CHILDREN’S INTERNET PROTECTION ACT (CIPA)
INTERNET SAFETY WORKSHOPS
By Safety Officer Laurence J. Rotondi and Joseph Denehy
- PART I: BASIC INTERNET SAFETY RULES FOR THE FAMILY
- PART II: INTERNET SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUTHS
- PART III: CHAT ROOMS AND THE WORLD WIDE NET
- PART IV: TRACKING YOUR KIDS INTERNET ACTIVITIES
- Remarks by Lisa J. Barstow, Director, External Affairs, Massachusetts Family Institute
by Robert Peters
Pornography is linked to a variety of harms to individuals of all ages, families and communities
These include:
- Harm to females who “perform” in hardcore pornography
- Harm to children who view pornography
- Harm to children who are sexually abused
- Harm to marriage
- Harm to women in the workplace
- Harm to the economy
- Link between pornography and prostitution/trafficking
- Link between pornography and violent sex crimes
- The erosion of decency
- The connection to organized crime
LIBRARY PORN
Library Porn continues to be a threat to innocent children and patrons of our public libraries. A recent case in Birmingham, Alabama, cited a librarian suing Alabama over porn in the workplace. She charged her library was a sexually hostile environment wherein those who wish to visit porn sites were capable of bypassing filters. She claimed no higher authority to which she appealed for support ever responded and thus, the suit. This is a reminder, we have to go to our libraries and ascertain what protection against pornography is being used and its effectiveness. Give us feedback on this issue. Remember, a word to the wise….
STAND UP TO TV INDECENCY
You want to stand up to TV Indecency, but you don’t know what you can do…..
Here’s what you need to know (and how MMM can help you)
“Addition is an ugly word, but it is a reality. And what are the results of TV addiction? Deterioration. Deterioration of family togetherness, closeness. Deterioration of mind and spirit. We’ve lost the art of family conversation. We don’t read. Our children are not stimulated to read. They are missing the great treasures, the literature of the ages. But the worst result of the addiction is a lack of interest in God and the Scriptures. Divine love as well as human love is leaving the home of the family addicted to television.”
Father Morton A. Hill, J.J.
So wrote Father Morton A. Hill, J.J. (1917-1985), the founder of Morality in Media, in Twin Circle magazine in 1981. Clearly, the situation has not improved since 1981. Your frustration level is mounting, and you ask yourself the question, “What can I do about it?”
Remember, the battle for decency in TV programming will not be won by “couch potatoes.” It will be won by “activists.” You cannot be for morality on TV if you remain silent in the face of a growing floodtide of offensive programming. You must take responsibility!
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION PENDING
HB 3434 – The Health Curriculum Frameworks was killed again for we think the third time. It is the most harmful for it removes control of health education from local school committees, eliminating choices when sexually sensitive topics are taught to young children and, also removing all power from parents and teachers. Believe us, it will come up again and we have to be prepared.*
The Comprehensive Health Curriculum Frameworks which last year was HB 3434 will appear again this year. As you probably know, it included a mandate for sex education from Grades K-12.
For information and questions:
Massachusetts Board of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
(781)338-3000
HB 1728 – The Transgender Bill has been filed this year again. It involves recognition and benefits to individuals according to their gender-related identity, appearance, other than his/her sex at birth. MMM and other pro-family organizations gave testimony before the Judiciary Committee at the State House last year and it was tabled, but here it comes again. Stay alert or contact us in the future as the date nears.
FAMILY FRIENDLY TV MOVIES
Now for some good news about Walmart and Proctor & Gamble (P&G). These two corporations have sponsored and produced the third of family-friendly TV movies to satisfy families who want television fare that does not offend their faith, that does not contain profanity or graphic violence and explicit sexual content. The current film is entitled “A Walk in My Shoes.” This is a step in the right direction, but it needs our help to continue. We need to contact P&G and Walmart corporate headquarters and express approval and gratitude, encouraging them to produce similar family TV movies as they say is intended. These will be shown every month on NBC. All contact information is listed, including NBC locally to ensure that this does occur.
Proctor & Gamble
One Proctor & Gamble Plaza
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(503)983-1100
Walmart Home Office
702 SW 8th Street
Bentonville, AR 72716-8611
(800)925-6278
NBC Universal Inc.
Corporate Office
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
(212)664-4444
NBC Local Affiliate
7 Bullfinch Place
Boston, MA
(617)589-0916
PARENTAL AUTHORITY
Parents, remember to use the Parental Authorization feature in your subscription package to restrict viewing of channels. Call your cable company to determine your code. Also, don’t forget V-chip locking and special remote for children. Go to www.tvboss.org or www.afafilter.com for making TV and Internet safer for your children.
Parents of young children should help them become wise television viewers. They do this by monitoring the types of programs they watch; monitoring time you want them to view TV. Parents need to share TV with their children, choosing programs that are worthwhile and referring to books, magazines that expand content of program. When possible, watch TV with the little ones to determine their reactions, and provide yourselfwith the opportunity to spot the unfavorable commercials, ideas, etc. Always encourage new activities for them and set a good example by not letting TV rule your life.
VIDEO GAMES
Studies raise concerns over video games.
The FCC says that advertisements for ‘M rated’ (mature) games still reach large numbers of children and young teens. They are designated suitable for an audience of 17 years and over. The studies conclude that there is substantial evidence that exposure to violence through this media does indeed increase aggression. The interactive nature of video games results in a stronger relationship with violent behavior compared to non-interactive media. Parents need to check the ratings for video games and limit the time children, especially boys, play these games. Parental oversight is essential.