In my constant struggle to raise my children in this very chaotic world, I have found myself consistently battling the fitnah of the television. I simply haven't had the fortitude to throw it away.
Pathetic, I know.
When we were in the US and my two older kids were younger, we didn't have cable, so they would only watch PBS cartoons and animated movies (I am scarred for life after watching 'Spirit' 10,000 times).
Then we moved to our compound here in KSA where Cartoon Network and Disney Channel were freely available. So the kids began watching a variety of cartoon shows (without those dreaded commercials that are often worse than the show itself).
You see, I've always restricted my children to only watching animated cartoons, never allowing them to watch sitcoms or movies with real actors. That was my way of restricting the influence of television.
Or so I thought.
When I started seeing the content of the cartoons they were watching, I became extremely disgusted. Shows like Kim Possible had the lead character, a female tween who moonlighted as a spy, always sporting a croptop, exposing her midriff while struggling with a dorky family and typical boyfriend issues.
Another popular show, Ben 10, made light of the constant bickering between the lead character, Ben, and his cousin Gwen. They would regularly insult each other and try their best to get the other in trouble - unfortunate traits that soon began to manifest themselves in my two older kids.
I realized that the good ol' days of the Smurfs, Transformers, and Voltron were long gone.
So, I decided to turn off the TV and replaced it with a weekly movie. I would get the latest Pixar or Disney movie on DVD and make it an event with pizza and ice cream. Can't go wrong with that, eh?
Yeah, right.
While I always realized that these feature films had underlying messages, I never considered them to be so pernicious. Probably because I was older when I began watching them (we never watched such animated films in my childhood) and simply laughed off the silliness of every woman finding her white knight.
However, I am now faced with my young impressionable children being exposed to extremely questionable morals subtly injected into these supposedly innocent cartoon movies.
Like the film, Shark Tale, that glorified the vegetarian shark choosing his alternate lifestyle and 'coming out' as a dolphin. Or Mulan's defiant stance against authority. Or the racial stereotypes like the Arab accent of the villains in Aladdin (while the good guys had normal American accents) and the hyenas in Lion King voiced by an Afro-American and Latino.
I think it naive on my part to assume that my children will not be negatively affected by these messages.
For example, almost every animated movie revolves around some love-story component. Do I need to expose my daughter to such fantasies, where the pinnacle of every girl's dream is to find her prince charming? Do I want my son to believe that adult authority is inept and always to be questioned - even rejected, as portrayed in almost every one of these animated movies?
So I've decided to boycott all animated cartoons and films. No more Cartoon Network. No more Disney. No more Pixar.
Instead, I've found another alternative: family movies from the 60's and 70's. I just shared that old classic 'Escape to Witch Mountain' with my kids and they really liked it.
Until I finally throw away the boob tube, I guess that's the closest I'll find to wholesome entertainment.
WAW
5 days ago
21 comments:
Mashallah. Good move.
I just realized something. You mention, "Do I want my son to believe that adult authority is inept and always to be questioned - even rejected, as portrayed in almost every one of these animated movies?"
SO THAT'S WHERE ITS FROM!? In general, everyone I know has a complete disregard for authority. By everyone, I mean, kids my age. In class when we discuss conformity everyone seems to have a problem with following any set of rules or societies structure...I wonder why?
Nice post and Inshalah this will work much better than before.
Although, I wonder what I'll do with my kids. Maybe I'll have to contact you for a list of decent movies. Never lived in the 60's yaknow. :)
-The Muslim Kid-
I grew up watching wholesome shows on TV in the 50s and 60s. They always seemed to have a lesson about morality and managed to be entertaining as well. Nowadays people seemed to bored with stuff like that and instead prefer the violence, the sex, the bad language - because it's more exciting. My son is 17 now and I was appalled at the content of cartoons and other kids' shows because I hadn't really watched them in many years. There are some great classic DVDs with the old shows now that you can get. Good luck, Naeem.
Umm Brother you seem to have a troll posting awful websites depicting Asians! Better get rid of it quick!
