The Blog: Ministry, Music, Media
New Crime in Chicago Schools - Cyberbullying posted on August 3, 2010
Chicago public schools have recently made the online actions of harassing, making threatening statements, stalking etc., a crime that gets a student not only a suspension from school, but a potential police record. Cyberbullying victims now account for 40% of youth online. Read more about it, here.
We know you are online with the kids helping them understand responsible behavior as they interact with peers and friends through email and other social networking interfacing. How do you help them avoid being bullied, hurt and in some cases, devastated from cyber-related activities?
At Common Good Radio we promote compassionate behavior in human activity, even online. You can help your kids see the best in others by mentioning that is it important to respect other people, that all people are worthy in creation and grace is like sun light - it lands everywhere.
Listen for songs that lift the human spirit rather than tear it down, like: Welcome Table, Dan Zanes, Love Them Like Jesus by Casting Crowns and Everybody Ought to Know, Sweet Honey in the Rock. When you hear a song on our Internet radio project that inspires you or your children, talk to your kids and say - great words in that song - what does that make you think of? Or, how do you feel when you hear music like that? Simple steps help them understand how to listen for compassion in one another; we hope listening to Common Good Radio can help.
Bringing hope to all God’s children - one song, story or witness at a time.
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Media Violence posted on July 25, 2010
I have a struggle with media violence in my heart of hearts.
To the public as audience, the tasks of documenting what happens is important and is called, journalism. Many times that journalistic effort is representing a violent culture and it can be argued that we live in a violent world so if there is a war, bloody accident or starving family somewhere - awareness (journalism) can be a first step in the process of easing human suffering if we, those who are watching and not suffering, get involved in problem solving. Fine. Adults get to make these choices about media and involvement.
What do you think about violence, media and the kids? What is violence to children? What is media’s responsibility alongside parent’s responsibility? What is too much violence and what is not violent at all? Is it important to show media violence because it is what some folks believe to be - how life really is?
I like what Professor W. James Potter, Ph.D, has to say in 11 Myths About Media Violence (Sage Publications, 2003):
Media violence is almost never a form of political or religious expression. For example, what are the important political or religious insights conveyed by movies such as Terminator, Rambo and Lethal Weapon? Would the political or religious discourse in this country be impoverished by a lack of input from these media products? Programmers do not use violent stories to advance their political or religious positions. Instead, programmers simply want to entertain. (p.160)
So, if we agree that entertainment in media is not important to what life really is all about, how life is really lived, why is so much of children’s media, violent?
I am struggling here - help me out. What is violent to you in children’s media, and what is not? What is too much and what is okay? Parents, let us know.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Summer Movies, Kids and Smoking? posted on July 11, 2010
I know many folks who hit movie theaters this past week to stay cool in the summer heat, join pop culture and have a bit of family time. I love movies, too!
I saw this article that encourages parents to be aware of the number of people in films who smoke in PG and R rated movies. It is a media literacy awareness moment to ask if the character who is smoking offers the audience something that models a truly dangerous and addictive behavior as though it were not dangerous and addictive. The folks with the article are urging a movement to eliminate tobacco from the movies - especially where younger children or teens are watching, because incredibly, people still start smoking each year. 
What do you tell your kids about smoking cigarettes? Do you say anything about reality versus fantasy (real life versus movie story lines) when a film character lights up on the big screen? It may sound obvious, but kids need to be reminded that movie characters are not real people. It is a simple sentence and the kids will know how you feel: Movie characters are not real people; you are real and I love you and there is no smoking in real life, right?
I often wonder about actors who have to learn to smoke for a film, then have to quit after the production is over - is that like working with a dangerous substance? Maybe the movie cigarettes have lettuce in them or something.
More awareness, more love, more to talk about with the kids you adore.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
