Who's Next

Have you heard about these guys? Not the rockers. The Parent's Television Council. Here's their mission statement:

The Parents Television Council was founded in 1995 to ensure that children are not constantly assaulted by sex, violence and profanity on television and in other media. This national grassroots organization has nearly one million members across the United States, and works with television producers, broadcasters, networks and sponsors in an effort to stem the flow of harmful and negative messages targeted to children. The PTC also works with elected and appointed government officials to enforce broadcast decency standards. Most importantly, the PTC produces critical research and publications documenting the dramatic increase in sex, violence and profanity in entertainment. This information is provided free of charge so parents can make informed viewing choices for their own families.

Well, that's all fine and good. I am all for common decency and morality. (Unless someone else is trying to make that dictate for me) But, I will tell you what I am not for - any organization that tries, well meaning as they are, to pull the responsibility for the child away from the parent. This is a subtle way of undermining - don't you see it? Just like my rant about the Columbine situation awhile back. Just like my rant about that horrible tragedy in Minnesota a couple of months ago. We are responsible for our own children until the time that they can be responsible for themselves. We certainly can't leave that job up to the media, or the educational system, or the church, and especially not some social action group that tries to put pressure on the FCC. I don't want any more pressure on the FCC - honestly. More regulations - is that really the answer? That's probably the reason televisions sucks so bad right now. That's why I try not to watch it.

*And just as a side note - you want to halt the disintegration of the media? Stop the humiliation and manipulation that goes along with reality television. All that shit is straight from Satan - mainlined into our veins like a sick cancer. Now that's a real battle.

I thank God for the tiny bit of tv with substance. For cutting edge networks like HBO and FX to liven things up a bit. But, you see, I know enough not to let my 9 year old daughter watch Tony Soprano "fuck somebody up". She can't see that until she is, at least, 11.

But I digress. This is about my current beef with the PTC. Seems their latest outrage concerns ABC's broadcast of some of the Live 8 concerts on July 2. Particularly the Who's performance of their classic song, "Who Are You". Now, if you grew up listening to classic rock - like I did - you have heard this song on the radio a million times. A.M. and F.M. And you've worked your way through several copies of Who's Next in your lifetime. And if you have, you know that towards the end of the song, Roger Daltry gets a tad excited and yells out "Who the fuck are you!" Well, he evidently did the same thing in ABC's broadcast on the 2nd. Why shouldn't he? And well, ABC failed to hit the delay switch. And millions of viewers heard the f-word on live television - many of them children. Big Fucking Deal! It is not important! This is not even a case of wardrobe malfunction. It is just a word. A tiny four letter word.

I am going to tell you what happened. Those guys sitting in the office there. Monitoring the satellite link to Britain. Just like the rest of us. They have heard this song all their life. Come on! It's Roger Daltry and Pete Townsend we're talking about here. I am sure that part of the chorus came and went and it didn't even faze them. And why should it? I have never heard that song edited by a single radio station. Ever. Just like I've never heard them edit the word bullshit out of "Money" by Pink Floyd. As it should be. These are classic rock songs. You don't mess with them. You don't question them. These artists have established themselves. They're not a threat. They're the sounds of expression. Please! Can we fight a relevant fight in this country or what?

I mean, what were the Live 8 concerts about anyway? Fixing the debt problem for some third world countries. Maybe showing a little Christian compassion. Maybe we could enter into a discussion with our children about that. Rather than bitch about how scarred they might be as a result of Roger Daltry's outburst. And please, don't tell me about how this might set a trend - that conditions will worsen - that we have to make an example - COME ON! Need I bring up reality television again. This is the Apocalypse already.
I would like to parent my own child. Thank you very much. I don't need anyone else setting the standards for her development. What is appropriate or inappropriate.

Some of you make ask, "Hey, Passenger. How would you like it if your kid was witness to the Who's "obscene" performance?" Well, guess what? She was. And she loved it. We talk about things. We discuss. Unlike, I am assuming, the families of the "outraged Americans" who were watching the concert on ABC and the Parent's Television Council. And she's better off for it. Now she wants to borrow my copy of Quadrophenia. How you like them apples?

Please PTC. This is a pointless gesture.

If they must rock...let them fucking rock!