On topic: Here's an article I wrote that's related to your post. My take on Disney's Aladdin:
http://www.examiner.com/x-28727-Woodside-Family-Examiner~y2010m1d5-Disneys-Aladdin-to-enjoy-or-not-to-enjoy
We've been without TV since forever in our home and so I also rely on cartoon DVDs (some Pixar films, too much Tom and Jerry, a few animated versions of English classics, and a couple of foreign language cartoon DVDs in Arabic and Bengali). I admit I haven't gotten around to watching all the Pixar films yet but I trust what you're saying about the problematic content within all these shows. It's terrible really how sneaky they are with trying to indoctrinate people to their way of life. You know what else I find problematic? The way race is portrayed on these shows. When my daughter was six and we were visiting my parents she was watching too much TV (it didn't help that they have more than one and it was the summer so lots of free time). She insisted upon watching Cartoon Network shows even though I wanted her to stick to Nick Jr. still. Then one day as I was trying to convince her to watch Little Bill over Dexter's Lab she blurted out, "But Little Bill's black and I'm white I can't relate to him". I was shocked and upset beyond belief because up until that time I always made sure to remind her of how Allah created us all as equals and no human being was better than another based on skin color and other physical attributes. I then promptly went on to show her a show depicting real life white children (which wasn't hard to do since 99% of American TV shows whites) and telling her they are white not her people would call her brown (because she's South Asian) and anyway doesn't she remember how I told her we are all human no big differences exist between us? I then turned off the TV as punishment. So anyway what I'm trying to say in a long winded way is that when non white children are exposed to seeing one particular group of people "normalized and glorified" at the expense of others, they will easily internalize the idea that that group is superior and either you wish to be like them and you try to find ways to relate to them (like my daughter who thought her relatively light South Asian skin tone made her more akin to whites than blacks). Just one more reason why all that stuff on TV should be avoided like the plague.
PS please do provide a list of stuff you recommend kids can watch Insha'Allah! I've been thinking of letting my daughter watch the Wizard of OZ because she's reading the book in school right now. What do you think? I used to like it as a kid and other than some wierd rumors surrounding (like suicidal munchkins and stuff)I can't think of much problematic content within it (other than the witchcraft stuff but my daughter's old enough to know magic is haraam)!
Get rid of the boob tube!
I see my children's creativity at its highest when they don't watch the boob tube for a while.
http://www.brainy-child.com/article/tvonbrain.html
Read a book! I know it may be hard at times, but everytime I read my kids a book, I hear it about it for sometime afterward.
My dad strictly limited the TV we watched as kids and my brother and I were much more imaginative and creative than kids are today. (Or so I think. :-)) We actually went outside to play, drew, read, even created our own world with maps and demographics. One summer we typed articles for our own family newspaper. Also we'd have Vacation Bible School with our stuffed animals (singing, Bible stories). Good memories! I think too many video games and TV shows are the curse of my nation. People don't get to know people because it's easier to just watch TV and let Hollywood entertain and think for us.
AA-
@MK, "I'll have to contact you for a list of decent movies. Never lived in the 60's yaknow. :)"
Dang bro, you must really think I'm old. One needn't live in the 60's to have seen shows from that time. :-P
@Susie, "Nowadays people seemed to bored with stuff like that and instead prefer the violence, the sex, the bad language - because it's more exciting."
Yeah, this dilemma of boredom is really difficult. I struggled initially to keep my kids busy with alternative activities after I turned off the daily cartoons.
But its true that children find their own ways to entertain themselves. They play outdoors alot more now and when inside, they do artwork and even cooking stuff (to the dismay of their mother) :-)
@R, excellent article at the Examiner!! If I had read it before, I would surely have plagiarized...lol!
Yeah, the Wiz of Oz is a good one to show my kids...like I said Escape to Witch Mt is good and the sequel (Return from Witch Mt). I found another one called Apple Dumpling Gang and its sequel...gonna check it out and see how it is...
But I seriously am thinking of weaning them off this weekly movie night to eventually cut them completely off of TV and movies. There really is no benefit and they need to learn more natural ways to unwind. I don't want them, as adults, to feel that TV/movies are essential for a good time.
