I TRY to stay out of the fray. I really do. I find myself biting my tongue a lot, passing posts on social media and talking myself down all the time. Ask my sister. She has the ability to see it, pass it and move on. I don't.
Today's big issue I've run across that, for the life of me, I can NOT leave alone, is the controversy surrounding the new movie, Show Dogs. Here is the link that caused the dust up: https://foreverymom.com/arts-entertainment/dog-show-movie-review-grooming/ .
Okay. You read that right? Let's continue.
We all know what they're talking about when they have to "inspect" the dogs. That happens in every dog show. I always thought it was weird, but knew that was what they did and let it go at that. Now, I do completely agree that they didn't need to accentuate this aspect and it does sound like they took it too far. Lots of movies for kids take it a step or two too far in attempts to get parents on board, too. Necessary? No. Does it happen? Yep.
Okay, so I get the reason parents would be upset and don't judge anyone for not wanting their kid to see that. BUT, I personally and I emphasize I personally, do not feel this movie is "indoctrinating", "grooming" or teaching kids molestation is acceptable. I have NOT seen the movie. I'm not even certain I was going to. I usually go when the kids ask if we've checked it out and don't find anything we see wrong. I wouldn't probably have looked ahead at this movie because it was geared for kids.
I DO believe that media is indoctrinating our kids today and that a parent's job is so much more important today and harder than it has ever been. You have to watch out and be so careful all the time. But, I think that not overreacting is also a key in parenting. We are so careful anymore to choose sides that we can do so at the undeserving expense of someone else. Do I know the minds of the makers of this movie? No. Do I know for sure if they meant to take this movie to an inappropriate place? No. Do I know for sure that they just got too zealous in trying to make the movie funny that they crossed the line too far? No.
So, that leaves me and you to decide what to think. I think it was unnecessary to belabor the issues of "inspecting" the dogs and the tactics the other dog took to teach him how to get used to it. But I don't, as much as I've thought it over today and read more reviews of the movie, think it was meant to groom children. Maybe I'm naive, but I can't see how this movie would never had made it as far as it did in the movie-making process with that intention.
I even heard the movie reviewer for K-Love (the main Christian music station in our area) recommend this movie last Friday, not once mentioning this issue. I also read the movie review from https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2018/showdogs2018.html and they do NOT recommend this movie at all. BUT, then I read another family movie guide reviewer recommend the movie, though it was concerned about a few things: https://www.movieguide.org/reviews/show-dogs.html . We have to make our own conclusions.
This type of issue is so very sensitive. I am NOT downplaying that. But, kids do need to know that doctors visits as they get older are going to be "uncomfortable". Yes, you as their parents should be the ones telling kids, not the movie makers. But the first reviewer is telling her kids that "we never let anyone touch our private parts, what they should do if anyone tries.” See the issue I'm seeing? The woman who reviewed the movie initially was a survivor of child abuse so she sees things in a different light. I hate that she even has to see things in that light because of the abuse she endured. But going so far as to say this movie is encouraging molestation seems to be quite a stretch. Again, IN MY OPINION. She sees this part of the movie in a biased light, as did her husband and mother, knowing the abuse she had endured.
Today, opinions we form are often based on other's biased opinions. Turn on CNN or Fox News to get the full scope of what I'm saying. It is our jobs to do research, find out the facts and do our due diligence to formulate our best opinions for ourselves and our families.
Okay, lastly, my greatest fear is that evangelical Christians go so far to protect our children that we bash others for daring to bring anything near their kids that isn't perfect, wholesome and godly. And, I watch Christians bash non-believers in the name of Christ and I cringe. As I believe Christ does. We can offer our opinions, like I'm doing here. But sometimes, our best stand we can take is to NOT overreact...to quietly and concisely share our opposition...and to be kind. I've seen so many today saying terrible things about these people that made this movie. And it made me uncomfortable that people only take others word anymore... I take the opinions of those around me VERY seriously. But I do not bank on every reviewer, every social media account, on everyone that goes viral. We have to do our own research. We owe it to those kids were love to do that. We owe it to ourselves. And, I believe we owe it to Christ not to judge, offering no mercy, and assuming the worse in everyone.
Please know these AGAIN are MY opinions. I hate having to say that so many times because I know that anymore no one is off limits for the harshest and meanest criticism. Please be kind. Isn't that a lesson we are also wanting children to be learning?
Today's big issue I've run across that, for the life of me, I can NOT leave alone, is the controversy surrounding the new movie, Show Dogs. Here is the link that caused the dust up: https://foreverymom.com/arts-entertainment/dog-show-movie-review-grooming/ .
Okay. You read that right? Let's continue.
We all know what they're talking about when they have to "inspect" the dogs. That happens in every dog show. I always thought it was weird, but knew that was what they did and let it go at that. Now, I do completely agree that they didn't need to accentuate this aspect and it does sound like they took it too far. Lots of movies for kids take it a step or two too far in attempts to get parents on board, too. Necessary? No. Does it happen? Yep.
Okay, so I get the reason parents would be upset and don't judge anyone for not wanting their kid to see that. BUT, I personally and I emphasize I personally, do not feel this movie is "indoctrinating", "grooming" or teaching kids molestation is acceptable. I have NOT seen the movie. I'm not even certain I was going to. I usually go when the kids ask if we've checked it out and don't find anything we see wrong. I wouldn't probably have looked ahead at this movie because it was geared for kids.
I DO believe that media is indoctrinating our kids today and that a parent's job is so much more important today and harder than it has ever been. You have to watch out and be so careful all the time. But, I think that not overreacting is also a key in parenting. We are so careful anymore to choose sides that we can do so at the undeserving expense of someone else. Do I know the minds of the makers of this movie? No. Do I know for sure if they meant to take this movie to an inappropriate place? No. Do I know for sure that they just got too zealous in trying to make the movie funny that they crossed the line too far? No.
So, that leaves me and you to decide what to think. I think it was unnecessary to belabor the issues of "inspecting" the dogs and the tactics the other dog took to teach him how to get used to it. But I don't, as much as I've thought it over today and read more reviews of the movie, think it was meant to groom children. Maybe I'm naive, but I can't see how this movie would never had made it as far as it did in the movie-making process with that intention.
I even heard the movie reviewer for K-Love (the main Christian music station in our area) recommend this movie last Friday, not once mentioning this issue. I also read the movie review from https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2018/showdogs2018.html and they do NOT recommend this movie at all. BUT, then I read another family movie guide reviewer recommend the movie, though it was concerned about a few things: https://www.movieguide.org/reviews/show-dogs.html . We have to make our own conclusions.
This type of issue is so very sensitive. I am NOT downplaying that. But, kids do need to know that doctors visits as they get older are going to be "uncomfortable". Yes, you as their parents should be the ones telling kids, not the movie makers. But the first reviewer is telling her kids that "we never let anyone touch our private parts, what they should do if anyone tries.” See the issue I'm seeing? The woman who reviewed the movie initially was a survivor of child abuse so she sees things in a different light. I hate that she even has to see things in that light because of the abuse she endured. But going so far as to say this movie is encouraging molestation seems to be quite a stretch. Again, IN MY OPINION. She sees this part of the movie in a biased light, as did her husband and mother, knowing the abuse she had endured.
Today, opinions we form are often based on other's biased opinions. Turn on CNN or Fox News to get the full scope of what I'm saying. It is our jobs to do research, find out the facts and do our due diligence to formulate our best opinions for ourselves and our families.
Okay, lastly, my greatest fear is that evangelical Christians go so far to protect our children that we bash others for daring to bring anything near their kids that isn't perfect, wholesome and godly. And, I watch Christians bash non-believers in the name of Christ and I cringe. As I believe Christ does. We can offer our opinions, like I'm doing here. But sometimes, our best stand we can take is to NOT overreact...to quietly and concisely share our opposition...and to be kind. I've seen so many today saying terrible things about these people that made this movie. And it made me uncomfortable that people only take others word anymore... I take the opinions of those around me VERY seriously. But I do not bank on every reviewer, every social media account, on everyone that goes viral. We have to do our own research. We owe it to those kids were love to do that. We owe it to ourselves. And, I believe we owe it to Christ not to judge, offering no mercy, and assuming the worse in everyone.
Please know these AGAIN are MY opinions. I hate having to say that so many times because I know that anymore no one is off limits for the harshest and meanest criticism. Please be kind. Isn't that a lesson we are also wanting children to be learning?
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