began to accept this sexual image just by tuning in. “Like A Virgin” was minor compared to her “Truth or Dare” video. Madonna constantly pushed the moral boundaries and others followed in her wake. I was shocked but yet I watched and in doing so I became an accomplice.
Same thing could be said about the lyrics. In earlier days much was left up to our imagination. I was able to interpret the songs as I wished. Now there is definitely no room for misinterpretation of the words. For example our little angel, Leann Rimes, has certainly become “twisted”. I really needed to know that she’s now a woman (I couldn’t already tell by her lack of clothing) as she tells us in her song, “Tic Toc” about getting off:
Hands on the clock
Time to make my body rock
Move with me, you get me
So hot that I can’t stop
Tic Toc
You got the spot
Here I come ready or not
Move with me, you get me
So hot that I can’t stop
We buy their CD’s, view their movies and in doing so we accept the conditions that are suggested in them. Conditions such as, having sex or displaying it anywhere, anyhow and that it’s okay to dress in barely anything, even a birthday suit. This is proven along with big business’ marketing ploy of creating and selling skimpy clothing to elementary and teenaged children. You think not? Check your local clothing store and you’ll find thongs for young girls. Aaah! Tell me why they need to wear something like this to school? There’s no use denying it, I’ve seen evidence of it as a 12-year old girl’s hiphugging sweat pants fall below dangerously low levels during a Physical Education class and expose the string that resembles her underpants.
One thing that makes me shiver is what this acceptance is doing to the rest of society. Some people put their little girls in these clothes and send them off to school. Who else sees them like this? At this point I question, if it’s so cute making these little girls into women why are there so many more sexual predators out there interested in them too?
You see a video seems harmless and that’s what they try to tell us. Unfortunately, it’s like dropping a pebble into the middle of a pond … its ripples are felt even at the shore.
This just didn’t happen overnight. It has been a gradual trend – a slow degradation of society’s acceptance to demoralization. A perfect example of this is our history of TV commercials. Commercials we see now would not have been allowed on air in the 80’s let alone in the 50’s.
Commercials you ask? I bet you can’t watch a round of them without this idea of sex being interpreted. Oh yes, from gum to cars (remember the small car that’s large enough for a ménage a toi?) and even diaper commercials. Open your eyes. Is sex so important we have to think, hear and see it 24/7? I don’t think so.
Our society has become so wrapped up in their “rights”, for example, freedom of speech and expression, but like anything we have to remember the “responsibilities” that come with these rights. Responsibilities of not infringing upon other’s rights and looking at who it may be affecting (the minds of children). If we are going to continue down this path we will also have to accept the slow decent into demoralization.
As I sit and sip on my smooth Baileys drink the shape of my glass reminds me of its commercial. You know the one where a drop of Baileys falls on a woman’s breast and the gentleman hesitates to wipe it off. All in the name of “adventure” (that can’t possibly happen without this drink). It fills me with anger and I remember I am not alone in my contempt for this sexual onslaught. Call it what you will but each of us in some way has become a victim or an accomplice to this destruction of ethics. Maybe we can even see ourselves as sharing both these roles.
Whether you’ve decided you’re a victim or an accomplice there are a number of things that could be done to crash this sickening slide into the cesspool of life. One way is to not buy their material. If we all did this they certainly would feel the pinch. Secondly, we could start turning the station whenever the revolting videos, commercials, etc. are displayed thus, decreasing ratings. Another way is to start writing letters to video and radio stations as well as lawmakers and the stars themselves, stating how you feel. A fourth way is to rally your legislature. Get your voice heard by people who are supposed to be representing your opinions. One voice is small but if everyone tried some of these there would certainly be a response. I am venturing a positive one at that.
What do you choose to do? If you choose to sit back and let the tides sweep you away then really do you deserve any better? Stand up and let your voice be heard. You are not alone. Don’t be a victim by choice; exercise your rights by remembering your responsibilities.
Sidebars – Here’s some more of what some celebrities, fans and critics had to say about nudity in the MMM Uncovered – Naked episode. You decide how important it really is (or are some trying to make excuses for their behavior).
Jon Rice (Goo Goo Dolls) – Not relevant to what I do.
Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) – Music comes first.
Alanis Morrisette – It felt natural for me to be naked.
Madonna – I felt I was going to liberate myself.
Sheryl Crow – Sexuality is deeper than what you’re wearing. It goes beyond the
clothing.
Fan – Something’s need to be kept at home.
Music critic commenting on Christina Aguirlera – It’s the same as throwing
a half naked chic into a gum commercial – to get attention