HIV-positive muppet frightens Republicans

[Saint Marcus]

http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/parenting/07/15/sesame.street.hiv.reut/index.html

HIV-positive TV Muppet worries lawmakers

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -- Republican lawmakers are worried about plans to introduce an HIV-positive Muppet to the "Sesame Street" gang, Hollywood trade paper Daily Variety reported in its Monday edition.

A day after show executives announced they would develop the as-yet-unnamed character for audiences in AIDS-ravaged South Africa, five members of the House committee on energy and commerce said the Muppet would be unwelcome on American TV.

In a letter sent on Friday to the president of the government-funded Public Broadcasting System, which airs "Sesame Street," the lawmakers noted the average age of U.S. viewers of "Sesame Street" in the U.S. is 2- to 4-years old.

"As such, while it is important to teach children in an age-appropriate manner about compassion for those who contract certain diseases, we would like to inquire as to whether there is other PBS programming, aimed at an older age group, which may be more suitable for such sensitive messages," Daily Variety reported the letter as saying.

The letter to PBS president Pat Mitchell was sent by committee chairman W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, a Louisiana Republican; as well as by Joe Barton of Texas; Richard Burr of North Carolina, Charles "Chip" Pickering of Mississippi, Cliff Stearns of Florida and Fred Upton of Michigan, the paper said.

"We look forward to working with you to ensure that only age and culturally appropriate programs air on PBS, which is a mainstay that millions of parents have come to rely upon over the past 35 years," the letter also read.

Joel Schneider, vice president and senior adviser to the Sesame Street Workshop, announced the new female Muppet at the 14th International AIDS conference in Barcelona.

It is scheduled for a September 30 bow in South Africa, where one in nine people have the virus that can lead to AIDS. The local version of the show is called "Takalani Sesame." Schneider told Reuters last week that there would be no explicit mention of sex.

Daily Variety said Tauzin's letter gave Mitchell until Friday to answer such questions as the amount of money PBS dedicates to "Sesame Street," how much is being earmarked for the new Muppet, whether she will be introduced to the United States and whether corporate underwriters might participate in the decision-making process.



Republicans are so funny

[Boris Godunov]

HIV-positive anything frightens Republicans. They probably still think you can get it from a toilet seat.

[Jon Miller]

an HIV muppet is not near as important for US audiences as for those in Africa

that is not an issue that kids in the US have to deal with, so the muppet may do more damage than good (kids shold not have to face the stresses of life at that age, but instead should be helped to deal with them, in africa the muppet will help kids deal with it, here there is not near the issue to deal with)

Jon Miller

[Ned]

Hah, Republicans frighten the HIV-positive.

[Saint Marcus]

Conservative Jon.

You do know that HIV infection rate is 10 times higher in the USA than it is in, say, Holland, or the western world in general? Sure, it's not as bad as in South Africa, but that doesn't mean that it "is not an issue that kids in the US have to deal with".

[*End Is Forever*]

Where I've seen this debated before there's normally quite a few self-righteous idiots saying we should "protect the innocent of children", that it's "all about sexual behaviour" and "disgusted". Well... it isn't.

In South Africa, perhaps one in ten children will be HIV-positive. That means that in the average class, at least three children are likely to have the disease. The HIV-positive muppet will be of huge benefit to these children. Playgrounds are vicious places for anyone who is "different" - hopefully the HIV-positive muppet will let these kids know that their HIV+ classmates, who have the virus through no fault of their own, are just the same as they are.

[Dr Strangelove]

I saw am article on this a couple of days ago. The plan is to air this new muppet throughout Africa, but there have been no plans to introduce it to the US. IMHO the only people who have a say so in this are the people at "The Muppet Factory". Please note that all except one of the legislators who have expressed concern come from the deep South, so it's more of a regional thing than a party thing.

[Jon Miller]

it is not

hell, I don't know anyone personaly who is dying from aids

so why should a young child, new in the world, have to deal with that?

it is the same reason that drugs should not be a big issue for sesame street, kids that age inthe US still (I think) don't have to deal with those issues

just because it is higher in the US than in holland does not mean it is a part of most of ours lives

and while us adults should be aware and concerned about it (and teens also), there is no reason for babes to deal with it

it is not like in africa where most children know many who are dying and trying to deal with aids

hell, at that age death and sickness should be the biggest issues a chlid should have to deal with, not the spector of AIDS

it is sad that those in Africa must deal with it, but since they do I support Sesame Street having an AIDS puppet in africa to help them deal with it in life

it does no good here, the kids don't have to deal with that issue (many adults do not either, currently)

Jon Miller

[Saint Marcus]

hell, I don't know anyone personaly who is dying from aids

that doesn't mean others don't know people who are HIV positive.


Your reasoning:

I don't know any

Thus

It can't be much of an issue.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by *End Is Forever*
Where I've seen this debated before there's normally quite a few self-righteous idiots saying we should "protect the innocent of children", that it's "all about sexual behaviour" and "disgusted". Well... it isn't.

In South Africa, perhaps one in ten children will be HIV-positive. That means that in the average class, at least three children are likely to have the disease. The HIV-positive muppet will be of huge benefit to these children. Playgrounds are vicious places for anyone who is "different" - hopefully the HIV-positive muppet will let these kids know that their HIV+ classmates, who have the virus through no fault of their own, are just the same as they are.

I really support the muppet being in Africa and think that that is a great idea

I just do not think it is such a great idea in the US

If I misinterpreted the article I am sorry

Jon Miller

[*End Is Forever*]

BBC "Talking Point" Debate

Whilst quick to foam at the mouth, most people seem to be missing the point. This isn't about sex - it is about the fact that many thousands of South African pre-school-age children have contracted HIV through no fault of their own, and that they deserve to be treated exactly the same as any other child that age. These children have to grow up to face the fact that they are HIV-positive, and this is a positive step to ensuring that on the playground - a notoriously harsh place for anyone "different" - these children are allowed to make friends and be treated with respect just like anyone else. - Iain, UK

My comment above, and a random moron's comment below...

I am totally disgusted that my children may be open to such an issue on a children's programme. It is stealing a child's innocence. Why not include child pornography and a paedophile vicar? Surely these issues affect children just as much. These stupid PC decisions come from middle class morons that are totally removed from society. I want to save my little girl from the horrors of the streets; I don't expect to sit her down in front of the real world, not just yet! - Simon Doderer, England

[Asher]

I think the idea of introducing the character is that the kids don't need to "deal with that issue", they can just accept people with HIV as they are.

And since HIV is becoming more common, I don't see why it's a problem...

[Jon Miller]

If it is not in the US I see no reason our lawmakers should concern themselves

Jon Miller

[Saint Marcus]

It's up to the makers of the show. It's their choice. Repu...uhm....Politics should stay out of matters like this.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Asher
I think the idea of introducing the character is that the kids don't need to "deal with that issue", they can just accept people with HIV as they are.

And since HIV is becoming more common, I don't see why it's a problem...

yes

but why do you need to have the bad things in life in the children's program

the worst most children need to deal with is maybe one death (I am refering to in the US)

there is no need to have a junky Muppet

or an alcoholic muppet

(not I am not comparing HIV to these things, I am merely saying that there are many bad and depressing things in life, like having HIV or someone being a junky or someone being an alcoholic, but these are not things the youg children need to deal with)

or a muppet that is slowly dying of cancer (this is the most like the HIV example and I think there is more call for this in the US since cancer kills so many mroe here)

or a rapist muppet or a killing spree muppet or any of the things in life that are depressing (note above comment)

Jon Miller