AA-
@AbuLayth, how old are your kids? I think my 11 and 9 yr olds wouldn't be so keen on books, but I'll give it a try, IA-
@Susanne, "I think too many video games and TV shows are the curse of my nation. People don't get to know people because it's easier to just watch TV and let Hollywood entertain and think for us."
Excellent point. Social skills are degenerating with kids glued to the TV.
Thank you very much I'm glad you liked it! And instead of plagiarizing (lol) how about you help a sister out and pass the article around to your friends? Jazak'Allah ul Khair!
@Susanne
You're absolutely right it seems TV/Movies/Games (and now dare I say the internet) have proliferated tremendously since we were kids and have succeeded at dumbing everyone down and making everyone unsociable creatures.
A couple of comments. While in college, I had a classmate (married with two young girls) who limited her kids' TV watching to 2 hours per day. My wife and I haven't started that with our baby (she's too young to worry about that right now), but I may implement it when she gets older.
Anti-sociability: Comes not only from TV, but from the internet, computer games, even hand phones. Just after jumu'ah today, I went to McDonalds for lunch and sat next to three teenage kids, all of whom were ignoring each other as they sat self-absorbed in sending text messages to others elsewhere.
Books: Two things. One, if you don't read yourself, getting your kids to read will be that much more difficult. Monkey see, monkey do. Provide the example for your kids. Two, if your kids won't read, read aloud for them. As you read, tell your kids (and your spouse) the interesting tidbits you've come across. This works not just for younger kids but teenagers as well. If you're not familiar with Jim Trelease's book The Read-Aloud Handbook, run, don't walk, to the bookstore to buy a copy.
Br Naeem - trust me, 9 and 11 are not at all too young to enjoy reading!
I know some parents who rarely buy foods they deem unhealthy for their children. When those kids visit a house with things like Cocoa Puffs and potato chips in the cupboard, they go crazy!
What I am trying to say is that teaching moderation is very important, and I think it's great that you have not cut the TV out completely.
I have also read that kids that do watch TV are less creative than those that don't. It's quite obvious. When watching TV, there is no "active learning" so to speak.
Moreover, the dose of prejudices and etc. are quite obvious now to me than they were when I was growing up. I won't say they didn't have an effect on me, but much worse off are those that watched a lot of TV when kid. I hated TV as a child. And used to celebrate with a flag- running around the house- whenever there was a power cut. :)
I also agree with what anonymous says above about reading.
Children that have their own "library", and those that see their parents read are the ones to grow up good readers.
It is funny that reading actually improves our faculties, but TV hurts them. Wa'Allahu 'Alim.
AA-
@JD, good point on reading to kids. Thanks for the tip on the Read-Aloud handbook.
@Anon, I didn't mean to infer that my kids are too young. Quite the opposite - I feel they may be too old to sit and listen to me read them stories.
I agree with your moderation comment. That is one reason why I still have the TV in the house. I had neighbors who refused to have a TV and their kids would always run over to our house to watch TV.
@Manas, agreed on the ills of TV. I was naively hoping that an occasional dose of cartoons and animated movies would not be so detrimental for my kids. But after realizing that the subtle messages are unacceptable, I'm changing my stance on even watching cartoons.
You can start by having them watch one the safer movies, then read the book (or book first, then movie). I wouldn't do harry potter it's still too "exciting" on film. Have them compare and ask which is better. Books always win.
I have same issues with cartoons. Thank goodness for PBS, but still, those things are addicting.
JazaKallahu khairan for sharing this, i refer you to my own thoughts on this http://iraqiguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/mind-sponge.html (i am not a father yet).
The one thing i worry about when thinking of what to sensor. will my children resent me when they grow up ? shouldn't i give them some exposure to the outside world while keeping them informed ?
what are you thoughts on this ?
Salam Aleykum,
While I understand some of your reasons for doing this, although I might agree with them or not, some of the points brought up confuse me.
