In the year 2000 there are many problems with society. One of the biggest and most controllable is the issue of violence. Although we are subjected to violence everyday by simply turning on the news, other forms of violence for entertainment can be censored. This is the type of violence that is corrupting the minds of todays youth and destroyingthe change for a peaceful future.
In todays society violence is saturating the minds ofchildren and people must learn to become involved in the problem before it is integratedDue to the fact that violence is everywhere, people accept it because theyare constantly being exposed to it. It has become a reprehensible part of society. Onmany television shows and movies the characters approach their problems in a violentmanner. When people view these shows they deduce that violence is an effective way togo about solving a problem. Children especially have a misconception that violence isrequisite. Childrens television shows contain about 20 violent acts and hour (Childrenand Television Violence 1).
Childrens minds are still in a developing stage when they areyoung and as they grow older. Therefore, if they are constantly watching violent showsthey will develop a violent mentality. As these children grow into adulthood it is mostlikely that they will display the violent behavior they have been watching. 59 percent ofthose who watch an above average amount of violence on television as children areinvolved in more than the average number of such aggressive incidents as later in life( Children and Television 2). Along with television shows and movies there is alsoviolence in music, video games and on the Internet. People listen to violent lyrics whichglorify violence and they will think that violence is cool.
They think this way especiallyif the artist is consider a role model by others. In video games, violence is animated andpeople do not see the reality in it. They believe that they will have another life or have theability to start the game over. This attracts teenagers because it gives them a chance to beviolent without having to deal with the repercussions. Since violence is saturating U.
S. culture, nonviolence is becoming extinct. Therehave been numerous examples where a lives could have been saved if a solution had beenmade peacefully instead of violently. An example of this is Columbine High School. Thetwo students responsible for that massacre were advocates for violence and felt angertoward the world. If parents, teachers, counselors, or even friends had taken interest intotheir lives then the tragedy would have never happened.
Programs have been set up wherestudents can go and work out their problems(i. e. peer mediation). In todays world thereneeds to be more of a push towards nonviolence from adults and even kids. If they aretaught at a young age the right way to handle a situation then violence will be able to be controlled.
More than likely the entertainment industry and technology will displayviolence because that is what sells and people are not finding effective ways to fight the All it takes is people to use their voice to change things. The parental advisorylabel on CDs was originated by a parent who sent his idea to the president after hearingone of Princes records. His idea gained support and before he knew it CDs were beingprinted with a black and white advisory label for explicit content and lyrics. The secondstep in this process is for parents to be aware of the label and heed its warnings. Musicand other forms of entertainment can not be blamed for societys problems but they docontribute to the compound of ingredients that create violence. Although violence constantly surrounds people, it should not affect them.
Peopleshould realize that most of the scenes are not reality and should not be imitated. Childrenwho cant distinguish between fantasy and reality shouldnt be exposed to violence. Inorder to accomplish this parents must take a stand. Parents must censor what theirchildren watch and teach them right from wrong. People must realize that children are thefuture of our country.
If they grow up in a violent society the years to come will be evenmore violent. In the past the world has flirted with annihilation and it is up to todaysyouth to set the standards of what tomorrow will be like. Without a peaceful childhoodone cannot grow up to be a level-headed individual. Works CitedChildren and Television Violence. Online. Internet.
25 May 2000. Available http://helping.apa.org/family.kidtvviol.html.Bibliography:
