Cartoon Network, Cartoon Violence

Parents, do your children a favor, and DO NOT allow them to watch Cartoon Network.

One of my 6-year-old son's best friends watches Cartoon Network almost exclusively, and it shows when they get together to play. Anytime they engage in creative play, the neighbor boy turns the most harmless of objects into components of some epic battle. Worst of all, if my son takes the creative play in a direction that clashes with the neighbor boy's plot, he gets very angry to the point of violence (if I wouldn't step in). All of this I attribute to the likes of Cartoon Network and its plethora of violent shows.

The easy answer would be, "Don't let your son play with him anymore". But that doesn't work because we have agreed to get him off the school bus and let him come to our house for a half hour until his dad can pick him up. I really think he is a good kid, but the effects of violent cartoons are quite evident with him. A few days ago I decided I'd had enough of the violent play, so I told them to stop. It wasn't popular with the neighbor boy, but I don't really care - my son doesn't need to be exposed to such violence.

On Saturday my son asked what kind of TV we needed to get Cartoon Network. I told him cable TV, but that we were never going to get it because it is a waste of time and money. I also told him about how most of the cartoons on Cartoon Network were violent, and tried to explain that Jesus taught that we should avoid hate, anger, and violence. Hopefully some of it will sink in.

My son is a naturally caring, loving person; and I will not stand idly by and let him be turned into another product of the secular world. If you care for the future of your children, and the human race, I would suggest you do the same. Turn off Cartoon Network... and actually, while you are at it, just turn the TV off altogether and play outside or read some books together.