Christian Post writer equates video games with terrorists, Al Qaeda considers new tactics |
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BY Ricardo Bilton August 7th, 2008 |
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Ron Luce, a writer for the Christian Post and president and founder of Teen Mania Ministries, begins his article with a straightforward, (thankfully) hypothetical situation. Suppose a man whom you recognized from television as a sex offender and thief knocks on your door one night and requests the company of your teenage children, with whom he would like to hang out with without your supervision. Luce plays on the side of common sense in assuming that you, being a reasonable and intelligent person, would say no to such a request. So far so good. Luce, unfortunately, then proceeds to lose his mind.
His hypothetical situation degrades into a sort of comedic farce, with the sexual offender, realizing that he would not get to spend alone time with you or your kids, instead opts to spend time with all of you, enjoying a bizarre and somewhat disturbing family time.
Luce’s sex offender, of course, stands for something more. If we, under any circumstances, he asks, “wouldn’t let that man into the rooms of our kids (whether male of female) why would we let a TV or computer reside in our kids’ bedrooms?”
So, it seems that, to Luce, television and computers, two inherently neutral and benign technological devices, are on equal footing with known sex offenders, or, as Luce notes, terrorists. “Every time we let unsupervised media into our homes and into our kids’ minds,” he says,”we have invited a terrorist into our home”
This, of course, is where videogames come in. In fact, this is where all entertainment comes in. See, for Luce, entertainment is invariably bad news. “Although we consider them entertainment,” he says, “they are actually infotainment. They impart values and information about the world, maybe information about life, that your kids are not ready to process and absorb.” So, not only are videogames terrorists, but they teach kids things as well?
The most glaring issue with Luce’s argument is its complete lack of understanding of the gaming atmosphere, or that of popular culture as a whole, for that matter. Not all videogames are violent or capable of channeling our “depraved culture.” Moreover, as consoles like the Wii have shown, families can, and have, enjoyed plenty of quality family time playing Wii Sports and Mario Party. It’s hard to argue with the notion that allowing kids to sit in front of a computer all day will have a detrimental effect on them, but there are certainly countless ways to participate in that culture without demonizing it.
Luce does make a recommendation: “Instead of family movie night,” he says, “have family game night.” One can hardly argue with that.
I, of course, propose an addendum: Make it a videogame night.
August 7th, 2008
at 10:35 am
What he doesn’t realize is that he can’t compare a computer or a TV with a sex offender/terrorist without sounding extremely arrogant. Should we let kids read books or newspapers as well? They are just as much “infotainment” (hate that word).
August 7th, 2008
at 11:15 am
My blinding rage prevents me from saying anything rational or constructive about this.
August 7th, 2008
at 11:33 am
It is arrogance. I’m quite conservative, but I’m not stupid to think all sources of entertainment are somewhat evil or brainwashing us. He assumes that we are passive with entertainment and information and just absorb everything. Well, I’m sorry, but I’m not stupid.
The situation changes slightly with children, of course. It’s common sense that you shouldn’t let kids, or anyone, play games/watch tv etc all the time…people should get outside, do other things. Some people don’t have common sense and do play games etc too much, but that’s another matter.
This is just more short-sighted garbage.
August 7th, 2008
at 11:41 am
I wish he didn’t have to stand on the Christian soapbox and say this stuff.
Oh well, things like this are gonna happen.
Moral of the story - spend time with your kids.
August 7th, 2008
at 11:53 am
I agree with the parts in his article talking about family time and limiting what kids have access to. He isn’t only talking about the young kids either. His intention is reworking family time and censoring what your kids see. All things many of us gamers already agree with, hence our support of the ESRB.
What floors me though is this idea that media, whether for information or entertainment, is to be immediately reguarded as “terrorist.” That word means something and has strong connotations for nearly every country on the planet (and maybe some off world)–it is NOT the same thing as a sex offender or any number of society’s ills. Sermons, news reports and books like his throw this term around to excite and create fear in the minds of their audience. For shame!
Media isn’t evil by nature. The first book to roll off the presses was a Bible afterall. Sure we should be protective of our kids and what they view. The same library we can get bibles also holds a copy of Mein Kampf (unless you’re in Germany). But trying to lock away our kids is reckless. This form of thinking would deny a child or teen the access to computers when knowledge about them is increasingly important in society over an irrational fear that the only purpose for the internet is for sex offenders to hunt children, or for writers to rant. Despite what some of us laugh about, the internet is not (just) for porn. ;) It’s also a good place to rant… and now mine is over.
August 7th, 2008
at 1:38 pm
Ummm. To bad he really has no clue what he is talking about. Maybe he should research his religion before he goes on and on about how video games are evil. As a matter of fact all he would have to do is watch this link http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/. Its a very informal video on our gov. and also the religion he follows. It had me cracking up. If you can withstand the first 10 mins ur in for a treat. hell even fast forward it if you cant. Support this site and spread the truth!
