Friday, April 21, 2000
Berenstains aim anti-gun message to kids
BY Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Stan and Jan Berenstain, at first, resisted their publisher's idea of writing a children's book about guns. But after some thought, the Berenstains agreed to add the controversial topic to their series of books with a moral message.
The Berenstain Bears and No Guns Allowed (Random House; $3.99) was published in time for Thursday's first anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, Colo. The Berenstains hope their book provides a fictional framework to spark discussions about school violence across the country.
The chapter book, aimed at third-graders and up, is not just about guns. It tackles the entire culture of violence, from movies, television, video games and professional wrestling to bullying and teasing. Tension rises when two students in Bear Country bring guns to school.
It's only the second time in their almost 40-year career that their publisher asked them to write about a certain topic. The other was about talking to strangers, written about 15 years ago when that issue was at the forefront.
Mr. Berenstain talked about the book in a phone interview from the couple's Bucks County, Pa., home.
Question: Why were you reluctant to write this book?
Answer: It's a difficult subject, but it's something we were very, very tuned into because right in our neighborhood five years ago, a fourth-grader shot and killed a fifth-grader who had been tormenting him. His mother's boyfriend had given her a gun for protection.
We said we'd think about it. We talked about it in our family. We have (four) grandchildren. We're very comfortable with our publisher. They think kids are influenced by our books. It's also a subject we're concerned about. It's a complicated subject.
Q. How did you research the book?
A. We talked to principals, and we talked to teachers. They all had their ideas. We read up as much as we could. I think in all the (school violence) cases, at the bottom line of these incidents, was bullying, teasing and rejection at the school site, which generated a motive of revenge. We began thinking about teasing and trash talking. Now we have this wonderful wrestling. It's not real, but it desensitizes. It's insulting, trash talking, calling people names.
The other thing is the availability of guns. It's like gasoline and fire. That's explosive. We are immersed in the media culture of violence — violent movies, violent video games, violent television. You name it ... It isn't one thing. It's the increasing crudeness of the culture. It's the influence of the media and the fact kids are getting into movies they're not supposed to get into it. And, without the availability of guns you wouldn't have people lying dead.
The fact there's no single component to the problem doesn't mean you can't try to fix it. The last surveys show that, especially women, want more and better gun laws and safety.
Q. What are some of the topics you discuss in your book?
A. We talk about the ugly trash talking that's going on in schools, even in Bear Country. We even have the moms in this book develop an organization called MOVE (Mothers Opposed to Violent Entertainment). We tried to look at it not from a zealot standpoint — don't throw all the guns in a pile or bury them in a cave. They have an important place in history. I shot a lot off in the Army. I don't have a gun, but I like guns. I think they're fascinating, but I'm not going to kid myself about their purpose. It's gotten to the point where there's just too many, but a vociferous minority who loves them dearly is very effective in lobbying ... I think it's going to take 20 years, if we're lucky, to reduce the number of guns.
Q. In your book, Mama and Papa Bear talk about how kids' gun play today is different from years ago. How do you think it's different?
A. I'm 76 years old. When I was a kid the only violence we were witness to was maybe a 30-minute cowboy movie at the Saturday matinee. It was so badly done, and it was in black and white. Back when our kids were young, it was good guy/bad guy play. For example, they'd see a movie and act it out. It might be Davy Crockett or Lewis and Clark. It wasn't this killing, killing, killing, and it had some historical context.
Now, you cannot turn on the television without seeing endless shooting, killing, stabbing and torment of all kinds, and that's just the commercials. Video games are almost universally violent. If it gets to be a big enough quantity, it changes quality. I think violent entertainment is a serious problem ... The media cry "free speech.' On the other hand, it's the public's right to raise objections and even organize against that kind of thing.
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