« Pop is pop...but inland North? hmmmm. | Main | It has been one of those days »
November 5, 2006
Who knew, me the conservative
Becca and I just went to see the Borat movie and there I discovered my Inner Conservative. No, the tasteless movie didn't bother me one bit. I cackled with all of the other uncivilized Americans at the offensive jokes no problem. It was when the lights went on (Becca made me stay to watch the apology to the country of Kazakhstan) and I saw a five year old boy walk out of the theater.
This got me thinking, "do I really want my kids hanging out with other five year olds who watch Borat?" I'm even borderline with Sponge Bob. Cartoon Network is even off limits at our house. I've been planning on switching Karsten to the public school system next year but this whole Borat thing has got me thinking... there may be more kids in the public schools watching Borat than in the private schools. Does this make me an elitist not wanting my kids to hanging out with Borat watching kids? I'm concerned for everyone... most of all that I may be a conservative and elitist.
Posted by jana at November 5, 2006 11:02 PM
Comments
I think this kind of conservatism is best labeled conscientious parenting. It's alarming what parents think is okay for young kids to watch. Or scarier still, maybe it's that they're not thinking at all.
Posted by: becca at November 6, 2006 8:05 AM
It's ok Jana. Sometimes it is healthy to remember that certain aspects of our lives generate different political stances. Even in my libertarian tendencies, I notice a liberal spin and very non-libertarian stance on making sure education is funded well. Sigh.
Posted by: Aaron at November 6, 2006 8:08 AM
Just because you want your kids to hang with other smart/politically correct kids doesn't make you an elitist. It makes you a prime candidate for PTA!
And, by nature, you are a bit conservative, but your political views are very liberal. I think you fall into a new category of Borat-fearing-democrats.
Posted by: Andy at November 6, 2006 9:25 AM
Please to have the children of U. S. and A watch real life of little people in the Kazakhstan. It may be poorest country of central asia but where else can small children get opportunity beat jewish eggs with the hammer and watch parents rape farm animals?
Posted by: tw at November 6, 2006 2:05 PM
Ted, I thought YOU really are the conservative one? What is going on here?
Posted by: jana at November 6, 2006 2:15 PM
expose them early, that's what I say. Teach them to embrace their inner snark; to appreicate the joy in bashing penecostal red necks!
Posted by: tw at November 6, 2006 3:23 PM
I don't think you're conservative and especially not A Conservative™. :) Both conservative and liberal parents have to struggle with how to instill values in their kids against the tide of culture and peers.
But I do think you're making a flawed assumption about the quality of parenting correlating with having enough money to pay for private school... my experience has often been exactly the opposite....
Posted by: cmh at November 6, 2006 3:37 PM
on a serious note, I bet there are far more children in private schools who talked the nanny into taking them to see Borat than in public schools. I agree with CMH, that any child with consistent values inside them should be able to filter outside influence, no matter where they run into it.
Posted by: TW at November 6, 2006 3:51 PM
Hey enough conservative bashing! I am still proud to be your only (apparently) conservative friend.
Posted by: Shawna at November 8, 2006 9:31 PM
Don't wonder about being an uncivilized American for watching Borat... I know several sophisticated Brits that loved it, too.
Posted by: Nick at November 19, 2006 2:09 PM