Neighboring on the Air: Cooking with the KMA Radio Homemakers Book

Steve Allen rightly criticizes the media for its tasteless excesses in violence and sexuality. However, he falls into a few logical traps along the way. He praises the bawdy humor of Benny Hill yet decries Madonna's erotic displays in concerts and videos.

He also makes a point critical of religion that made me raise my eyebrows, on page 344: "Religious believers of the world, you are free to continue to debate the simple, narrow question that divides you from atheists, but you have no right, in so doing, to treat humanists with contempt." Strange, coming from a man whose book seems like it fits a Christian perspective. But, anyhow, there are religious people who daily question their beliefs and are capable of rational, logical thinking. Had it ever occurred to Mr. Allen that perhaps some of the filth coming over the radio, television, and out of Hollywood is the product of humanist thinking? The last time I checked, Hollywood wasn't exactly a Christian stronghold.

Most, if not all, of Hollywood routinely mocks religion, as well as parental authority. There are many humanists like Allen who have strong moral fiber. Then again, there are many humanists who couldn't find the moral high ground, much less occupy it.