I come in from work, I check my mail, I feed the cats, and then I flop down on the couch and turn on the T.V.

It may sound like a sad existence, but it's really not.

What is sad to me, however, is the language that I'm hearing more and more on the tube.

I realize that our society has changed so much over the last thirty years when it comes to what is allowed to be viewed on T.V. by the general public. My goodness, look at how it has changed just over the last five years.

I'm afraid that our young people today would think that it was absolutely ludicrous (and I don't mean the rap star) for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez to sleep in separate beds, but that is the only thing that was allowed to be shown in the 1950s. Now, you turn on the T.V. and you might as well prepare yourself for not only nudity, but, let's admit it, soft pornography. I can't believe just how far some of these shows push the envelope when it comes to showing sex scenes during prime time hours. It's so &#8220in your face” that you either have to change the channel, turn the T.V. off, or go take a cold shower.

Why does everyone have to start screaming about &#8220censorship” or &#8220freedom of speech” when it comes to morality issues? That's just it. It's basic morals. It all boils down to going back to basic morals, which I think are so lacking, and, sometimes completely missing, when it comes to so many of the programs that are on television today.

Just this weekend, I have heard more four-letter, five-letter, six-letter, you name it, words on just regular basic channels. I'm not talking about special cable channels; I'm not even going to touch that one with a ten-foot pole. I'm talking about NBC, CBS, ABC, USA Network; just the regular channels.

I heard a word the other day that made me have to pick my mouth up off the floor, and, folks, I'm no goody two-shoes.

This is what really bothers me. If our young people grow up hearing foul language on every other channel on the television set, they will, of course, assume that there is nothing wrong with it. And, do you know what? Maybe to some people, there is nothing wrong with it. But I think there is.

Whatever we allow to come into our homes, be it through television, radio, CDs, the Internet, books, magazines, it will affect us one way or another. Either we shut it off, don't listen to it, change the channel or don't buy it.

Or, we become so desensitized to it that we allow this garbage and filth to actually lower our moral standards as human beings without our even realizing it.

And that's what really scares me.

Regina Grayson is managing editor of The Advocate's sister paper The Luverne Journal. She can be reached at 335-3541 or by email, regina.grayson@luvernejournal.com.