Posted 1/24/01 In the name of freedom, what are we doing to our kids? Opinion by MaryHelen Swanson What price freedom? This is an interesting question, one often asked in essay contests, particularly of young people. Todayís children and young adults know very little about not having freedom, even those who study the current conditions of the third world countries. Communism is a word almost eliminated from conversations. Dictatorship is another that many under 20 have never been introduced to in much detail. There are fewer and fewer cries of ìcensorshipî because very little is censored these days. We cling so tightly to that ìConstitutionî defense that criminal actions are palliated. Children are allowed to watch movies and so-called entertaining shows that once werenít even allowed on the air for anyone. With the nod of an adultís head, many times not even the childís parent, children can get into R-rated movies. Iíve seen that. They play video games that have nonstop violence as the main theme and no one seems to be alarmed. They listen to music that would curl the hair of our 50s and 60s ancestors, much less those further back in time. Late night television is becoming a hotbed of filth with sordid talk shows and commercials for ìadultî entertainment, and kids, left unattended at night, (and many are), are watching it. The attitude of many young people today is, ìI can do anything I want, to anyone, with anything, anywhere, in any manner, and youíd better not stop me because itís my Constitutional right.î Thatís what many call ìfreedom,î no matter the end result. Really, it is hard to tell some people that they canít do or say some of the things that are being done and said, all in the name of freedom. I find it hard to believe that our veterans, who fought and died for our ìfreedom,î really believe that they did so, so we could live without scruples and laws. It used to be when parents said ìnoî they meant it and kids understood the consequences. Today, many kids have little fear of consequences. Sure, young people have been rebellious as far back as the beginning of time. And evil influences have always been there. But those influences are becoming more aggressive today and society is telling children to ignore them. Iím not the first to say what goes into a child comes out. Even if they have difficulty remembering things, and most young people donít, the images of those violent and often sexually explicit shows, games, movies and music is indelibly etched in their minds. It will find a way out someday. They may forget the Pythagorean theorem, forget how to play the trombone, or how to speak a foreign language, but somehow theyíll never quite get those atrocious visions out of their heads. And when those visions cause actions, the reactions can lead to juvenile court . . . or the grave. Is that really the freedom we believe our Constitution allows? ©Post Review