Terry's 3M's

IRL. In real life. Computer jargon that become common in the 90's, most people know that it is in referrence to life off the computer. However, in our house, in real life is a phrase that is used for another purpose.

It is becoming increasing more difficult to find kid's movies that don't have violence as a factor. So, for at least the first time a movie is watched, I try to watch with the kids.

This week, Faye rented Home Alone 3.

I actually liked it better than the other Home Alone movies. At least this kid is home alone because he's got chicken pox and his parents are both working parents. And he really does seem mature for his age. I've never heard of anyone accidently leaving a kid at home while leaving on vacation...irl.

The common ingredient is violence to the bad guys. I made sure that I was there to say, "In real life, that would have killed him/her." We discuss this because I don't want anyone in the house imitating anything seen in the movie. Sometimes one of them beats me to the "in real life" phrase. They have become more aware of the fact that a movie shows things that are implausible or impossible.

One of Bryan's remarks: "No way! There's no way that [toy] car can jump that high!"

I was relieved that the parts of the movie that they thought were the funniest, were also the parts that I found to be the funniest. That parrot stole the show!

One of the kids asked me if I would let him watch Mortal Kombat. My no was emphatic. The reason he asked was because another friend had the movie and they wanted to watch it together. You have to draw the line somewhere.

The kids were also upset with me because I wouldn't let them watch Liar, Liar, even though Jim Carrey is one of their favorite actors because I thought the movie's content wasn't appropriate for kids that young. "But all my friend's have seen it!" "Well, I'm not your friend's Mom."

Someone gave us a copy of Sgt. Kabukiman for Christmas. I noticed that it was made by Troma. Troma is that classy outfit made the movie The Toxic Avenger. I knew from the company that I would have to watch the movie before letting the kids watch it.

A neighbor's kid came over and saw the video in it's box. This 9 year old kid said, "That's a great movie! I watch it every night." However, I am not one to take the word of a 9 year old.

One night I decided to watch it after the kids were in bed. After several minutes of previews with heavily sexual content, the movie started. Within the first 5 minutes, an unseen villian runs a sword through the naked bodies of a man making love to his wife. Well, that's it. I got rid of that movie! It's not even in the house because I know that if I tell them they can't watch it, they'll wait until I'm busy and stick it in the VCR. Because, after all, their friend said it was a great movie.

We can't stop the flood of violent and sexual movies, but, we can take control over what our children watch in our own homes.

I am a censor in that I won't let the kids watch some movies that I think are inappropriate. But, I think that's part of being a parent--judging the maturity of the children and making decisions based on that judgement.

Having said that, I must also say this, as long as I can control what comes into my home, I don't believe in censorship. Whether or not I approve of extreme violence in movies or print; whether or not I approve of pornography; it is irrelevant. Taking away the rights of those who produce those items is too dangerous. If you take away those rights, it is a short step to taking away your liberty. As long as we are free to criticize our government and free to worship as we please, we cannot afford to jeopardize that freedom by limiting the freedom of others.

If you don't want the kids to see pornography on the internet, make sure that you supervise them while they are online. If you have doubts about a video, watch it first...before you let the kids watch it. If you don't want them to read Hustler, don't buy it and bring it home.

As an Irishman said a few centuries ago: "Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom."

Although it is not precisely what he had in mind when he made that statement, I say that the time has come for people to pay the price by watching what comes into their homes instead of expecting the government to make laws that would take away certain liberties and relieve them of one of the burdens of parenting. Because the next liberty that's taken away could be yours.