Sesame Street Bad for Kids!

In this holiday season, few things are scarier than the political correctness that seems to have taken over our every waking moment. It seems bad enough that people are not allowed to celebrate the holiday season in the fashion that they see fit, for fear that they will offend somebody passing by on the street. Christians discouraged from wishing strangers “Merry Christmas” or followers of the Jewish faith being ostracized for wishing others a “Happy Hanukah”. Where did society go wrong and why are we determined to make the world a one size fits all dreary place to live?

I’m not a very spiritual person, but I am by no means offended by others wishing revelers the holiday greeting of their choice. I’m just as likely to respond happy holidays to somebody wishing me a Merry Christmas, but not because I’m offended by the salutation they decided to bestow on me. I sincerely wish that they have a great day and holiday season, however they happen to celebrate it. For some of you, it may just be a few days off from work.

The political correctness bug really got me fired up when I learned that there were people in Australia trying to ban people dressed up as Santa Clause from shouting that oh so popular phrase “Ho, Ho, Ho”. It seems that there are some who think that is sending a bad message to the youth of today because of the glorification of the word “ho” by today’s gangsta rappers. It seems that if not protected, the children of today will believe Santa Clause is calling women whores. Come on people, wake up. Whether you believe in Christmas or not, it would really not be this time of year having Santa on every corner shouting “Ha, Ha, Ha”. Stupid. Period.

Since I’m on the topic, another waste of time is the suspension of elementary students from school for the audacity to play cops and robbers or any other game that requires students to use pretend guns. Sure, our climate has changed forever since Columbine and 9-11 but do we really believe that the next Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are being created on America’s playgrounds because they are playing soldiers on the playground?

Maybe it is my small town upbringing that makes me naïve, but I seriously doubt that only people form small town Iowa communities with populations under 1200 feel the way I feel. Granted, Mom and Dad should be worried if their little angel suddenly comes home and says things like “I’m going to take a steak knife, cut out your eyes, and feed it to my guinea pig”. I agree that is worrisome. However, I do not agree that Susan giving a hug to Timmy on the playground is creating the next sexual harassment lawsuit that will have the TV news people and other talking heads spitting fire in twenty years. People today are too quick to keep others from showing emotion and expressing themselves all in the name of political correctness.

Perhaps the straw that broke the camel’s back (I know, here comes the PETA people—I’ve abused an animal) was when the US censors decided that the original Sesame Street episodes from 1969 to 1974 should come with an adults only warning: "These early Sesame Street episodes are intended for grown-ups and may not suit the needs of today's preschool child."

I didn’t believe it when I heard it several weeks ago on the radio. I assumed that I missed some vital piece of information and that they fessed up to some huge joke when I wasn’t listening. But alas, it seems that the censors have really lost it on this one.

Apparently watching the Cookie Monster eating cookies is responsible for me being fat (Today he says cookies are a sometimes snack). My mood swings come from Bert waking up cranky. Are those delusions that you are having? Those are caused by Big Bird and his occasional Snuffleupagus sightings. Don’t even get me started on the reason your house is dirty. That obviously occurred because you saw Oscar the Grouch living in such dirty conditions in his trash can. Or the reason I like to see people splashed with mud puddles while driving is because the cake chef used to fall down the stairs with his five strawberry cream cakes. Suddenly, I’m not feeling so cheery for the holiday season after all.

Bah-humbug! Anyway, that's how I see it.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22857738-7583,00.html

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/keeping-us-on-the-street-and-narrow/2007/12/01/1196394689031.html