This series of rambling questions is posted in the “why yes, I do have a toddler” category.
I am not a fan of violence and I try to prevent exposing my child to situations that model violence. That said, I have to wonder at some of the strategies to avoid exposing kids to violence and/or death, that take things (in my opinion at least) a bit too far. For example, I’ve had other parents freak out when I talk to Emma that the cute little cows and chickens at the zoo are like what we eat for dinner (apparently they didn’t want their kids to know that). And I once had a parent get upset because during a Children’s Church Easter lesson I told her elementary aged son that Jesus shed his blood on the cross and died. They were committed Christians, but she was appalled that I would mention the death of Jesus to children in church. I guess I was just supposed to stick to “safe” bible stories approved for children like Noah’s Ark and David and Goliath (sarcasm fully intended).
I was noticing this strange habit to shield children from death and violence the other day as I was watching Veggie Tales with Emma. Now I’ve been a fan of Veggie Tales for years (I did live in Wheaton during it’s heyday). On Friday nights when we weren’t studying, my friends and I would get together to watch Veggie Tale videos (aren’t you wishing you went to a Christian college too…). Anyway, what I noticed recently was the transformation over the years of the costumes for the Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything. In the original silly song by that name, Pa Grape sports a pirate hat complete with traditional skull and crossbones. 
But by the time those Pirates host the Silly Song countdown, the skull and crossbones have been replaced by a smiley face with an eyepatch (both can be observed in the video here). Then in the Jonah movie such references to real pirates have disappeared in favor of a tic-tac-toe game on the hat. The recent Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything movie (produced under new owners) returned to a design reminiscent of the skulls and crossbones but which uses a “P” and fork and knife.
Okay so perhaps I am a bit too obsessed with Veggie Tales, but I have to wonder what happened. Did Christian parents pressure them to remove the elements pertaining to death and violence? Veggie Tales has a history of giving into such parental pressure like when they changed the lyrics to “The Bunny Song.” Apparently parents didn’t like a song about idolatry that prompted kids to say they “don’t love my mom or my dad, just the bunny” or that they won’t go to church or school (the new version just mentions not eating soup and getting a tummy-ache from eating chocolate bunnies, it’s not nearly as catchy). Obviously the message is – children can’t understand idolatry and must be shielded from death and violence all the time.
Somedays I really don’t get it. We protect the kids by putting metal detectors in schools and refuse to let them wear multiple layers in class (for fear of hidden weapons). As a substitute teacher (who kept my winter coat on all day) I saw kids unable to hold pencils they were so cold and who stood outside in the sleet with no coat during a fire drill for over an hour. How did the rules protect these kids? Then there were the Chicago area police who recently had to escort an elderly Chinese man off a playground/park for practicing traditional exercises with short swords because (they said) it might be upsetting to people. Somewhat understandable, but then why are our parks and VFWs decorated with massive weaponry (tanks, bombers, cannons)?
Is there any standard? Do people have any clue what they are doing or what it is they are attempting to protect children from? When have we gone too far in the sheltering of children? Is refusing to talk about blood or bones or where or food comes from a deception on the level of Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy? Would we rather tell our kids lies about the world than introduce them to reality (in loving and appropriate ways of course)? Somedays I just have too many questions. Maybe I just need to stop watching Veggie Tales.