Concern over TV programs

Concern over TV programs

From Koran TEMPO

About 6 p.m. on Aug. 3, 2002, I watched Date X Press, a teenagers' program at Trans TV. The program was anchored by Alex Abbad and Dewi Sandra and included teenage celebrities such as Eno Lerian, Puput Melati and Hikmal.

I intentionally watched this program because I had heard some unfavorable comments about it. I was really surprised to find in the program that our teenager celebrities could so freely say things that they should not have said out of decency. Some of these include:" Have you ever had sex? Are you sure you have never had sex?".

Then came the answers, innocently given as well: Well, I've had sex before. I was really astonished to watch this program.

Have our young people become very much morally decadent? Strangely, the girl teenagers, who said they had never had sex, seemed enthusiastic when choosing Tio as their dream partners. In fact, Tio appeared very unconventionally rowdy and said he had sex before.

We, parents must realize that our effort to raise our children is just a big zero. They know better than their parents about sex things. A recent survey in Yogyakarta has come up with a surprising finding: most girl students at university level are no longer virgins.

I suspect that we have not inculcated in our children enough moral teachings. The children and teenagers have become all the more confused because many of our TV programs are not only edifying enough. These youngsters would first give sex a try but once they tried it and found it a great pleasure, they would be addicted to sex things.

Allow me to call on television station owners that their pursuit of profit only has destroyed the future of this nation's young generation. Please stop all this!

IRFITRIYAN MAHRY

Bandung