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TV's Impact
A
cross-country panel discussed the impact of TV
and other media on family and culture at a
lunch-and-learn on parenting Tuesday in
Results from last week's poll (37 respondents)
Southfield. A Jerusalem Vision videoconference linked
Is it purposeful to probe Pope Pius XII's actions toward
Jews during World War II?
two panelists in Seattle and one in New York with an
0$ Yes (81%) *No (16%) Not sure (3%)
Ohr Somayach-hosted audience at the Star Southfield
Entertainment Centre.
"We hope this is just the start of conversations for
our community with people around the world," said
A devious black widow spider
Huntington Woods' Brent Treist, local moderator.
Once told her new mate that despite her
Film critic and radio talk show host Michael Medved
Past cannibal days,
and his wife, psychologist and author Dr. Diane
She's changing her ways.
Medved, spoke from Seattle. Author and New York
He grumbled back, Alevei viterP
University Professor Neil Postman also joined in.
The audience of about 170 included students and
- (idiomatic) Would that it comes true!
faculty from Andover High School and Roeper School,
— Martha Jo Fleischmann
both in Bloomfield Hills.
The debate touched on movies but much of it tar-
geted TV. Michael Medved thought network programs
and commercials in general taught impatience, dissat-
imrod was the great-grandson of Noah and
isfaction and superficiality. Diane Medved felt popular
the major instigator behind the construction of the Tower
I V content undermined parental authority and
of Babel.
robbed children of their innocence.
Nimrod inherited special coats of skin that God had given to
Professor Postman, author of The Disappearance of
I -
Adam and Eve and which Noah had preserved in the Ark. When
Childhood, decried the impact that TV had on young
he wore these garments, the animals of the land would flock and
children and said commercials sent the message that
kneel before him. The people revered Nimrod for this supposed
"all problems are solvable, and solvable fast." .
display of courage and strength. They anointed him their king,
Parent Jordana Weiss of the Jewish Federation of
thereby establishing the first great empire after the flood.
Metropolitan Detroit sought advice on controlling
Upon his appointment as king, Nimrod named Terach
what her children watch. Michael Medved suggested
(Abraham's father) his minister. Nimrod then organized construc-
highlighting TV programs on a schedule and sticking
tion of the Tower of Babel for the purpose of idol worship, made
to it, and covering the TV set with a tablecloth so
himself a deity and had the whole world pay homage to him. When
viewing becomes a conscious effort.
Abraham
refused to worship the king's idols, Nimrod had Abraham
His belief that putting a TV in a child's room is the
thrown
into
a fiery furnace from which he was miraculously saved.
worst mistake parents can make provoked a flurry of
Nimrod,
also
identified as Amraphel, became a vassal to his
reaction from teen participants. Roeper's Tegan Jones of
rebellious general Kedarlaomer and was later defeated by Abraham
Warren thought parents should trust their children's
during the battle of the four and five kings in Genesis 14. Nimrod
decisions. Medved countered that there's too little fami-
was slain by Esau (Abraham's brother), who coveted his magical
ly time as it is and that TV should be watched together.
garments.
Diane Medved didn't think most children were mature
— Benyamin Cohen
enough to choose shows responsibly. Postman added
that in today's society; "it's almost insurrection against
To submit a question for consideration, write: Judaism 101, The Jewish
the rest of mass culture to eliminate TV viewing."
News, 27676 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI 48034; fax: (248) 345-6069; or
The most important gift a parent can give a child,"
e mail: rsklar@thejewishnews.com
said Michael Medved, "is the courage to be different."
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Judaism 101 on the homepage.
— Susan Tawil
N •
Yiddish Limericks
Who Was Wound
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GRAPLIEWZ
BY
Mendel
O.K. HERE'S OUR BOARD AGENDA,
MEMBeRSHIP IS
POWN 72 °A
TuT- TuT! START
A
COMMITTEE!
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2..) WE'RE- FAcin.* FINANCIAL
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To LAMP' ON OUR TEMP LE
TSK-T5K! TuT-T0T! START
THANK
YOU
To the thousands of
caring and generous
supporters of JARC's
Lily Tomlin fundraiser,
I
JARC is blessed with a
unique partnership
with a loving
community and for that
we are grateful.
I
But just as a baby is
born every clay who will
someday need JARC,
our work is never
complete. With your
continued support, we
know that JARC will
continue to provide
high quality, loving care
to enrich the lives of
men, women and
children with disabilities.
I
Thank you.
A
GommirrEE!
Jewish Association for Residential Care
for persons with developmental disabilities
28366 Franklin Road
Southfield, MI 48034
248-352-5272 tty/fax 248-352-5279
www.jarc.org
10/29
1999
Detroit Jewish News
5