Posted on 02/24/2002 3:48:41 AM PST by TomSmedley
James Dobson's crusade against TV ads for booze is misdirected
For years, Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family has been a ministry dedicated to the preservation of the Christian family. In the course of its mission, it has often advocated, in the name of the family, boycotting various television shows, networks and companies, especially Disney. Its latest boycott is of television network NBC and parent company General Electric.1 The reason? NBC is now airing hard liquor ads. Oh, the sinister evil.
After a 50-year voluntary ban on liquor advertisements, NBC has decided to lift the ban and enjoy the show. The ads would begin airing at 8 p.m., central time. Dr. Dobson is "extremely concerned" about this new action, and is convinced that the initial ban "protected kids to some degree at least, from manipulative liquor ads that would entice their young minds and, for that matter, entice older people."
To help think through the "tough" issues of the day, recently Dobson had alongside him his protégé, John Fuller, as well as big government Republican Rep. Frank Wolf from Virginia. Fuller, says Dobson, has "consistently fought for moral values and the family in the Congress," valiantly battling the evils of gambling and porn.
According to the cast of characters, these "manipulative ads" are "another snake in the grass" and the result of "raw, unbridled corporate greed." These greedy corporations, say Dobson and Co., are going to cause a great moral upheaval in our country. Catching a bad case of the slippery slope, Wolf predicted that if NBC continues airing these ads, it will not be long before they are seen "on all the shows" and all the networks, which will lead kids into premarital sex and drunk driving (Whoa! Did I miss something?). Within two years, says Wolf, you'll be seeing these ads at sporting events such as the Olympics with "former ball players" (not current ones?) advertising hard liquor. "I think it will bring about a lot more death, Jim."
Curse that deathly evil bottle. Curse every milliliter of it.
"Even though the ban is voluntary," says Fuller, "I've got a teen and a pre-teen son at home, and this makes me angry because this is obviously motivated by corporate greed, a desire to put the money in, without any regard to the consequences to the viewers and the people who are affected by those who drink that hard liquor."
There's a little problem in the logic here. Focus on the Family apparently believes that ads which say "Drink Responsibly"—at least those are the only ones that I've seen on NBC so far—are going to cause your children to have sex and die. Whoa, Dobson, whoa. What about parental responsibility and education of children? What about parents teaching their kids right and wrong?
Whatever happened to focusing on your family liquor cabinet? After all, mine is quite all right.
Dobson thinks that the real solution to all our liquor ad problems is to boycott General Electric and NBC. God-fearing families should "bombard NBC and GE with telephone calls … absolutely bury them in complaints." Yeah, and tell 'em Jesus sent ya when you call.
To most outsiders, Christians are the folks who don't drink, don't cuss, and don't have much fun. Oh yeah, and did I mention Christians don't drink? It's hard enough being a Christian in America with the stands that the Bible demands we make. But by the grace of God, I can handle that. If God said it, well bummer if I take heat for it.
The problem I have is when we start making our little clubhouse rules of all our taboos and things that we don't do, even if Scripture nowhere denounces the things that we do. We're known as the goody guys who don't do this and don't do that, yet how many outsiders can tell us what Christians really stand for? And even if they could say that, how many outsiders can say they've ever seen us live what we stand for?
Instead of rallying the troops for battle, Dobson's listeners should be encouraged to instruct their children in thinking biblically about all of life, including alcohol and its proper use. Children should be taught both the Bible's warnings about alcohol abuse and the its praise of alcohol. Employing a Christian worldview in all of life is much more important than focusing on why bumming bottled booze is bad.
But we'd rather spend our time on the phone with a minimum wage employee of General Electric—who couldn't care less about the so-called evils of the bottle—than spend our time with our kids instructing them to think biblically.
In his critique of the Religious Right, Cal Thomas rightly notes, "Only God has all the truth. To the extent that we quote him accurately, we are loaned this truth. But when we begin adding things to his agenda, we diminish his truth and are onto something else entirely."2 Once again, Dobson thinks he has God's agenda figured out, and a million fingers will be dialing GE and NBC demanding a removal of these inherently evil ads.
But how can the ads be inherently evil if the actual product is not?
As Ken Gentry notes, "the biblical record frequently and clearly speaks of alcoholic beverages as good gifts from God for man's enjoyment."3 In Deuteronomy 14:22-26, the people of Israel were instructed to set aside a tithe for celebration and rejoicing. There, God tells them to "spend the money for whatever [their] heart desires, for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink." This, says Moses, is to be done rejoicing with the whole household, and "in the presence of the LORD your God." Teaching children the value of doing all things in the presence of God is going to go much farther in the long run than any boycotts ever will.
"Here comes another, uhh, you know, problem for parents to deal with," says Dobson.
"Train up a child, uhh, you know, and he will not depart from it," says God.
Notes
1. Focus on the Family Radio Broadcast, Jan. 31, 2002.
2. Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson, Blinded by Might: Why the Religious Right Can't Save America. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 124.
3. Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., God Gave Wine (Lincoln: Oakdown, 2001), 147. See Gentry's helpful discussion on the biblical term for "strong drink," 59-62. Also, check out the website.
The problem I have is when we start making our little clubhouse rules of all our taboos and things that we don't do, even if Scripture nowhere denounces the things that we do. We're known as the goody guys who don't do this and don't do that, yet how many outsiders can tell us what Christians really stand for? And even if they could say that, how many outsiders can say they've ever seen us live what we stand for?
