[A repeat from August 23, 2023] How often do we hear on the Nightly News the solemn offering “A warning to our viewers – some of the images are disturbing.” As if a little chaos, a dose of gunfire or a squeal of pain will cause great emotional agony to listeners. I’m not sure when this started but it seems to presume that American society is pretty fragile. Yet. . . .

Donna and I went to the movies a few weeks ago and saw “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” It was okay. Not as good as the first. Or second. But the prelude to the main feature was a series of perhaps ten “coming attractions” that . . . maybe I’m being too kind . . . . were little more than blood, gore, slaughter and carnage. On January 3, 2013, I posted on America’s culture of violence. Our numbing acceptance that our young people can watch movies that glorify horror, death, violence and fear.  Our children play (often for hours on end) the most violent, brutal, cruel and bloody video games.   There is the scalding inhumanity of and bloodlust for ultimate fighting and the degrading and debasing reality television shows where manipulation and back-stabbing win.  Hollywood sinks lower.  And lower.  But – hey – don’t you dare try and impose your values on anyone.   Heaven help you (pun intended) if you bring a Bible to school.  

And yet we hear “A warning to our viewers – some of the images are disturbing.” Really?