Vive la Violencia!
by Michelle Joy

Originally Posted: 28 June 2000

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Everyone understands Dragonball Z's current situation. Bad voices, script changes, edits, the crappy music, etc., etc…. So I am going to throw my two cents in once again, and go through a few things that I feel are important.

The other day in Spanish class, we began talking about an interesting subject. It was interesting because most of the gibber-jabber we normally ramble about is so boring that it actually makes history class look like fun (and everyone hates history class). Anyway, the teacher brought up the topic: "Violencia en la television y como infuyo los jovenes en el mundo hoy en dia". Translated, that means: "Violence on TV, and how it influences the children in the world nowadays." I couldn't wait to get started. I immediately had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

We got into the whole concept of censorship. Most of my classmates agreed that censorship is wrong, myself included. I don't like censorship for the obvious reasons (not being able to see the best scenes that pay a key part in the story). I also don't like it because it inhibits our freedom (America, land of the free?), and it only proves that the government only wants us to see what THEY want us to see. It also gives them a scapegoat. Think about it. If more parents sat down to tell their children what kind of violence is real and can hurt you, as opposed to what kind of violence is fake and is all in someone's head (or from someone's head), then the government wouldn't have TV to blame for all the children's mistakes. I remember as a child, my mom would sit me down in front of the TV to watch Robotech or whatever, because she didn't want me in her hair (but what parent does?). The fact that she relied on TV as a babysitter proves the fact that parents don't want to spend any more time than necessary with their kids, or take time to explain reality vs. fantasy, either. Blaming TV for a parent's mistake that could have been easily avoided is taking the easy way out.

We also talked about violence itself. Would we let our kids watch violent programs? I said yes. When my teacher asked me why, I simply explained that beforehand, I would tell my kids what violence on TV really is. It's fake. Make believe. Violence on TV is a form of entertainment, and not something we should try on others. I also would explain that the guns you see on TV are bad, and that hunting with guns or police protecting the innocent with guns is A-Okay. I, myself, hate guns. I've held a few loaded ones before, and simply said, "Never again." The thought that I could kill someone was mortifying. The thought that I could kill myself was traumatizing.

This brings up our next topic in Spanish class. "Tiroteos". "Shootings". We talked about school shootings and the Columbine, etc., etc., and how they effect our school as well. To tell you the truth, I am surprised they don't have metal detectors at this school. I told the teacher these things, and how our society has lost trust in its youth. We now have to carry logs around school, which indicate where we were, when we were, and why we were in a certain location and a specific time. The constant babying is too much. We're not aloud to have plastic bottles because we could easily sneak something illegal into school with them. Drinks at school now only come in cans. We have those silly "rent-a-cops" roaming locker bay, that jump you every time you forget a book and go back to your locker to get it. These people are scary. And then there's the fact that we have to watch what we say, because even joking about "killing" someone (when, in reality, all they really need is a good slap) is a mortal sin.

When we were asked to give examples in Spanish class, I gave one, citing the Japanese lifestyle vs. our own. How many people have heard about school shootings in Japan? None. And you know why? Because guns are illegal and people can't own them. But, you'd think, that since they have all those disgustingly morbid and violent cartoons that their children would be corrupt, right? Not on your sweet pitooty. I'm sure that the Japanese have their problem children too, but I can tell you right now that children in Japan care more about school than TV. Why? Because their parents have taken the time to explain that if they don't get a good education (study first, TV later), they won't have a chance in the world. Here's where ChiChi's character comes in! ChiChi is a perfect example of the typical Japanese mother. Learn hard, play hard. If my mom was more like ChiChi, she wouldn't have to rely on a TV set to show me what's wrong and what's right. I'd probably have better grades and be out of high school by now (I had the chance to graduate early, but sadly, due to my laziness, I didn't).

The point I am trying to make is this: Parents, pay more attention to what your kids are doing. Show them the differences between good and bad, and by all means, please, PLEASE tell them that it is, after all, just a "cartoon". I feel that if I had been told these things in my early anime days, I may be in a better situation now, and may have made better choices, instead of slacking off and letting my GPA sink to an all-time low. I am a good example of a bad example: TV does change the way children think.

So, speak up, Mom and Dad, and quit depriving us otakus of real Dragonball because you're too damn lazy to set the rules straight.

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