NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Publication: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Date: October 14, 2007
Author: Jesse Kalisher The Chicago Sun-Times
Section: Editorials/Letters
Edition: Final
Page: B6
Word Count: 166
As founder of KidSafeFilms.org which Richard Roeper referenced in his column, "Time to ground Family-Friendly Flights Act" [Wednesday], I want to thank Mr. Roeper for agreeing with our core concern that airlines currently show scenes of violence that are inappropriate for children -- and that these violent scenes should be removed from publicly viewable airline content. Still, Mr. Roeper asserts that children have "probably seen worse on prime-time TV or the Internet." This is unfair. Millions of parents diligently screen what their children watch. Mr. Roeper also points out that airline films are edited. Indeed they are.
What's at issue, however, is not what's taken out of these films, it's what's left in. If Mr. Roeper wants to help the airline industry avoid legislation, I would ask that he use his considerable talents to challenge the airline industry, the studios and even the MPAA on how they've let this situation develop and how they can guarantee that it won't happen again.
- Jesse Kalisher, Chapel Hill, N.C.
