Hollywood Serves Steady Diet Of Poison Anti-Hollywood Dole, To His Credit, Speaks Out Against An Industry That’s Living In The Gutter.

Suppose “Sesame Street” invited some Hollywood film producers onto the set to show the kiddies what they do for a living. To demonstrate, Ernie would whip out a machine pistol and blow Bert’s head off, splattering a foul-mouthed Oscar the Grouch with blood. Big Bird would seduce Maria. Cookie Monster would rip Bert’s heart from his chest and devour it.

Of course, “Sesame Street” doesn’t need to air such a show because Hollywood does it regularly. For children who watch films, there is no escape. The silver screen has turned the color of blood. The violence is graphic. The sex, irresponsible. Mothers, unmarried. Fathers, boors. Religious folks, fools. The body counts, beyond even The Count’s ability to enumerate. Hollywood calls this art, entertainment, social commentary, make-believe.

But it’s not art; it’s pollution. It’s not entertainment; it’s a conscious assault on the norms that preserve human life and dignity. It’s not a picture of social reality; it’s pandering to our lowest instincts. And it discredits freedom.

The results aren’t make-believe. Young adults, the leading consumers of the entertainment industry’s poison, suffer the real-life consequences of a Hollywood lifestyle. In growing numbers, they produce children out of wedlock and fall to plagues of venereal disease, drugs, suicide, hails of gunfire. We rarely are influenced so deeply as when we think we’re being entertained. Why? Because our guard is down.

Each generation aims to shock its elders. Filmmakers, eager to play along, search ever more desperately for unviolated norms. In the process, all of us have been desensitized. Sex is cheap, violence is common and only love is left to the imagination.

At last, however, Americans are getting tired of letting sickos produce our entertainment and show our young a vision of life beyond the home. Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole said so the other day, and his reward was nationwide applause.

Media elites, of course, lambasted the Kansas senator. Yes, he foolishly praised some ugly films with Republican stars.

But give Dole credit. He spoke out against a societal toxin that others tolerate or excuse. He did not propose to censor. Instead, he reminded us all that freedom includes the opportunity to choose. If Hollywood chooses to stay in the gutter, it’s time for the rest of us to climb out and let it rot there.

, DataTimes MEMO: For the Pro-Hollywood editorial, see the story with the headline: Hollywood gives us what we want

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = EDITORIAL, COLUMN - From both sides CREDIT = John Webster/For the editorial board