Curbing Violence on Television

Let me get this straight: According to a Los Angeles Times Poll, four our of five Americans--roughly the same percentage of Americans who wholeheartedly supported our recent slaughter of over 200,000 Iraqis--believe that television is at the root of our society’s violent behavior.

There is no difference between our drive-by bombing of Iraq in retaliation for their scheme against former President Bush and a drive-by shooting for similar motivation.

Look in the mirror, folks.

PETER MAGILL

South Pasadena

So polls suggest that television violence is a greater evil than government control of what we see and hear? These members of a growing “not-see” party are all fools peeing on the graves of dead American soldiers. Children and adults must learn to live in a free society. Not making criminals feel fully responsible for their actions only encourages more wrongdoing.

Contact the networks if you want to complain about the airwaves, but leave Big Brother out of it.

KEITH SINGLETON

Beverly Hills

With the current furor over violence and sexually explicit scenes in movies and television, there is a difficult balance problem between censorship and free expression. I propose a new solution to this problem.

I suggest we place a tax on each “objectionable” scene. This tax could be collected for each showing and the amount set according to the intensity of the scene (number of people killed, amount of nudity, etc.). Such a tax would discourage objectionable programs, avoid censorship and yet allow the viewer freedom of choice.

The tax would significantly reduce the number of controversial scenes if set at a high enough level. Since the tax will eventually be passed on to the viewer, those who choose to see such scenes will ultimately help fund programs established to combat their adverse effects.

DAVID J. VOGL

Torrance

Violence in society is certainly a symptom of a disease, but violence on TV is not the sole pathogen. Consider the front page of The Times on Dec. 18: violence on TV, peace talks stall, sexual harassment, death from anorexia, the Pentagon.

Despite all the possible news to report that day, The Times chose to focus on the problems. TV chooses the easy way out, dazzle them with guns.

The disease is cultural. As long as we focus on problems, we simply encourage more of them. We need more positive feedback, more attention on solutions. The Times can start by placing a positive story on the front page every day. TV news could commit to a positive segment each show. We in the audience could find someone to compliment, write one letter, make one phone call, smile once more, every day.

DAVID QUESTON

Santa Monica

The article “Panel Gives Reno Ways to Curb Violence on Television” (Dec. 16) details possibilities of FCC control of TV violence if the industry fails to heed the advice to act voluntarily.

My concern is the call “for a ban on violent programming in prisons.” The fact that televisions are even available to prisoners is another example of coddling. If we must provide TVs, let’s at least restrict programming to those that will teach the criminal the error of his ways and prepare him to abide by the laws of society if he is released.

FRED ISBELL

La Mirada

With murder of fellow human beings now considered fun entertainment by some of the present generation, how long will it be before they become bored with it and turn to cannibalism as the new form of fun entertainment.

Maybe this is what the French foresee in the entertainment coming from the U.S. and why they rejected inclusion of it in the GATT agreement.

EDWARD G. KLEIN

Costa Mesa

Mario Cuomo’s article on violence in the media (“How to Disarm the Thought Police,” Commentary, Dec. 10) was right on target. The junk we see on television is there because people continue to watch it. I seldom turn on the TV because I find reading much more fulfilling.

My three children are allowed to watch television, maybe on an average, three hours a week. Even when the program is somewhat acceptable, these feather-brained TV producers manage to expose my kids to garbage through commercials and movie previews. Before I have a chance to turn it off the damage has been done!

LUCY JOERGER

San Clemente