NCIS Hawaii pilot continues Hollywood formula on same sex relationships - Force it at us!

I watched the NCIS Hawaii pilot and was not surprised when 20 or so minutes into the episode it joined the ranks of numerous Hollywood formula shows that incorporate a scene of intimate same sex relationships. This has been the Hollywood formula for at least 10 years it seems. As a viewer I could since that this new show would not have the courage to not show a same sex relationship scene. It met my expectations. So, this is just another formula TV show that I will not watch as it feels it has the right to force me to watch same sex relatioship scenes without advance warning that the content of the show contains such scenes. 

The TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board gave the show a rating of TV-14 Coarse Language Violence. There was no information in the rating that the show would contain a same sex relationship scene. The Board continues to believe that we as viewers just need to sit there and accept these scenes, without warning. The Board needs to immediately add an SSR-Same Sex Relationship warning at the beginning of such TV shows.

Does the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board Serve the Public interests or the interests of the Entertainment Industry?

 

The TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board is a private organization created in December 1996.  The Board created a system of guidelines whose intent was supposed to provide parents and others with advance cautionary information to help them make informed choices about the television programs they watch.  The Board is responsible for the development of such ratings as TV PG, TV 14, TV MA, etc.  More specific information on the meaning of the ratings is found at  About Us | The TV Parental Guidelines (tvguidelines.org)

Over the past 10 years the content of programs assigned a content label of “S=sexual situations” has expanded.  Parents and others are now often caught off guard when television shows or TV movies with the S label have featured intimate same sex relationships in the content of the program.  An additional content label of SSR=intimate same sex relationships would be helpful to clarify the content of the program to follow.  This factual label statement on the content of the program will assist parents and others in making decisions on whether they want their children, themselves or others in the household to view the program.

The Board consist of approximately 18 members and representatives of 5 “public interest” members.  The members are from:  Fox Corporation; ABC, A&E Networks; American Academy of Pediatrics; Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Call for Action; CBS; Discovery Inc; Entertainment Industries Council; HULU; Lifetime Networks; National PTA; NBC Universal; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Turner Broadcasting System; Univision and the Viacom Media Networks.  As of this writing the Board has refused to divulge who are the 5 public interest members.

I recently contacted the Board through their listed phone number (202) 570-7776 and email address TVOMB@tvguidelines.org.  My phone calls were not returned. I did receive several standard response email replies supposedly from the Board.  These emails did not indicate that the Board had met to consider the SSR label suggestion, or my suggestion that the content warning be kept on the screen for 60 seconds instead of the current 15 second policy.  I also attempted to contact each organization with a representative on the Board.  Only Marie Dyak, the member representing the Entertainment Industries Council responded.  Her response stated that the Board was not considering a descriptor for same-sex-situations and that the Board felt the current descriptors accurately reflected the content of TV shows.  When I pointed out that her email did not reflect her being the President of the Board and asked her if she was speaking for the Board in it’s entirety, her response was she was only speaking for her organization not the Board .

Last night, around 9:30 pm I received a response from the email account of the Board.  It regurgitated the information on the Board’s website, but did not address whether the entire Board had met to discuss the issue.  The response attempted to infer that it was a social value, social policy, and moral judgment issue which is not the case.  It is simply clarifying the content of a TV show so the viewer is forewarned about the content of the show.  I responded to the email that the Board still has not shared with me who are the 5 public interest members!  I also pointed out that the response did not address when the Board met to discuss the issue and what was the vote of the Board.

If you are a consumer and viewer of the various forms of entertainment on TV or streamed to you, I urge you to contact the Board at (202) 570-7776 and email address TVOMB@tvguidelines.org to give them your opinion on the need for an expanded designation of the label S=sexual situations.  For example the label for V=violence has been expanded to now include the label FV=fantasy violence (children’s programming only).

The Board has operated behind closed doors.  The Federal Communications Commission needs to review the actions and policies of the Board to see if the Board is truly meeting the needs of consumers.  The needs of consumers/viewers for clarity on the content of TV programs must be addressed. No one knows the names or background of those on the Board.

Stand and Pray Revisited

 Over a year ago in the midst of the Covid pandemic, I made an appeal that those fans who were still attending sports events, and those fans who in the future would return to attendance make a change.  During the playing of the national anthem, I suggested that fans simply stand and pray, rather than sing the national anthem or stand silently.  No need to protest some various social issue.  The simple act of standing and praying meets all needs.

