Baby’s First Body Count

    Last night we got Josie down at 10 pm, though she wasn’t exactly down. She was over in her bassinet gritching away. Erin & I slipped The Wire into her computer. We’ve become mildly addicted to the show, as a means of unwinding at night.
    Long story short, Josie started fussing. I picked her up and stood her next to me (the kid insists on standing) and she was immediately riveted by the show. No surprise. The screen was all shiny and people were moving around and making noises. So we all sat there watching for about ten minutes when suddenly a gun battle broke out. The sounds of the bullets startled Josie. I could see her eyes blink, her little body sort of buckling with each shot. She promptly burst into tears.
    As I’m writing, I can hardly believe that we were so stupid and callous as to subject her to this. I mean, we didn’t know a gunfight was going to break out. But then again, this is The Wire we’re talking about – it’s stock and trade is sudden violence. We had no business letting her anywhere near the screen. Should have turned the damn thing off. Honestly, we’ve got no defense, particularly because Erin and I produce so much well-meaning blather about the evils of television. (It’s the reason we refuse to have one in the house.)
    But it took watching my daughter’s reaction to one show to recognize how completely horrible and anti-human the images are. I keep seeing her eyes blinking, her head snapping back, the twisting of her mouth into a terrified frown.
    What was even scarier than her reaction, though, was our reaction. I mean, we tell ourselves we’re these gentle citizens. But we didn’t bat an eye watching people shoot each other. It’s like our natural human reaction – to blink, to be fearful and upset – had been eroded. We’ve become so habituated to manufactured violence that we’ve forgotten what it’s supposed to portray.
    I know people get all hacked off when I talk politics on this blog, so I’ll step away from the bullhorn. I realize, after all, that we can’t shelter Josie from this country’s popular culture forever. Eventually, she’ll see lots and lots of fake murders.
    But here’s what I’m getting at: shouldn’t we try?

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10 Responses to Baby’s First Body Count

liprap says:

January 5, 2007 at 12:56 am

Yes, you’re right. We SHOULD try. It’s why, when there’s nothing appropriate on for the little guy, we either turn off the tube or we go for that old standby, kid-friendly DVDs or videos. Kids don’t need it AT ALL.

And honestly, I find that my appetite for shows such as CSI and the like has been whetted considerably by the presence of my son in body or in spirit. When the little guy is asleep, I find I am loath to tune in to those programs. I really don’t want it in my life anymore than it has to be.

Heather says:

January 5, 2007 at 7:06 am

It is amazing how desensitized we have all become to these things.

I now live in Finland and as the majority of people don’t understand English swear words, programs with them in are on at all times of the day. I have only just realized how much so and how inappropriate TV is for my little one to even hear.

I suppose at least the locals wont know what she’s saying when she picks up all these words!

http:// says:

January 7, 2007 at 12:02 am

Absolutely. Thank you for that story. A lesson for me to be sure. We also don’t watch television but do the computer thing.
I grew up without violent tv (strict mom) and when I saw my first shooting at the movies I nearly had a panic attack.
Babies come into the world with pure reflexes and emotions. Why do we overload them with stimulation? How do we get ourselves and our kids on a softer track?
I’m practicing treating softly on the earth, and my child is helping me realize how deaf and overloaded I had become. It is so hard for me to sit in complete silence and just be. I usually need the radio on or something, someone. Lots to think about here for me …

http:// says:

January 7, 2007 at 3:42 am

In which Jah sighs and rolls his eyes.

Your daughter was reacting to the fake, loud TV gunfire or the sudden increase in volume/change in voices, not the “fact” that someone was being shot. Take her to a 4th of July fireworks show and you’ll get the same reaction. The 1812 overture could do it. Or, when a wailing siren is too close for hearing comfort.

Yes, yes, you were insensitive and now you are beating your public breast about your insensitivity. We’re all suitably impressed. Reconciling how you parent with what you claim is your outlook on life is revealing, to say the least. Welcome to the monkey house.

I don’t give a rodent’s derriere if you “talk politics” here. The hand-wringing schtick is a little troublesome, however. Yes, American popular culture is crappy. Yes, you’ve spent 40 years rolling around in it and enjoying it. Yes, having a child can make you rethink things. Yes, epiphany is a big part of parenting. These are givens. Don’t pull the “prophet with a bullhorn in the World Trade Center rubble” act, though. It cheapens the message.

For the most part, “we” are trying. You just received your first ticket for the Clue Train. Get on board with the rest of us. You’ll be more than welcome.

Jah

http:// says:

January 10, 2007 at 8:28 pm

Rolling my eyes along with Jah. I mean, come ON!

... says:

April 11, 2007 at 4:42 am

Luogo molto buon:) Buona fortuna!

... says:

April 11, 2007 at 11:35 am

pagine piuttosto informative, piacevoli =)

... says:

April 13, 2007 at 1:56 pm

9 su 10! Ottenerlo! Siete buoni!

... says:

April 15, 2007 at 5:53 am

Stupore! ho una sensibilità molto buona circa il vostro luogo!!!!

... says:

April 16, 2007 at 9:07 am

E grande io ha trovato il vostro luogo! Le info importanti ottenute! ))

Baby’s First Body Count

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