Originally posted on Truth Revolt.
Virtually all traditional-minded American parents must worry as their children hit their teenage years and discover the opposite sex. God demands abstinence until marriage, and so abstinence is what we expect. But how realistic are we being? Teenagers see nudity in movies, hear crude jokes on TV, read explicit language in novels, listen to lewd lyrics on the radio, and see scantily-clad celebrities in magazines and newspapers.
Can teenagers seriously be expected to behave properly when they are surrounded by so much suggestive material? Is it fair to expose them (and ourselves) to so much temptation and then tell them, “Just say no”? Of course they can say “no” – we all have free will – but isn’t it cruel to submit them to moral tests that require iron strength to overcome?
Over the last few decades, conservative activists have tried fighting the immorality that stormed into American culture in the 1960s. Despite our best efforts, however, immorality is essentially everywhere, and the prospect of mainstream American culture changing anytime soon is extremely slim.
So what do we do?
As an Orthodox Jew, I went to all-boys schools though college and was raised on classic books, black & white movies, and almost no TV (just sports on Sunday with the commercials muted). But although restricting one’s cultural intake to pre-World War II creations is doable, it is not ideal. People have a natural desire to read and watch material that reflects their reality – not that of their grandparents – and it’s only fair that they be allowed to do so.
I therefore suggest a bold and, at the same time, simple, solution: the creation of an alternative American culture. If we conservatives are serious about traditional morality and protecting the young, we need to launch our own TV stations, found our own movie studios, start own newspapers, and write our own books. In other words, instead of trying to influence mainstream culture – a battle we have largely lost – let’s subvert it.
Some movement, of course, has already been made in this direction. There are Christian movies, religious works of fiction, and conservative newspapers – to say nothing of conservative websites. But much, much more work needs to be done. Christian movies need to be better and cleaner; clean dramas and action need to be introduced on TV, or at least the Internet; and we need publications that don’t glorify “free love.” Our newspapers, for examples, should not report on the sexual adventures of celebrities nor should they accept advertisements with women in seductive poses.
Ambitious? Yes. But doable. The audience and funds are out there. All that’s lacking is the will. If we desire it, we can create material that will meet the highest moral and professional standards – as exciting as Miramax movies and as compelling as NBC primetime.
The short-term goal should be to provide material that we feel comfortable exposing our children (and ourselves) to. The long-term goal should be to make this new moral culture so good that 1) our children won’t feel deprived being cut off from mainstream culture and 2) even other Americans – who have no qualms about being exposed to immorality – will want to watch and read what we produce.
The conservative movement has made huge advances on the intellectual battleground in the last few decades. But popular culture is still a decadent cesspool, undermining traditional morality with eye-gripping visuals every step of the way. We can win this battle, too, but only if we make it a priority. Until we do, mainstream culture will continue to entice all of us – especially the young and impressionable.