You can pray for the 600,000 plus people in the United States of America who have died from Covid.  You can pray for those who refuse to wear a mask or get vaccinated during this pandemic.  You can pray for kindness to be the first choice of people.  You can pray that countries take care of people so they do not have to flee to another country just to have a decent life.  You can pray for a political system that does what it is supposed to do.  You can pray that we act as caretakers of the planet Earth, and protect the resources it provides us.  You can pray for peace so we do not have to send people off to fight senseless wars where at the end, no one has "won".  You can pray that each of us acknowledge the fact that there is a Creator, a God, or whatever label you have assigned.  The list of what you can pray for goes on, and on, and on.  You know what to pray for.

So I ask you to act.  During the national anthem, please Stand and Pray for those items most closest to your personal walk in this world.   #StandAndPray.

A rebuttal to the concept of humanism versus the existence of God

 

To those following a new wave of humanism and not believing in the existence of God.  I was going to create a response, but found that the responses already exists in the bible.  These specific scriptures are from the New Living Translation version.

For deciding to go to humanism. Luke 23:34  Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.

How can you find the truth?   2 Chronicles 15:2c  Whenever you seek him, you will find him.  But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

Why you should not turn to humanism?  Psalm 118:8  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust people.

The danger of human answers.  Matthew 16:23  Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me.  You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Why keep seeking the truth?  Matthew 7:7-8  Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks, finds.  And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Why is the easy solution of humanism not the right answer?   Matthew 7:13  You can’t enter God’s kingdom only through the narrow gate.  The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

Have you ever thought about how the human definition of “beginning”  just does not make sense?  You can’t explain the notion of beginning without a spiritual foundation.

Why Christians should speak boldly about the Word in the bible?

The world provides no answers or solutions.   1 John 2:15  Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.

Who do you trust?  Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Who guides you?   Psalm 16:7-8  I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.  I know the Lord is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

Ask for guidance in speaking boldly.  Psalm 25:4-5  Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in you.

Asking God for wisdom to speak boldly.  James 1:5-6   If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.  He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.

Psalm 32:8-9  The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you.  Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle  to keep it under control.”

Humanistic ideas are a call to service for all who believe in God.  To speak boldly about the Word.

Hebrews 12:1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with the endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith,

James 1:2-4  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Ephesians 6:13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.  Then after the battle you will be standing firm.

It's time to get to work.

A National Monument to Man's Desires versus God's Plan

 A former night club, which was the scene of a hate crime mass shooting has been declared a national monument by Congress and President Biden.  When I heard the news, I thought, why is the site of the massacre of people at a gay nightclub a national monument, when to my knowledge none of the sites of massacres of black people have been designated as a national monument?

Is it because our culture has accepted and now promotes gay/homosexual/lesbian life styles as being okay?  Is it because this country has no remorse regarding the atrocities committed against black people over the years?  

The man made decision that condones gay lifestyles is directly contrary to religious principles in many Christian faiths.  The tales of homosexual activities goes well back in time and is described in the bible.

As the bible describes, God created Man and Woman.  God did not create people to be labeled as non binary, pansexual, homosexual, transgender, or whatever other terminology is used.  The proliferation of support for man made, un Godly behavior is reaching its peak.  It is being pushed down onto children as something they can consider in defining their sexuality.

Why is this being done?  Simply because some people do whatever they want to do.  They do not believe in a God and that we should follow Godly guidelines in how we behave and live our lives.  These people do not believe in "sin".  They believe in "human rights".  The right to do whatever a person wants with no consideration that there is a God who created us and defined what behavior is proper.  These people operate under unlimited behavioral control.  They operate under the concept that people seeking pleasure can seek it without limitations on sexual morality.  Anything and everything goes.

This is why in the year 2021, national legislative bodies and even the President of the United States supports making the site of a mass killing at a gay nightclub a national monument.  This also shows how the national legislative body and the office of the President of the United States still is ignoring the fact the atrocities committed against black people in the United States need to be addressed.  Identify each black massacre site specifically as being a monumental reminder of the hate, and sinful behavior that black people have had to endure for hundreds of years in this "civilized" country.

