Television
a tool to breed ignorant pacifism
Robert Allen
Since
the day I learned to walk, television
was an essential part of my daily life.
I can recall innumerable moments spent
dazed in front of whatever programming
the networks put in front of me.
The bonds I had with Steve Urkel, Danny Tanner and A.C. Slater were cherished
and had a genuine influence on the way I viewed society. In retrospect, these
characters were tacky at best and if I could have those thousands of hours
back, I would have spent that time enjoying life from a first-person perspective.
A couple decades down the road, the programs are still just as worthless as
they were the day “The Twilight Zone” was canceled.
Reality television still has a firm grip on the masses even though we have
discovered that most of it is indeed produced with predetermined plots. As
for me, the deception has gone far enough. I have cut the cord. No more going
to sleep as blatant propaganda fills my ears. No more will I veg-out in front
of the boob tube while life passes me by.
Proudly, I have made it three months without cable television or even so much
as an antenna. The decision to turn it off came to me this summer after a forlorn,
one-week binge of television indulgence.
My brain was rotting behind my very
eyes. Symptoms included swift mood swings, increased appetite, anxiety, fatigue
and stiffness of the butt.
It may have taken some determination, but the abolishment of my TV addiction
was well worth it. Today, I am clear-headed and have more energy than ever
before. I must admit that the toughest part was getting through meals in my
apartment without that constant hum of the tube.
However, I no longer fear
that silence which causes many to feel bored or uneasy. When the mind is no
longer occupied by a bombardment of filth, it has the capacity to wander. My
imagination feels much more alive now that it can breathe.
The great thing about technology is that we are no longer required to flip
on the TV to find out what’s happening. The Internet is a source of infinite
channels and you don’t even have to wait through commercials. The best
part is that it is interactive. You have the power to spread your thoughts
or find what you need without waiting.
If you want to be a part of society, rather than a spectator, all you have
to do is get online. Otherwise, you can sit on the couch while someone else
tells you how to think.
This column originally appeared in the Daily O’Collegian at Oklahoma
State University. |
