Can You Do Better Than Quoting "Tommy Boy" All The Time?

Another good one from John Starke today.  He writes:

As a parent, have you ever labored for a better argument for why your children must not watch Barney other than, “Well, it’ll just make them stupid!”? Fear not, because I don’t believe you need a better one. We shouldn’t wait to put a prohibition on something only for moral reasons. Same goes for adults, who should probably read more books than watch movies.

I say “adults” to include all adults. I don’t just mean those who want to go on to be intellectual leaders, but I mean this for thinkers as well as the tinkers; from the professor of 19th century literature to single mothers—especially single mothers. In our realms of influence, whether they be college freshmen, church congregations, or a 7-year-old son, we all need something to say.

Douglas and N. D. Wilson make this observation their forthcoming The Rhetoric Companion:

[T]he slack lifestyle that accompanies the kind of fellow who rents ten videos for one weekend is not conducive to acquiring anything worthwhile to say. If you listen to stupid music, watch stupid moves, and read stupid books . . . well, congratulations, you’re stupid.

Now the quote above was aimed at effective communication and rhetoric, but I know the Wilson duo would be pleased to apply it to parents and preachers. I think the point for pastors is fairly obvious. The amount of junk you put in your mind through the eyes and ears verses what is useful will show itself in how you preach and in how penetrating your words are.

The point may be less obvious to parents, though, especially for fathers. As Douglas and N. D. Wilson observe about the individual who digests only movies, “He will be able to quote Jim Carrey or Adam Sandler or Batman, but that is the end of his library.” Throughout childhood, kids need wisdom from their parents. And they need it not just during the times when ask curious questions. Children need parents who understand human nature, joy, despair, and love. When you must explain friendship, cancer, or what a miscarriage is to your children, Dwight Shrute just won’t do.

Parents shouldn’t feel the pressure to be arm-chair philosophers in order to speak into the minds and hearts of children. But maybe they should feel pricked enough to spend 20 minutes a day reading C. S. Lewis or Tim Keller.

Disclaimer:  I love the movie Tommy Boy.  But if quoting from it is about all you can contribute to a discussion about art, politics, literature, or film, then we might have a problem.