Go To the Source Document

 

In the Game Show “Family Feud”, the host speaks the phrase, “survey said”, before giving the answer to a question.  I recently encountered another version of the Family Feud.  I will call it, “The World Says, but God Says!”

I was taking an on-line survey to earn points to redeem for goods at select vendors.  The survey asked you to identify your gender.  When I was a child that either meant male or female.  The survey I was completing had several more options to choose from.  Beyond female and male, the survey listed; non binary; transgender male; transgender female; and pansexual. I thought to myself, “I thought the bible said God created maIe and female?  So, I went back to the source, the bible.   I turned to Genesis in my NLT, New Living Translation, bible to ensure there was not some translation done that I may have missed.  No, it said God created male and female. 

Genesis 1:27.  “So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

So where did these other gender definitions come from?  The survey was using one of the world’s latest definitions of gender.  “The World Says.”  That’s when we as Christians need to add the qualifier, “But God Says!”

Romans 1:21-24 talks about what is behind man’s creation of all types of variations from what God intended. 

Romans 1:24.  “So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.  As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.  They traded the truth about God for a lie.”

The world has created a different variation of gender to fit our human behaviors and choices.  There is an attempt to transform what God created as male and female, into supplemental humanistic  categories of gender.  The human or civil rights of people to do what they want and live as they want is often used to justify these new gender choices.

When you hear a worldly answer that seems suspect in truth, ask yourself, “What does God say?”  Then go to the bible for THE ANSWER!   Is the human answer/definition part of God’s will or God’s plan?

The world appears to be in an era of “human rights”.  The impetus on human rights is that humans can be and do whatever they want, just because they can.  We are told that we have to respect those choicesD. Whether the human right is a God given right seems to be a question never asked.  When you are confronted with a human interpretation that seems to conflict with your understanding of what God intended, refer to the source document.  The Bible.

The Issue of Recruitment and Retention

Recruitment and Retention of black students is a sub part of the overall retention issue at colleges and universities.

I saw some unofficial information several months ago, regarding the retention rate on UE students who either received a Zerah Priestly Carter (ZPC) scholarship or a "stipend".  Shortly after that came the yearly request for donations to the Zerah Priestly Carter scholarship fund.  Based on the retention rate data I saw before, I then posed this question to a UE administrator.  "What support systems are in place to assist in the retention of ZPC scholarship recipients at UE?"  I then quoted to the official the percentage rate for retention I had  some information on.  I am also curious as to what is the retention rate for African American students at UE compared to the overall retention rate at UE?  Plus the retention rate based on specific categories, e.g. women, men, etc.  I posed the questions several weeks ago and still have not received a final answer.

The first retention "problem" at UE for an African American student began one year after Zerah Priestly was admitted as the first black student allowed to attend UE.  Pat Alves, the first black male admitted to Evansville College (EC) in the 1935-1936 school year did not return to complete his education at EC.

Our reasons for attending UE vary.  For some it was due to what the college offered academically.  For some like me it was to "practice" in a multi cultural environment that I would see once I graduated. UE has never been identified as the best college for African American students to attend.  We all recall the students in our Freshman classes whom we did not see the next year.  The reasons for their returning varied.  For some it was the "environment" on campus.  But, we all knew about the environment before we started our days at UE.

There may be indicators of success for a black student on who will graduate from UE.  Is it coming from a high school that had a diverse student population?  Going through a college prep curriculum in high school?  Having experience in a day to day multi-cultural environment?

We may think that UE needs to recruit more black students, but think about that statement.  If the support mechanisms needed by black students are not at UE, why recruit black students to live in an environment not designed to fit our needs?

The admissions process needs to be open and honest to the families of black students on the cultural challenges of being at UE.  The university needs to be honest and openly share the retention rate for African American students.   What support systems are needed?  Here are a few ideas. The year to year opportunity to join a black fraternity or sorority regardless of the size of the black student population at UE.  Create a specific set of activities year to year designed for black students, to include road trips off campus.  Mentoring options and tutoring.

UE has made recruitment of black students a priority in the past.  Under former President Graves, in the early 1970s, the university sought to recruit black students from the Evansville area.  The recruitment effort was successful, but the retention rate was abysmal.  The granting of scholarships and provision of financial aid does not prevent students from leaving.  Financial aid opens the door.  Then, you are on your own.

I await "my" university's development of an innovative recruitment and retention plan!