"With regard to the regulation of fire arms, first, the intent to protect one's loved ones is an honorable one, but simply put, guns are too easily accessible. The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in their document, "The International Arms Trade (2006)," emphasized the importance of enacting concrete controls on handguns, for example, noting that 'limiting the purchase of such arms would certainly not infringe on the rights of anyone.'
Secondly, our entertainers, especially film producers and video game creators, need to realize how their profit motives have allowed the proliferation of movies, television programs, video games and other entertainment that glorify violence and prey on the insecurities and immaturity of our young people. Such portrayals of violence have desensitized all of us. The massacre of twenty little children and seven adults causes each of us to reflect on our own understanding of the value of human life. We must improve our resources for parents, guardians and young people, so that they can evaluate entertainment products intelligently. We need to admit that the viewing and use of these products has negative emotional, psychological and spiritual effects on people.
We must also reflect on our own fears as we grapple with our prejudices toward those with mental health needs. Our society must provide health services and support to those who have mental illnesses and to their families and caregivers. As a community we need to support one another so no one feels unable to get help for a mentally ill family member or neighbor in need. Burdensome healthcare policies must be adjusted so people can get help for themselves or others in need. Just as we properly reach out to those with physical challenges we need to approach mental health concerns with equal sensitivity. There is no shame in seeking help for oneself or others; the only shame is in refusing to provide care and support."
The bishops' statement echoes what my own thoughts have been these past weeks.
Guns are too easily accessible. It ought not be inflammatory to suggest that firearms be regulated. Not banned - regulated.
Pop culture does have an effect on the lives that people choose to live. American pop culture's presentation of acceptable masculinity is extremely limited. In general, men are presented as weak. When they are strong, they are strong because they are violent, even if they are the good guys. Moreover, themes of the meaninglessness and absurdity of life abound. These are negative influences and they affect people more than most of us realize.
From a practical perspective, I'm not sure what the course of action ought to be in changing this. I'm not a fan of censorship, and attempts to provide "wholesome" or "edifying" entertainment frequently end up feeling artificial and forced. At the same time, however, I think it is worthwhile just to state the problem, to recognize and articulate the problem(s) with popular culture.
When I was young, my mom did not want me playing with Barbie dolls. She objected to the attempt to sell glamor to young children. She felt that Barbies presented an objectified view of femininity and indoctrinated girls into this view from the earliest age. In spite of her objections, I had an enviable collection of Barbies, and they were among my favorite toys. But I knew of her dislike of Barbies. I knew from my mom's attitude that there was something "wrong" with Barbies, and I never thought of comparing myself with them. I never had the body image issues that other girls had from comparing themselves with Barbies. I was, in a sense, inoculated from their affects by my mom's articulation that there was something wrong with them.
It really bothers me when people say that popular culture is not responsible for the awful things that happen, when people argue, for example, that violent movies and video games don't cause people to do violent things. Every person is responsible for his or her actions, but the development of the person is affected by what he or she experiences and how that experience is understood. Popular culture is one of the things that forms the basis for understanding experience.
There is enormous prejudice towards people who suffer from mental health issues. I was dismayed to see how quickly many people jumped to mental illness as nearly the sole cause of the Newtown shootings. Many, many people suffer from mental illnesses without being violent. Many people commit violent crimes without being mentally ill.
I was further dismayed to see some people blaming the medications used to treat mental illness. For a person to admit that they have a mental illness is very difficult. For them to take the step of taking a medication that will change the way their brain works is even harder. Stigmatizing mental illness, stigmatizing medication, makes it more difficult for people to get the help they need.
Mental illness can certainly be a cause of violence. It may very well have been a cause in Newton, but the bishops are right in calling us to reflect on our own fears and prejudice.
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