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Homeland Security ads urge parents to talk terrorism
USA
Today | November 23 2004
Between spoonfuls of cereal, a little girl
in pajamas looks across the kitchen table and innocently asks her mother
some chilling questions: "What if something happens? Should I stay
where I am and wait for you?"
She may not understand the implications, but
she's talking about terrorism. Now the government wants parents to provide
answers.
In a series of new TV, radio and print ads, the Department
of Homeland Security is encouraging parents to talk to their children about
what to do if disaster strikes. (Related video: Ad
1 | Ad
2 | Ad
3)
The public service ads, unveiled by the Ad Council on Monday,
are aimed at parents. Stations are being encouraged to air them only during
adult programming. "It is certainly not our goal that these run during
Saturday morning cartoons," said Kathy Crosby of the Ad Council.
But some experts say the ads could frighten children who
see or hear them. The ads could make children worry that a terrorist attack
is likely, said child psychologist David Fassler of Burlington, Vt. "Parents
need to emphasize that's simply not the case," he said.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said parents talk
to their kids about other issues, including crime and speaking to strangers.
"We don't think this will be any different than anything
else parents have been asked to do for a long, long time," Ridge said.
"This is only a difficult subject if the parents make it a difficult
subject."
The new campaign is part of a government effort to get
families to plan for emergencies. In one ad, three siblings ask whether
they should go to a neighbor's house and how to keep in touch if the phones
are out.
An adult voiceover says: "There's no reason not to
have a plan in case of a terrorist attack. And some extremely good reasons
why you should." It refers parents to www.ready.gov for information.
Marsha Evans, president of the American Red Cross (news
- web sites), called it "a powerful way to use children to get to adults."
But Ronald Stephens of the National School Safety Center said: "Children
have very tender and fragile hearts. You want them to grow up with a feeling
of security and safety without feeling that the big, bad boogeyman is going
to get them at any moment."
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