Like this:

In our history we know that revolutions were carried out by the adults and the young. During the past decades the youth were the front runners in every protest, rallies and even the 1986 EDSA revolution. Now we could hardly see young people joining in political assemblies. Rarely did we witness students joining protests. If there are, sometimes they are motivated differently ahmm, I do not know perhaps just for the sake of joining. This is also true in religious affairs. Less and lesser young people are attracted to joining religious activities in the parishes. I remember in our town when I was a child students always prepare good shows for the people. Few young men and women would plan to enter the seminary and the convent.  Even our tradition, it seems to be overridden. The traditional way of courting is in the midst of extinction. Why is it now the case? It looks like an enemy is stubbing behind?  Oh! Yeah! What attracts young people today is the media, the new technologies. Instead of wasting their time in attending the above mentioned activities, they would rather stay in front of the computers surfing different webs, if not playing on-line games. They stay in the movie house or in front of the idiot box the whole day and the whole night, not mentioning the texting, calling, chatting in between of their activities. Indeed media silently revolted on tradition, culture, religion and social life.

Revolutionary technological changes are only part of what is happening (Aetatis Novae). The Pastoral instruction on Social Communication Aetatis Novae is very rich; to comprehend or grasp its totality is quite impossible. Hence I resulted to reflect on three basic questions as follows: how did media champion the attention of the young? How come media silently revolted against religion, culture, and tradition? How did it affect me as a seminarian?

As more than just a technological revolution, today’s revolution in social communication involves a fundamental reshaping of the elements by which the people comprehend the world about them, and verify and express what they have comprehend. The constant availability of images and ideas, and their rapid transmission even from continent to continent, have profound consequences, both positive and negative, for the psychological, moral and social development of persons, the structure and functioning of the societies, intercultural communications and the perception and transmission of values, world views, ideologies and religious beliefs (Aetatis Novae 431). Media powerfully shifted the attention of man particularly the youth by the comforts, entertainment and pleasure it offers. It did really reshape peoples’ way of thinking and even organizing their daily affairs. It makes work easier. Half a century ago, thesis writer just like us have to use the typewriter, which is 500% worst than the computer. It also makes the world smaller; we are now coming to the “global village.” Gone are the days of the message in a bottle. One can have an easier access to his relatives abroad through emails, SMS, etc. according to the philosopher Harvey Cox in his work the Epoch of Secular City, secularization which is characterize by the advancement of modern technologies debase religion as a hobby, national or ethical identity or aesthetic delight; true also with culture and traditions.  Now attending festivities religious or cultural are just an option for others. Some would attend if they have no other things to do. Attending the Sunday mass for many Catholics now is not anymore a must. There are some who would identify themselves as Christian just for the sake of identity when in fact they themselves does not embodies the true essence of being a Christian. More often than not, people wear religious items or cultural symbols for aesthetic delights. Every time I see a child going in our seminary wearing the rosary as a necklace, I would ask him to remove it. Not only because I do not like the way they look wearing it but when I asked them if they know its use and how to use it, it is more discouraging. Furthermore, I too was affected by this reality. However, not that much since when I was just starting to fall on the traps of media the seminary came to my life and rescued me. Though at first, it was hard to adjust especially in terms of our access to television. I am a self-confessed addict of watching films and T.V. shows. In the seminary we can only watch during Saturdays. But, as time pass by I am now on my fourth year of watching only one movie a week.

As what is being emphasized over and over again media is amoral. It is us who will determine whether it is moral or immoral by the way we use it: if use it for good or abuse in our own expense.