Z. E. Harris: Wake Up America!

"Extra, Extra, read all about it." Five second delays will become television’s penalty for less than half a second of indecent exposure during halftime on Super Bowl Sunday.

The word "live" will be become extinct in television, since the network will have the authority to review content before airing to the public. We are reaching back in the past to strict censorship as a punishment for being naughty.

Not forgiving the Super Bowl‘s halftime baring breast stunt, because it was tactless and tasteless. However, what is more unsavory is how long must the viewing public be subject to seeing it replayed over and over again? The public is offended by the news media showing the stunt more than we care to see. The breast doesn’t have to be analyzed for a closer inspection. We saw it, we get it!

Wake up America! Indecent behavior on television did not begin with Janet Jackson. It existed well before one of the biggest nights in television.

The proverbial pushing the envelope had been opened long before the Super Bowl. Television has been "dirty" for awhile. MTV had been pushing the limits since the era of "Cher" and "Madonna." Indecent proposals, the shock and awe syndrome is not new. Members of the entertainment industry have cursed during acceptance speeches, showed their butts, and appeared in alcoholic stupors.

Censorship should not begin or be the responsibility of the media, or lie in the hands of our government. This should be a wake-up call for parents to censor their children on what they hear, see, and watch. Parental control should now be activated. Parents should trigger that small electronic device, it carries tremendous power it’s called the remote control. If you don’t like what you see turn it off and tune it out.

The time has come for parents to step in and review inappropriate lyrics to music, inappropriate behavior on television, and violent video games.

With the two biggest awards shows fast approaching, the world will turn their eyes toward the music and film industries. Once again the viewing public will be forced to see barely dressed women on the red carpet. How offensive is that?

While some celebrates enjoy being involved in controversy, others are motivated to bare it all or lose the public’s attention.

Cleaning up television, music and films should be the major networks and film studios number one priority. It’s time to create quality entertainment for children. The adults have their TV, now we must create shows geared for our children. Change can come with one major network willing to take the responsibility. If an effort is made, it will be interesting to see if the viewers get on the bandwagon in support of quality television.

Americans are infested with the thought that sex and controversy sells. The Super Bowl incident was an eruption of what has been boiling in our society for a long time. Sex has become apart of our world; it’s on television, and at the movie theater. It is embedded in our music and it plays a role in fashion trends.

Wake up America! Ask yourself. Are we a sex sell society?