Prohibition -- the effort by deluded Christians to impose unbiblical taboos by political force -- was a major setback for legitimate Christian political action. Catholics use "sacrementals," material objects believe to possess mystic properties. As a substitute for obedience, Protestants sometimes use "reverse sacrementals," and demonize selected material items.
How dare those evil capitalists make money and force you to parent your children!
It's amazing how willing people are to absorb falsehoods to match their own prejudices.
Prohibition was a WOMEN'S issue. It was tied to women's sufferage. There is no way the Catholic church would have allowed Prohibition if it was a "Christian" issue.
However, wine was a NECESSITY in 1st-century Palestine...it was how you killed the creepy-crawlies in the water and didn't get something nasty and gastrointestinal.
Besides, the drink kids tend to go after, BEER, has always been advertised on TV. Somehow I don't think that advertising liquor is going to step up kids drinking it.
People are ignorant if they think that kids can't get whatever they want.
twinzmommy
I am also glad there was limits on gambling. If the lottery existed then, he would have lost the farm.
If you make it easy for people to do it, they will do it, if you make it hard, they won't.
What's funny about his buildings is that they look like a prison.
I wish some companies that made real beer would start advertising more so that maybe more people would be aware that real beer exists.
ROFL. Very true, Sam. I enjoy Sam Adams, but personally prefer Guinness/Bass (or both at once if I'm out and they're on tap).
In my estimation, prohibiting minors from drinking and restricting the sale and advertising of alcohol only creates a forbidden fruit that encourages young adults to develop drinking problems.
Sam Adams would be spit out on the floor in favor of that Burger Brau attainment of perfection. I still have trouble with American brews. They're a bunch of wannabees that get attention from the poor americans.
The best beer doesn't leave Germany, unless it's in a stomach.
1. Encourage government to get involved in restricting the sale of advertisement of the "dangerous" good in question. I wouldn't agree with this (and it appears neither does James Dobson), but the liberals certainly do. They use the same argument all the time for gun control and the environment.
2. Encourage citizen involvement in encouraging companies to voluntarily curb advertising or sale of the "dangerous" good in question. Activism certainly seems to be the American way, and it probably makes us stronger as a whole. It appears that's what Dobson is in favor of doing - petitions, calling and the like. In my view, he would be better served to restrict these efforts to causes in dire need of his energy; I do not see alcohol ads as one.
3. Encourage all citizens to act responsibly and exercise control over their own lives, including control over any "dangerous" good. This is the path I would personally choose. Instead of restricting my focus to one thing I find dangerous, I'd sooner everyone realize they have a debt to their family and to those around them. The best way to settle the debt is to exercise restraint over their own activities - because in the end they're the only ones who can make a difference. I view it like a diet; it only works if someone commits themselves to the cause for internal reasons.
You are correct. When I was young, one of the most exciting things we did was find somebody to buy us a case of beer so we could go into the marshes and get drunk. As soon as I got old enough to purchase beer legally, it was no big deal and I rarely got drunk again (and haven't been for nearly 15 years despite having at least a beer or two daily). You see, when alcohol was "forbidden", you tended to overindulge when you got it because you didn't know when you would get it again. Ironically, at the very time when we needed adult supervision, we had none because an adult could be arrested by the police if we drank in their presence. So we had to take our case of beer and hide. When we got old enough to drive, you can imagine the hairy incidents we got ourselves into. I was very lucky as a teenager to have avoided death, injury or serious trouble with the law. Others I knew weren't so lucky.
Over in Europe (look out, here will come the people who say "So you want to be just like Europe, huh?"), children are allowed to drink with their parents and are thus ready to drink responsibily themselves at a much younger age than over here. No, I don't want the USA to be "just like Europe" but that doesn't mean that Europe doesn't do a thing or two better than us.
Parental supervision is so key to teaching a child to drink responsibly. When we teach our children to drive, we don't force them to go driving alone with their friends, who are also inexperienced. No! We spend many hours in the car with them, teaching them all the ropes. Yet when it comes to alchohol, we turn a blind eye and force them to go off into the woods by themselves with their immature friends to get blotto drunk. Why are we so stupid about this issue?
His buildings are no more opulent than any other corporate office building. I've been there. Other than a nice lobby and a nice executive area, all of the furnishings and finishes are tasteful, easy to maintain, and not ostentatious. And I've built, designed, and managed such office buildings for 20 years.
Dr. Dobson has an open history of standing up for what he believes is right. And that record has been public since 1977. His opinions are neither manipulative nor untruthful as you seem to suggest. I've seen firsthand the generosity of his organization, especially to the over 3,000 crisis pregnancy canters across the nation. More so than many other Christian organizations.
Jesus said something about the log in one own's eyes. Find a mirror quick.
Same reason we tax it so highly. Because it's SIN. That is to say, people believe it is the cause of many social evils, so it must be restricted, taxed, stripped of it's first amendment rights, and highly regulated.
So what if these regulations create maladjusted juveniles and adults that act like maladjusted juveniles. /sarcasm
Well my payroll taxes and real estate taxes are even higher than those imposed on alcoholic beverages, so I suppose in your eyes, working and owning property is even more of a sin! Try again. Your silly argument might work with the less sophisticated people in whatever church you belong to. But it isn't going to fly here on Free Republic.
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