Categories: uncategorized
Date: 30 March 2006 07:19:53
Ok, the first bit was going to be the topic according to the lent plan, but the 2nd bit kind of overtook.
First off, yesterday I was doing an exercise at work where the students look at different magazines. As an example of a teenage Magazine I took in a copy of Sugar for them to look at. It's one I don't really approve of but which I buy for Third Party because as she says she would read it on the bus anyway and so atleast this way I know what the issues in it are and so can discuss them with her.
During the exercise it was interesting that the 16 and 17 year olds were shocked at the contents and said it had changed since they had read it. Their reaction was surprising as they were concerned about the level of sexual content, and from the conversations I hear as they are waiting for the classes to start they are hardly prudes.
Following on from this I read this Sojorners article which whilst v. American in terms of the polarisation of debate I think highlighted a wider issue of what messages the right wing of Christians' focus on in moral arguments.
The reaction of my students I think highlighted what the second part of the article is saying if Christians were to focus on the wider issues there are many people who would agree with us and all over the world we could see a change. It's not just l"moral majority" or left leaning evangelicals or even Christian liberals who are concerned about the content is exposed to our children.
If we could stop persecuting groups on the basis of their identity and started focusing with others on the real issues it may be possible that we could stem the flow of inappropriate material our young people are being exposed to.