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Kids, Ask Your Parents About Terrorism

by EngProf

Fri Dec 24, 2004 at 05:31:49 PM PDT

My boys were watching Christmas cartoons while I was wrapping a few presents.  A commercial came on that basically says: kids, ask your parents what to do if your house or town is attacked by terrorists.

This seems rather odd to me.  I found myself explaining that the chance that our house or town is attacked by terrorists is much smaller than the chance that we are struck by lightning or a tornado.

Clearly I was irritated by the commercial and the boys asked me why.  I explained that I didn't think the government should be scaring kids about low probability event that kids could have little control over.  It reminded me of the call to buy duct tape and plastic for windows in case of terrorist attack.

He said:  It's kind of like reverse terrorism.

Out of the mouth of babes.

Would anyone be willing to help lobby to stop this Department of Homeland Security website from posting a special "ready kids." section?  Seems like putting an advertisement on cartoon network on Christmas eve is a bit extreme.

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Permalink | 4 comments

  •  Oh, man (none / 0)

    I cruised that site.  It's like 1962 there.  Take potassium iodide.  Many graphics of The Flag.  So how would you stop this?

    pith

    by moltar on Fri Dec 24, 2004 at 05:42:10 PM PDT

  •  Oh, F- that! (none / 0)

    How dare they tell children they're not safe in their own homes!

    tragically un-hip
    ..- .... --..-- / --- -.- .-.-.-

    -5.88, -6.82

    by Debby on Fri Dec 24, 2004 at 07:06:27 PM PDT

    •  of course its okay to scare kids (none / 0)

      just don't expose them to a second & a half of nipple.

      Anyone who advocates, supports, defends, rationalizes, or excuses torture has pus for brains and a case of scurvy for a conscience. - James Wolcott

      by rasbobbo on Fri Dec 24, 2004 at 07:39:35 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  another ploy (none / 0)

    I think it's another tactic by the Rethugs to keep the average American in fear so they won't turn against the war. Just when people start thinking about other things and the fear the neocons stirred up last time is forgotten, they up the alert level, announce supposed terrorist threats overheard on cell phones, pull out another Bin Laden video--and now sink to the lowest level of trying to scare the kids so their fear transfers onto the parents.

    by chantedor on Fri Dec 24, 2004 at 09:49:40 PM PDT

Permalink | 4 comments