Media leaves children confused

By Nicole Hergert

A third grade student at Spruce Cliff Elementary School explains that: "two planes crashed into New York ’cause there’s a war in America."

Working in an elementary school makes me realize the scariest part of what is happening in the United States right now is the media coverage. To a child, images of destruction are fantastic but when the media labels them as a "war against America" it is not surprising when children jump to conclusions.

As I sat on the carpet and listened to the words of seven and eight-year-olds, I was shocked by what they were saying: "There’s a war in New York. Only one person is alive. Palestine hates America. I saw it on TV."

Unreal as some of these statements seem, to a child they are rooted in fact. When eight-year-olds watch television they do not have an adult’s ability to sift through all the information they are bombarded with. A discerning adult recognizes the subtlety of the President claiming the attacks on New York are an act of war. An eight-year-old does not. A discerning adult identifies words like "speculate" and understands both the media and government are currently unaware who is responsible for these attacks. An eight-year-old does not. A discerning adult understands not all Muslims are "extremist Muslims." An eight-year-old does not. A discerning adult can assemble the barrage of numbers (survivours, casualties, wounded, passengers, firefighters, police) into understandable terms. An eight-year-old cannot.

My first memory of televised warfare was the Gulf War of 1991. When I turned on the television seeking cartoons one Saturday morning, I saw tanks and planes being blown up. What was my reaction? Terror, confusion and anxiety. Did I understand what was happening? No. When I went to school the following Monday and talked with my friends about what was happening, did my teachers take the time to
explain the mistakes the media made? Not that I recall. Are my current views of the Middle East reflections of the media coverage during the Gulf War? I hope not, but they might be.

What we feared in 1991 was the Iraqi threat and the effect it might have on the oil and gas industry. What we have to fear this time around is much more serious.

The possible retaliation of the U.S. is far less frightening than the possible reaction of our children. Will they turn the anger of the media on their Arabic and Muslim classmates? How will they interpret images of celebrating Palestinians? How will they react to the "war on America?" How will they view the Middle East? Let’s not wait and see.

As responsible adults it is our duty to ensure we set our own biases aside and provide the impartial explanations the media has been lacking.