| American
Girl Diversions
by Frederick Meekins
Broadcasters
have had a tradition of airing quality programming during the Christmas
season. Usually, parents do not have to expend much moral anguish
as to whether or not the innocence of their children will be compromised
by viewing these often cute or touching shows. Today, however, the
ethical peril lies not so much with the content as it does with
the commercials.
 The
American Girl series of books have received considerable acclaim
as quality literature depicting the lives of young girls during
the nation's early years in a manner reminiscent of Little House
On The Prairie or Anne of Green Gables. As with other successful
literary properties that have come before it, this one has made
the transition from bookshelf to film as a new television movie
produced for this special time of year titled "Samantha: An
American Girl Holiday".
Sounds
like a night of enjoyable, worry-free TV, doesn't it? Such
an assessment would be incorrect.
While
the movie was itself well-done and will no doubt become a Christmas
classic and hopefully spawn sequels, many parents -- at least in
the Washington Metropolitan Area watching channel 50 -- were no
doubt flustered when they either had to avert the attention of young
eyes and ears or face having to answer questions about birth control
pills or feminine hygiene products.
Call
me old fashioned or out of touch, but I think a parent should be
able to sit down to watch a children's show without having
to explain what a tampon or maxipad is to a seven year old. Furthermore,
what's the point of advertising these things anyway since
they have a captive market to begin with whose demand is not going
to fluctuate any appreciable degree due to persuasive advertising.
Disgruntled
feminists may try to dismiss such criticisms as sexist, chauvinist,
misogynist, or what ever other label they might throw around to
intimidate cowering males. Most women I know frankly find those
kinds of commercials embarrassing. Even NBC anchor Brian Williams,
hardly a pawn of the religious right, revealed on The Sean Hannity
Show how he did not like such intimate matters discussed during
commercial breaks.
In
the movie, the grandmother chides Samantha for inquiring about the
private life of the family servants. While contemporary social relations
need not be characterized by the same degree of contrived hyperformality,
a little Victorian modesty might do everyone a bit of good and would
be a gift this season that would give the whole year through.
Copyright
2004 by Frederick Meekins
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