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The Cantor's Voice
November 1999


On a recent flight with my wife and two children from Honolulu to Los Angeles aboard United Airlines, the movie selection was, "Election" with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon. Although I paid to see this movie by myself in a movie theater, I was surprised, for several reasons, that this was the selection for a family flight during summer vacation.

The movie's subject matter revolves around deceit, lying, and adultery,and the consequences of these actions. I do know that the movie had been edited somewhat for the flight, but there were still several suggestive close-up shots of female breasts and buttocks that were not edited out.

I am certainly no prude, and consider it an adult privilege to pay to see any movie I wish to see, yet I am highly selective when it comes to choosing what my children can and cannot see. Perhaps I am old-fashioned, but I believe that children should be protected, and kept in the beautiful world of innocence and naivete for as long as possible. Children have a limited number of years being children, and after childhood, the rest of their lives to be adults.

When I contacted United Airlines via Email, I received an unsatisfactory response. They commented, "We attempt to select films that are for a general audience," doesn't exactly seem consistent with the airlines next comment that, "Not every title will be considered suitable for small children... of the films will be edited to at least a PG level." United Airlines also stated, "Whether or not we achieve that goal is up to the interpretation of each individual customer" is untrue, as there are standards and guidelines set up by the motion picture association that objectively determine how a movie is rated.

I believe many of you reading this feel as I do, and would like to see more appropriate selections for in-flight movies. I know that some airlines have video monitors at each seat so that a traveler or a traveler's parent can select a movie that is best suited to the individual viewer. Perhaps this needs to be the industry standard and not the exception.

I become more and more frustrated with the type of language, sexuality, and violence that I attempt to shield my kids from, in all walks of life, is becoming harder and harder to do. Maybe next time we'll swim to Hawaii. It certainly will be cheaper, and I'll only have to worry about the sharks!

Keith Miller
Hazzan
Director of Education



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