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Carl's Jr. leaves a bad taste in my mouth
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Posted by rcl8on Fri Jun 3, 2005 10:32:00 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments As a communications/journalism/advertising major, I know the importance of freedom of speech and freedom of expression; it ties right in with freedom of religion and many other freedoms that we are very blessed to enjoy in this great country of ours.

HOWEVER, when someone or some company abuses this right and, in doing so, infringes upon our right to protect our children from filth, then that company should be penalized. Many of you, I am sure, already know of which company I am speaking.

One of the things that I love about Bakersfield is the sense of family values and Christian living that we have come across almost everywhere we go and in everyone we have met. So it is now that I call on all of you to help me and my family in speaking out and making a difference for the future of our children. Television and advertising companies have been pushing the envelope for some time now in regard to what is appropriate for daytime and prime time television. They have created rating systems that come up before and during a program to alert parents as to what may be contained in the program, thereby allowing us as parents to make an informed decision as to whether or not we would like to allow our children to view it. I believe those programs given child-appropriate ratings should also air commercials appropriate for general audiences.

I was greatly disappointed when during "American Idol" Fox chose to air a "soft porn," mature-rated commercial. The Carl's Jr. Web site itself labels the commercial as mature rated. My daughters watch "American Idol" with us on a frequent basis, and I was greatly relieved that at the time they happened to be out of the room. I was disgusted at such a display and wish I could erase the image from my mind; it made me wonder how many parents wish that they could erase it from the minds of their children who were in the room at the time. The executives at Carls Jr. and their advertising firm have brushed aside and taken lightly the complaints of numerous parents and organizations who have spoken out against it; they believe it has gained the restaurant attention.

I am urging all parents to hit these guys where it hurts -- in their pocket books. Please join me in boycotting this chain. I do not wish to hurt the private franchise owners, I know that they do not have a say in the ad campaigns. But please, write letters to the local franchises and urge them to join in boycotting this ad campaign and do not frequent their restaurants until a change is made. Write to the local TV stations and urge them to be more diligent in respecting the rights of their viewers by allowing only general audience-appropriate commercials during primetime. If you wish to remain anonymous, then do so, but we can only make a difference as a whole. A few little voices get brushed aside, but just think of the difference that we can make as a community in standing for good family values and Christian living!

One group from whom I would specifically like to ask support is the men's Bible study group at Starbucks -- your age range is exactly the range these ads are targeting, so please join me in submitting a letter on behalf of your group. I was impressed with the way you all have made a step in putting Christ first in your lives. As an angry mother, thank you all.

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