Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Children Before Outcomes

A Social Experiment That Needs To End

October 20, 2009

A thoughtful supporter of A Minor Consideration, Elizabeth Miller of Atlanta, Georgia, wrote to us on our Facebook page to ask if these children on reality shows aren’t more closely related to kids involved in medical research studies…and if they are, why aren’t the same ethical standards used to protect them?

In medical research, if a researcher has cause to believe that harm will come to a child involved in a medical study the project must be shut down.

Period.

“Children before Outcomes.” What a concept. Is it too much to ask that entertainment executives be held to that same standard the instant they hear a “pitch” that involves children?

Just when you think you’ve seen everything, along comes Balloon Boy. If the sight of a six year-old vomiting victim, Falcon Heene, torn between truth and parental deception, isn’t enough to shut down the reality show industry that is so wantonly exploiting children, then I don’t know what it will take.

Don’t you see the path we’re on? What a terrible time to be a child in America. No one can take comfort in telling themselves they would never expose their own children to this sort of entertainment drivel because the alarming truth is the message is being spread to children all over this country in unmistakable fashion.

If your dysfunctional parents want to sell you out, you are on the market and your Right to Privacy be damned.

Forget the Law or basic morality. The adults charged with protecting you are in it for themselves, not you.

Paychecks and pensions mean more to grown-ups than your welfare, even if it means ignoring existing law and regulations.

If the media can gain a ratings point or two, you, my child, are completely unprotected. Everyone will be paid, but you won’t be.

Paul Petersen