[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 26, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             TELEVISION VIOLENCE COMMENTARY BY PAUL WEYRICH

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, one of the things the media intends 
to do is to categorize all of us in politics, as liberals, 
conservatives, moderates, or whatever our category.
  One of those who is generally labeled as a conservative, while I am 
generally labeled as a liberal, is Paul Weyrich, who has been a 
thoughtful observer of the national scene.
  I disagree with Paul on some issues, but I also agree with him on 
some issues and have always had great respect for this sincerity, as 
well as his ability.
  His motivation is good, and when you start off with that, you start 
off with a major plus.
  Recently, he had a television commentary on the question of 
television violence, and I ask to insert his thoughtful remarks into 
the Record at this point.
  The remarks follow:

       The question of curbing media sex and violence is a thorny 
     one to be sure. Any time we speak of curbing someone's right 
     to do what they please, we run up against not only certain 
     Constitutional questions but also against the America of the 
     second half of the 20th century where anything which smacks 
     of even voluntary censorship is subjected to a rigorous 
     political correctness test.
       It is, of course, true that parents or guardians should 
     exercise the ultimate responsibility over what their children 
     watch. Moreover, it is not impossible to control the use of 
     television sets in the home, despite all the protests from 
     permissive parents to the contrary.
       But the fundamental question boils down to this: those who 
     produce television programming live in society. They must 
     face up to the fact that the way they portray sex and 
     violence on television has societal consequences.
       More and more evidence points to this unescapable fact. 
     Television producers have a responsibility to society. They 
     should be expected to be good citizens like everyone else. 
     The same, of course, goes for Hollywood.
       Even if a parent exercises sound parental control over what 
     his or her children watches, those children still must live 
     in a society where other children, whose parents don't care 
     enough to exercise parental responsibility, roam the streets.
       When it is so clear that the media is adversely influencing 
     the conduct of an increasing number of disconnected young 
     people in our society, then it is time to forget about all 
     the platitudes.
       We don't need to hear that the media is just mirroring 
     society. We don't need to hear that our freedoms will be 
     profoundly affected if the media is asked to act responsibly. 
     We don't need to hear that in America everyone should do as 
     he pleases.
       What we do need to hear are the voices of the media 
     acknowledging their responsibilities to the society in which 
     they and we live. We need to hear them take responsibility 
     for what they produce and the affect it has on people's 
     lives. We need them, for the common good, to voluntarily 
     change their approach to sex and violence or we will have a 
     governmental solution, and governmental solutions are never 
     as good as private solutions.
       Society has the right to protect itself from 
     irresponsibility of any kind. That is the real issue here. 
     That's Direct Line for tonight.
       On behalf of producer Ellen Willson, director Chris 
     Topping, and the entire NET staff, I'm Paul Weyrich asking 
     you to join us again tomorrow on Direct Line when we have 
     Bill Kristol, former Chief of Staff for Vice President 
     Quayle, to talk about the future of the Republican party. 
     Have a good evening.

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