For instance, why do you consider questioning authority as something that is bad or unIslamic in general?
I mean didn't the prophet revolt against the existing tribal hierarchy and religious authorities of the time while following what he believed in as the truth? Isn't the central idea of Islam that there should be no authority other than Allah?
btw, I've been reading your blog for quite a while, in silence.I always enjoyed your sense of humor and stories of your lovely kids, mashallah.
AA-
@Iraqiguy, "will my children resent me when they grow up ? shouldn't i give them some exposure to the outside world while keeping them informed ?"
These are valid concerns. I do worry about them myself. I don't want my children to run to their friend's home to watch TV or play Xbox. So, I try to teach them the ills of these entertainment outlets, so they can make the decision themselves.
But at the same time, I give them limited exposure to movies and video games, as I mentioned in my post. Cutting them off completely, as some parents suggest, is a bit too drastic, IMO.
@Sarah, thanks for your questions. When I say that questioning authority is bad, I'm specifically referring to children. I sincerely believe in the old school attitude that children should be seen, not heard. It is not their place to question the parents. And when they see such an attitude of questioning authority in the cartoons, obviously it will turn against the only authority they know, their parents.
Later in life, I will definitely teach them to question and confront injustice, no matter who the authority is, but when it comes to my home and as long as they are young immature children, they should simply listen and obey. :-)
Salam
After watching some documentries like "The Arrivals" http://bit.ly/1Sexoo and http://bit.ly/5OzYQ
and documentaries showing how us muslims are being led to slaughter, and being prepared for the eventual coming of Dajjal, I dont see any cartoon, motion picture or still, as just being a cartoon. Everything has a subliminal messages tryin to brain wash us.
Like the constant depicting of Arabs as the bad guys in movies. This is not a recent phenomena, its been goin on since 1920s. They have been successfully brainwashed. Notice how the killing of Iraqis and Palestinians is barely reported. They are the bad guys in the eyes of people who are already under.
I also attempted to control the inflow of such cartoons, by bringin in cartoons like Mr Bean the animated series http://bit.ly/xDbXt but they will always ask for more because thats what their friends are watching and they just cant give it up this easy.
After watching the documentaries, including this current series, http://bit.ly/aggaJw Ive come to realize that this world is indeed a much harder test then initially thought, or atleast for me
Hello, I ran across your blog entry during a google search and I'm not a parent or religious BUT...I have spent much time watching animation...
...I do think its important to review and look into the things your children are watching and discuss with them the content of what they are seeing. Isolating them totally from TV is not going to work because as someone said before they will get it other places. When they do they might not question what is being shown to them or be misled. Talking with them will give them critical thinking skills when faced with representations in media or otherwise.
Cartoons today, and more so the cartoons shown on Cartoon Network are the worst. It seems as though all of their themes are developed in order to further petty consumerism. Consumerism seems to always be connected to cartoons in someway anyhow ( I recall a toy seller goading Batman producers to create different versions of Batman outfits so that more figurines could be made because according to him every child should have at least 15 different Batmans).
I would say that you might want to look into some Disney 90's cartoons. Maybe Darkwing Duck (for vocabulary?), Duck Tales or Tale Spin. I would also suggest the animated Japanese film Ponyo (it's delightful!). They seem modern enough that the kids won't feel so out of touch...Then again, I don't know exactly what you value so my recommendations might be worthless.
Book reading is always better than movie watching anyhow.
Oh, and wait until they get a hold of Adult Swim material.
Best regards.
Good article, and a great commentary on what the world of cartoons looks like today... Not a pretty picture I might add!
This all got me to thinking about an idea that I have had for a while regarding a socially responsible children's animated series. I would love nothing more than to bring back some of that good old fashioned wholesome cartoon content from the good ol' days!
I also wouldn't mind some independent feedback if anyone cares to critique my concept...
It's called Hector The Friendly Collector, and you can see the concept here http://hectorthefriendlycollector.blogspot.com/
I would really appreciate any comments or suggestions (good, bad, or indifferent).
Thank you.
Regards,
"Hectors Creator" (Marty)
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