Evening star., 1949-03-21
Calls for Moral Rebirth


I must disagree with this statement from
your editorial of March Is: THE depress-
ing national figures on sex crimes suggests
the need not only for better police protec-
ton but for stronger laws to deal with sex
offenders"
It should read &c. suggests the need
for cleaning up in the movies, radio, and
newspapers, and time out for moral and
religious rebirth."
Movies are one of the cheapest Tin more
ways than one) forms of entertainment.
Often I want to attend a movie but find
none consider worth my time and money.
neighborhood movie billed THE Snake
Pit" for recent Saturday afternoon. Chill
dren go to the movies on Saturday Ct
seems regardless of what is showing. Why
doesn't the management close the doors, If
it can offer nothing suitable for children?
Even the usual Westerns have scenes that
are certainly not good for child. Gene
Autry and Roy Rogers pictures are usually
suitable for younger children, but that isn't
much variety. I think there could be in
expensive movies of adventure and science
made for the benefit of children. And for
adults, too.
And as for the radio-since most chill
dren like stories and excitement what CAN
you do when the stories are mostly about
crime and are dramatiZed so well that you
feel you are seeing the real thing? OF course,
there usually is nice little statement about
crime doesn't pay" etc., but this thought
full note isn't dramatized and is lost in the
excitement that follows. Personally I like
"Counterspy" In this program the technique
of detection seems to be emphasized. where
as, in so many programs the crime itself
and the criminals personalities are dra-
lror i0
son has enjoyed is The Greatest Story
Ever Told" Why can't we have more of
this type? Good" stories can be dramatic.
Sensational Matter in the Press.
And now the newspapers. Fortunately, The
Star doesn't exploit the sensational story
or picture-but some of our other papers
do have seen pictures in them that made
me feel embarrassed even when alone at the
time 1 was reading the paper. The more
lewd the picture. the more it is enlarged
so that it stands out. What an impression
some of these must make on young minds
And then there are the descriptions of
marital troubles, etc. think it perfectly
natural for child to be interested in these
articles. He must wonder if these stories
are typical of many marriages. How can he
know?
Time out for religion: recently attended
Sunday night lenten service. I found my
church. which is filled several times on
Sunday, about one-third occupied for wor-
ship and sermon. I again was embarrassed.
God must feel hurt when radios, television,
parties and movies replace Him almost ex-
clusively. even during Lent. the time Of
penance and meditation. I saw hardly
young couple who could have stopped in for
As minutes before "the show" Maybe you
believe religion is for older people. 1t does
take time to appreciate the value and need
of religion-but remember said the church
was only one-third filled. The grownups are
not setting a good example.
Lastly. certainly agree with your state
ment to the effect that too many criminals
are released after serving short terms in
jail or prison. Perhaps if some of our parole
boards were held responsible (within rea-
SOM for the acts of paroled convicts, they
might hesitate to turn loose the unworthy
ones.
AS reflect on what I've just written and
realize the responsibility of adults to teach
and set good example, I feel that each
of us should make real effort to do a good
job. MARY LETHCO.