August 10th, 2008
at 6:57 am
I am sorry did i say media was there terrorist? i did not mean to suggest that media itself (or the technoogy is the terrorist). It is the makers of the media that teaches kids to kill without a concience and have sex outside of marriage with no ill effects and profit by all this…they are the ‘virtue terrorists’ for our precious young ones!
ron
September 20th, 2008
at 12:58 pm
Dear Brother and Sister’s
Blessing and Greetings:
Meeting the Challenges of Christian Life in Pakistan
In Pakistan, being a Christian is not an easy life. It is a life filled with much sorrow and bitterness. It is a life that leaves much to be desired, and sees very little needs fulfilled. Discrimination is the order of the day. It’s an order that forces most Jesus-loving souls from their homes and into a sort of virtual slavery. Christians work hard labor jobs as sweepers, sanitation workers and brick makers from sunup to sundown. Their wages are almost non-existent. Entire families earn less money in a month’s time than most workers in the United States make in a day, or even an hour. The work is also very primitive, lacking machines and back saving technologies that other countries have ridden to success and fortune. Most of the work here is still done by hand using rudimentary tools. The hours are long, and the work is hard, and the pay makes it seem like a literal death sentence. Discrimination, has also led to their abject humiliation, and forced
many of these dear people into homelessness. Religious fundamentalists, acting in rage, attacked and destroyed many Christian owned homes and businesses, leaving them without a shred of shelter or possessions. The Christian people watched helplessly as their homes were looted, all of their family valuables, and keepsakes taken, burned, smashed and destroyed before their very eyes. In a mere instant, they were turned into homeless vagabonds with no place to turn; no place to lay their heads at night. A dire sense of fear and hopelessness fell upon their hearts and minds. After the attacks, many villagers found that the water wells they drew from were smashed and left utterly useless. No Homes, no water and also no way to rebuild, as most of them were already so deeply in debt that they begin to believe that there is no hope left. For Christians in Pakistan, non-educated and poor, good jobs are only a dream, and most of them cannot afford to start their
own businesses.
To compound matters greatly, a large number of these poor people are in debt. Their creditors are their employers, so quitting and trying to find a better job is not a practical solution. One might think that those who are poor should not borrow money for things they cannot afford, but that simply is not the case here. These poor people are caught in a viscous cycle that has consumed their lives for what has to seem like an eternity. They work so hard that their bodies ache, break, and wear out at an early age. They have to seek medical attention to ease the suffering, and the bills are high to them. They have no money to pay the doctors, so their employers step in to make the payments. The initial bill is only about $80.00 American Dollars, but it quickly goes far beyond their reach to pay with interest added by the employer. They are hard workers, but the work is hard too. So hard in fact that many cannot meet the required workload due to ailing,
tired, worn out bodies. The people, deeply in debt, struggle to make the payments and earn enough to buy food. Many times they cannot make the payments, and it angers the creditors. They then make legal demands that the rest of the family is responsible for the debt, forcing small children into a life of hard labor as soon as they are old enough to be of much good. The children are thrown into this hard days labor with no chance of an education, or a Better Way of Life. Many small children suffer because the adults who would give them care are working in the factories and the houses of the rich. Children are left to fend for themselves, rummaging through the streets like wild animals. The elderly are sick and disabled, and have difficulties taking care of the small children.
Thankfully, things are changing for the betterment of the Christians in Pakistan. The Pakistani Government has begun setting and enforcing laws to protect the rights of Christians. After several terrorist attacks against humanity that were called `Religious Hate Crimes’, the Pakistani Government vowed it would tolerate no more attacks of these kinds. With these new laws and the help of generous volunteers willing to give time and money, we, the Thirst of Holy Spirit Ministries are certain that we can help to restore these poor Christian people to a better life than they have ever known. Please know that we are not trying to establish a welfare system, but we are trying to extend a helping hand to those who desperately need it. After they are able to stand on their own two feet, they will be able to fully do for themselves the things they were once able to do. We are working to see a strong Christian population, ready to serve God and live their lives in a manner becoming the Bible.
Thirst of Holy Spirit Ministries in Pakistan wants to help to educate the young children in reading, writing and arithmetic. We want to see them grow up educated and ready to face any challenge life may throw their way. We also want to see their parents and the elderly benefit from the Holy Scriptures being read in their homes to give them strength and courage to face the day. We are confident that we can return pride back to those who have lost everything, just because they long to serve Jesus Christ. Amen.
With humble prayers and regards,
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Please Donate us.
Contact us.
Ev. Qaisar Anwar
Christian Colony Toba Tek Singh 36050
Pakistan,
E-mail Address: tohs_ministries@yahoo.com
Website; http://www.freewebs.com/thirstofholyspiritministries/
Thanks