While I was watching the British Open golf tournament around 9:30 a.m, a commercial for ABC’s series, “Dirty Sexy Money” came on. During that short commercial, I saw approximately the same amount of lingerie and cleavage as I recall seeing on my honeymoon. Fortunately, my son, who was also in the living room, is too young to understand. But what about the millions of other children who will see that commercial and others like it without warning?

“Dirty Sexy Money” is just one example of how the major television networks are trying to capture our attention by constantly pushing the envelope of acceptability. CBS’s “Swingtown” is another sad example of this trend, which glamorizes partner-swapping, drug use, and recently showed a threesome. Family-friendly shows like “The Cosby Show,” “The Wonder Years” and “Family Ties” have been replaced by the two already mentioned, “CSI” and “Dexter.”

Some believe that TV ratings do a sufficient job of warning parents about harmful content. Did you know that the television networks determine the ratings for their own shows? Knowing that a TV-MA (mature) rating would scare off advertisers, networks will give shows a TV-14 rating instead of a deserved TV-MA rating.

On July 21, the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out the FCC’s $550,000 indecency fine on Fox for airing Janet Jackson’s exposed breast during 2004’s Super Bowl halftime show. This nudity was broadcast to 90 million viewers.

Parents are going to have to realize that the government will not protect children, but instead will protect the so-called “creative rights” of the media. It is up to America’s citizens to take a stand. Consider supporting organizations that are working and lobbying to keep the airwaves clean such as RepairAmerica.net and the Parents Television Council (www.parentstv.org).

If parents cannot completely trust television ratings, what about movie ratings? Did you know that movie ratings are determined by a “ratings board?” This board is simply a group of parents from the Los Angeles area. The ratings board is not regulated and the guidelines that they use to determine ratings are fairly ambiguous. Its Web site (www.filmratings.com) states that the ratings board can be comprised of 8-13 parents and they can serve for varying lengths of time. The most surprising part is that they can, with a two-thirds vote, give a movie a lighter rating than the established guidelines call for if they “feel that most of Americans would agree.”

As adults, it is our duty to make this country a safe place for children. We cannot trust the profit-driven entertainment industry to determine what is appropriate for America’s families. They think we want to be shocked and stunned with sex, violence, profanity, greed, and disrespect. Let’s work together to prove them wrong. There are a number of organizations that are working to reverse this trend that need your support. How bad will things be 10 years from now?

It may depend on whether or not you decide to get involved.

Josh Castleman teaches at Gettys Middle School in Easley. He is the founder of RepairAmerica.net, a nonprofit that “opposes indecent media which threatens America’s children and families” and is a member of the Palmetto Family Council. E-mail: Mail@RepairAmerica.net