What Happened to the Good Commercials?

I can still see the curly-headed little boy swinging his feet off the wharf, holding a fishing pole, singing.... "My bologna has a first name; it's O-S-C-A-R...." He ends the ditty with "How's that?" followed by a million dollar smile.

What about the precocious red-head arguing with her grandfather that asparagus does NOT go good on a Ritz cracker and with a roll of those bright green eyes informs him, "it's asparagis not asparagoose, silly."

And speaking of Ritz crackers, how about the toddler talking to his infant brother.... "Hi Jack, boy they really love you but you know when they really love you? When you get peanut butter on a Ritz cracker." Mom hears on the baby monitor and brings up a snack, after which, he goes back to the crib and says, "I'm glad we had our little talk."

Today we are bombarded with the burger 'king' break dancing to a rap singer about square butts. The fact that the song is about Sponge Bob (who isn't the best influence over our children and grandchildren anyway) is bad enough but then the singer ends the commercial with "Booty is Booty," catapulting the disgusting to downright degrading.

How does such an attitude help our children learn morality? How does this encourage respect for the opposite sex in our boys? How does this help them become better men? How does this promote self esteem and self respect in our young girls?

How do any advertisements - whether television, magazine, or radio - which promote anything less than human kindness and dignity benefit anyone?

Children are vulnerable and suceptible to peer pressure and influenced easily by the media - therefore the media should maintain an honorable - or at the very least respectable - code of ethics that promote equality, respect, dignity and simple human kindness.

Now as an author, I know all about reaching your target audience but don't these marketing experts realize their target audience have parents who drive them to these establishments and when the parents disapprove, off goes the television and down go the visits to said establishment.

What ever happened to the good commercials? Like the little boy and his big brother drinking orange juice and the little guy, his voice laced with adoration.... "If I drink oansh juice will I be big as you?"

C'mon marketers! Bring back advertisements that touch our hearts and make us want to buy your product.