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Show Let Mi Mini Watch : Wtafi TV Ha W ants f By TOM BUSSELBERG : War is Peace : Freedom is Slavery f Ignorance is Strength Such words are part of everyday life in George Orwell's novel. "Nineteen Eighty T Four." about what life supposedly would be like in the world by that time, now but three years hence. The book portrays a ; world where every action or thought is ; known to "Big Brother" or the govern- ment. TWO-WAY TELEVISION screens, or telescreens, allow the government, or Big f Brother, to peek into the homes of all constituents con-stituents and also provides propaganda ; programming. Children are indoctrinated in the idealo- gy of Big Brother at an early age and wear : outfits of blue shorts, gray shirts and red neckerchiefs as members of the Spies. The titles "Mr." and "Mrs." are replaced : by "comrade" and even language is : altered. j NEWSPEAK, FORMED from English. I "was designed not to extend but to dimin-: dimin-: ish the range of thought and this purpose ! was indirectly assisted by cutting the i choice of w,ords down to minimum," the book says. Such words as "free" no longer can be used in speaking of intellectually or politically politic-ally free, for example, since such concepts no longer exist. I BRING THIS book to the fore, not because be-cause we're only three years from 1984,'but to illustrate what I believe could happen in small but real sense should the wishes of certain county residents come to pass, no matter how good their intentions. I'm talking about those who oppose certain cer-tain forms of cable TV programming. Opposition has been raised in Kaysville, Fruit Heights and Layton, to name just three places. A GROUP OF residents in each city has asked that programming be modified or not offered at all from two of the services that would be offered. "Showtime" and "Home Box Office," both nationally-syndicated nationally-syndicated services originating in the East, would provide uncut and uncensored . movies and other programs to those wishing to pay an extra fee, over and above the base fee. The extra programming would cost $10 extra a month for one or $17.90 more for both "premium" channels. BASIC SERVICE will include several independent in-dependent TV channels from distant cities, a 24-hour news network, sports channels, a religious station and the six Utah channels. Cable promotors advertise the premium channels as costing less than what it would cost to take the family to one movie a month and with prices at $4 for adults in some theaters, today, that definitely would be possible. THOSE RESIDENTS opposing "Show-time" "Show-time" and-or 'HBO" claim they don't want such programming in their homes because it might be viewed by children. Some of their movies, although certainly not all, are "R"-rated, meaning it wouldn't normally be offered to those under 17 years-of-agc by theater. In fact, the cable firm says about 50 percent of the movies offered are "G" or "GP." I can certainly agree there are things in the "R" (and many "GP" films) that might best not be viewed by youngsters. But pa rents should have enough influence over their children to prevent their watching such programs if that's what a parent wants. IT WOULD REQUIRE some extra supervision, su-pervision, perhaps, on the part of parents to pre-screen what their children watch, even if it only meant going through the TV schedule. And cable TV officials have said free "lock boxes" are available allowing a parent to "lock out" a dirty program. Under those circumstances, I can't see why the fuss. But what if a child goes to a neighbor's home and sees such a program, some of the parents ask. Again, much of the responsibility lies with the parents to hopefully hope-fully train their children to act as they'd desire when they're not with them. THAT COULD INCLUDE the time of day those youngsters would still be out and where they'd be. Generally, those "R"-rated "R"-rated movies are shown later at night, although not always. And while I can see the concern parents might have in allowing such programming, what about those without children? Don't they have a right to view whatever they wish in their own homes? WHAT ABOUT FIRST Amendment rights the freedom to read or in this case, view, whatever you desire? It all ties in a way into the controversy that raged in the county over what books should be in the library. There will always be a book that is objectionable to someone no matter what someone does. I would think it would be better to have some control over what your children watch at home, where parents can be close at hand. If something deemed objectionable objection-able comes up, a parent could explain it or react as he wanted for his children. Wouldn't that be better than wondering what movie the kids had gone off to see or even where they were? SOME HAVE ASKED for legislation to allow each community to set its own "community "com-munity standards." That is all well and good just so it doesn't get to be another " 1984." And when it comes to TV, just as was argued with books, whose to say what is best? Would you want your mayor to choose the shows you'll watch or the books you'll read? Who should have such a responsibility responsibil-ity and how can they satisfy everyone? It would be rather hard to please everyone all the time at Hill Field while still pleasing all of the women in the Every Other Wednesday Wednes-day Literary Club, I'm sure. CABLE TV CAN provide many hours of enjoyable entertainment. In these times of high gas prices, it allows family and friends to get together and watch a "good show" and pop some popcorn, all at home. But as with anything, discretion must be used. It needn't be watched 24 hours a day there are good and bad programs there just as on regular TV and just as there are items deemed good and bad offered out in the community. LET THOSE W HO want it get it. There is a price for it, and those willing to pay for it should have the chance to watch it. There will always be a need for caution in using it but such is also the case in making sure small children don't get too close to the lawnmower or stove or swimming pool unattended. Please let the word "free" remain in our language allowing freedom to choose along with responsibility to use, and hopefully hope-fully use well. |