– Tuning out media's violent influence –  

It’s sad to admit that there is no lack of violence and domestic abuse in the Hispanic community. It’s at about the same rate as other ethnic groups, but is still too common and too hidden. Our lead story this issue reports on a survey of local Hispanics and their beliefs about violence in TV and radio and how it affects all of us. For several reasons, I’m very glad to see this kind of survey done, especially here in an East Bay community. This kind of

research is a good start, though I want to focus on responsibility and action. 

As the survey showed, many people do see the link between violence in media and violence in our home and community. As human nature is, will this knowledge be enough for people to take action to lessen the violent and negative influences of popular media? Maybe people feel that it’s not their responsibility, which can happen when they’re being told that it’s someone else’s responsibility.

I believe that media – especially TV and radio – makes people more fearful and violent, but I also believe that the ultimate responsibility is with the people. If a hypnotist was trying to control you and you knew he was a hypnotist, wouldn’t you try to break away from his grip on your mind? We first have to get to the point where we recognize that we are being influenced in a negative way – I wish more people were aware that media has that influence.

Media is regulated by government as it should be, but people can be the ultimate regulator in their home by turning off the TV, blocking channels, limiting the hours they and their kids spend watching – there are many ways to limit its influence if we feel it’s important enough and accept our responsibility to our children, our community, and ourselves.

There is the old saying that “We get the government we deserve”, which I agree with. It then follows that we get the media we deserve. If enough people wanted better TV and radio programming badly enough, we would have it. Media companies are not victimizing the people – we’re doing it to ourselves. More accurately, we’re allowing these companies to victimize us. Do we want to be willing victims or do we want to protect our families and communities?