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Michael's latest news commentaries |
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By: Michael Medved
Wednesday, Aug 09, 2006 |
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OLIVER STONE STEPS AWAY FROM PROPAGANDA
Oliver Stone is a troubled individual with a long history of drug busts, outrageous anti-American statements, and a recent cinematic tribute to Fidel Castro. Any movie from the likes of Stone ---especially one that touches the horrific story of 9/11-should be approached with intense skepticism. But Stone's new release "World Trade Center" avoids political messages and instead applies an intimate focus to its true story of Port Authority cops who courageously entered the burning buildings. Stone also portrays the outspokenly Christian, spectacularly heroic ex-Marine who ultimately rescued them, while giving appropriate attention to the faith and family commitments that sustained these everyday heroes. While some of the film's middle section feels slow and contrived, it's still a powerful film that transcends the politics of its creator. If conservatives patronized only films directed by patriots with great values and strong character, they'd have to wait for years for the next trip to the multiplex.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR LEBANON'S ONGOING PAIN?
As the war in Lebanon enters its second month, the world must understand that it's Hizbollah- not Israel - that's responsible for continued bloodshed. If Hizbollah stopped firing rockets into Israel, and agreed to disarm itself under UN supervision while Israeli troops left Lebanon, the fighting could cease immediately, and every Lebanese child could sleep undisturbed in its own bed. Hizbollah won't disarm, however, and won't even agree to a UN force because its goal isn't to drive Israel out of Lebanon-it's to drive the Jews out of the Middle East, altogether. After all, not a single Israeli has occupied Lebanese territory since May, 2000, but Hizbollah still launched more than 25 separate attacks-most of them fatal. A UN force might not make easy work of Hizbollah fighters, but participating in the struggle against the Shiite fanatics will help show an international force, led by the French, exactly what Israelis - and the rest of us-are up against.
KIDS GET MESSAGE OF DEGRADING LYRICS
A new study from the Rand Corporation in the journal Pediatrics provides fresh evidence that children suffer from extensive exposure to songs with raunchy lyrics. Invariably, across all races and among both boys and girls, listening to degrading lyrical content that treated women as sex objects led to more irresponsible sexual behavior, commencing at earlier ages. Sleazy songs today provide a daily soundtrack for the lives of millions of vulnerable kids, and this material, combined with video games, movies and TV, combine to give teenagers a sense of what's normal, and what's "hip" --while sending the unmistakable message that kids who lead more disciplined lives are missing out on all the fun. Pediatrics urges parents to become more aggressive in monitoring their children's music, and to discuss some of the omnipresent sexual messages in society at large. It's tough work protecting children from the onslaught of questionable entertainment, but responsible parents have no choice.
Michael Medved. |
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