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Buster
the bunny exposes children to gay parents
Since
George W. Bush's re-election this year,
several members of his cabinet have chosen
to retire. Sadly, some of his new appointees
are overstepping their boundaries and using
their religious beliefs to impose limitations
wherever their beliefs and secular beliefs
conflict.
Last
week, Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings
criticized the airing of a PBS program titled
"Postcards From Buster." During
the show, a cartoon bunny named Buster visits
children around the nation to show the cultural
diversity of our nation. The episode, which
Spellings objected to was about a young
girl who makes maple sugar with her two
moms. The program didn't focus on the fact
that she had lesbian parents, but the mere
mention of homosexuality caused uproar among
conservatives. Due to the hoopla surrounding
the episode, PBS initially chose not to
air it, but now it seems the episode will
appear on 21 of their 349 stations.
It
is salient that children are exposed to
the different cultures and lifestyles that
are prominent in a nation as diverse as
the United States. The actions taken by
Spellings can only further the current lack
of awareness about the different beliefs
people practice in this country. The entire
purpose of a government is to protect and
serve its people and under the Bush administration
there are significant groups of people being
excluded and ostracized.
Spellings
was quoted saying that "many parents
would not like their young children exposed
to the lifestyles portrayed in the episode."
What Spellings failed to recognize was that
millions of young children across the country
have been adopted by gay couples and this
kind of exposure is essential in creating
a tolerant environment. Elementary school
students face a plethora of difficulties
as it is. In elementary school, children
develop their social skills and learn not
only how to treat others, but also to expect
a certain kind of treatment from others.
Lack
of tolerance for children with gay parents
can be damaging and cause them to have difficulties
socializing later in life. This "Postcards
From Buster" episode would expose children
to a different kind of lifestyle they otherwise
may not have tolerated.
Responsible
parents have control over what their children
watch. If they object to homosexuality,
then they have the option of changing the
channel or turning the television off. It
would be a shame if millions of children
across the country had to forego exposure
to different beliefs and cultures because
some parents object to them.
Spellings
needs to recognize the multitude of beliefs
practiced in America rather than solely
incorporating her own when making decisions.
Children should have the opportunity to
learn how other people live. As our nation
grows, the variety of beliefs and cultures
present expands. For future generations
to be caring and tolerant of others they
must understand other peoples beliefs. The
idea behind "Postcards From Buster"
is to provide children with the different
cultures across the country, giving parents
an enormous opportunity to expose their
children to things they would not encounter
in their own community. It is ridiculous
to object to this kind of positive exposure.
Lauren
Williams is an undeclared freshman at CSULB.
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