Ozzy Osbourne takes stage as 'ideal' father figure

By Ashley Ritchie

Since its birth on Aug. 1, 1981, Music Television, otherwise known as MTV, has been America's dominant vehicle for the transportation of pop culture. Pre-teens and teenagers alike can be found in front of the television admiring the out of control parties seen on MTV's Spring Break or judging what they are going to wear or what music they will listen to by what is considered "in" on the world-renowned television station.

Because of the colossal impact MTV has on young, impressionable individuals, I was appalled to see that it has made an addition to its line-up of reality based television shows. The Osbournes, starring Ozzy Osbourne and the rest of his dysfunctional family airs every Tuesday night at 10:30 p.m. on MTV.

Being given a "prime-time" spot, I had to stop and question what exactly MTV was trying to accomplish with this new show. Ozzy is by no means a model citizen. He is especially not someone that should be glorified on national television and given his own show. I cringe at the thought of my children someday watching an individual such as this go about his daily life using an obscenity for every other word, even when talking to his children who also find it necessary to talk like sailors around their house.

I do not understand how MTV could give a show to a man who has done so many repulsive things throughout his life. For example, at a CBS corporate meeting that Osbourne had in 1980 to discuss his then non-existent career with the company, he bit of the head of two doves and threw one of them at the secretary when leaving. On Jan. 20, 1982, at a concert in Des Moines, a fan tossed a bat on stage, which Osbourne picked up and bit the head of it as well.

If this kind of repulsive abuse of innocent creatures is not enough, in February 1982, the pop idol was arrested for urinating on a partly-destroyed wall that was part of the Alamo, a sacred part of this country's history. Then, on Aug. 12, 1989, Osbourne was arrested again and charged with the attempted murder of his wife. He claims that he does not remember doing so, however, that is probably because prior to choking his wife and telling her "We've decided that you've got to go", he polished off four bottles of Russian Vodka.

Ozzy was drunk in all of the incidents described above, which further demonstrates the fact that he is probably an alcoholic. How does a person such as this get rewarded for his classless behavior with his own show on MTV and a new house that has a home theater, pool, Jacuzzi, gym, two foyers, sitting areas for the mother and daughter and a billiards room to name a few of its incredible attributes?

By thrusting people such as Osbourne into the spotlight, we are teaching younger generations that this kind of behavior is acceptable; as a matter of fact, it's downright cool. Soon, kids are going to think it's okay to tell Mom or Dad to "bleep" off because that's what Kelly and Jack Osbourne do.

This 'ideal' American family is the exact antithesis of what we should be teaching children. With all of the negative influences lurking in the world today, kids see way too much as it is. Why should we reinforce this negativity with these types of shows? It is also typical for some parents to use the television as a babysitter; therefore, some young teenagers are growing up and being raised by Mr. and Mrs. Ozzy Osbourne. I do not know many parents who would find this desirable. If we continue to allow this ludicrous programming to appear on our televisions who knows what we will see next. Perhaps Charles Manson and the rest of the Helter Skelter gang will be heading up next week's broadcast of TGIF.