Politics of "protect the children"

I have read and heard this several times recently from "conservative" parents and leaders, to the effect that children need protection from the pervasive pornography and contrary views (to them) that plague our society and culture. Including things like seeing positive images of gays or learning about condoms. They say it is up to parents to protect their children from these things, but if parents won't then they and their organizations have to step in and protect them. Are others hearing this too? I hear this as a subtext and never as the main issue being discussed.

I can see several problems with this conservative nanny society. Do only conservatives get to act like this in loco parentis? What about the rights of parents who want their children to see positive images of gays or want their children to know about condoms? Are their parents out there who do not want to be told how to raise their children?

The self-righteous stance of this meddling crowd, that THEY have the formula for the proper way to raise children is always presented as "a given".

Interestingly, the best "in your face" answer to this kind of bully is often "by their fruits shall we know them", since overly shielded kids have no mechanisms to handle the real world once they leave their parents house. They are much more apt to go hog wild because they have never been given the freedom to learn how to handle life's vicissitudes!

Oh, and Welcome to DU!
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