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This is the opinion of many people, critics and
parents. They say, that like past and present shows, like Power
Rangers, Karate Kid, Pokemon and now the WWF, Dragonball Z is cruel and
promotes violence in young children, encouraging them to fight.
Where as with other shows like Power Rangers, and to a degree the WWF
(which require a certain element of responsibility to the children and
the parents as well as the company which owns the show), to make sure
that people don't try and copy the moves and action sequences, I don't
think that it would be the same story with a dragonball battle.
It is difficult (although not impossible) to simulate a simple
kick, chop, punch or a choke slam or pedigree, but I don't think
anyone, child or adult, could manage a ki blast (Kamehameha), a
distructo disc, or a genki damma. The fans of the show, and
probably anybody who has sat and watched more than 3 episodes would
understand this. Also, the 'violence' in DBZ is not random by any
stretch of the imagination. The battles always have a purpose, to
protect the earth against evil or to protect those you love.
Apparently, tough, this idea of good vs. evil is still unsuitable
for children. I say to anyone who thinks the fight scenes are too
violent, to actually sit down and watch them. Most of them take
place in the air, that's going to be difficult to copy for a start.
Goku and the others have spent a lifetime training, there aren't many
children which are going to spent that long practicing. Sometimes,
the characters move faster than the speed of light and can't always be
seen. Finally (for now), most of the battles are long distance.
Throughout the series, the messages which come up time and time again
are that you don't fight unless you need to, you fight with honor- e.g,
you never take cheap shots, you respect your opponent, team work is
important, you need to rely on inner strength, never give up, and
protect those you love. Is this still a bad influence? Ok,
how about good morals, respect, honor, peace, strength, intelligence,
faith, reliability, responsibility, fitness, martial arts-notice
how it's not called martial butt kicking, or martial senseless
violence?, friendship, love, honor, life and family values. Still
think it's a bad influence? If you do then you may need do grow
another brain cell to knock the one you already have into place.
Values such as these can teach not only children, but anybody so much.
This is what I think is one of the nice things about Dragonball.
All this from a cartoon? suddenly it doesn't look like such a bad
show. Most people (especially in the Western world) would most
likely never pick up morals or messages from other T V shows or from
every day life.
For any one who still thinks that
Dragonball is too violent for children, let me just say this; Dragonball
was NOT intended to be a kids cartoon. Again, like the WWF, it is
aimed at 12-23 year old (I am reluctant to say) males!! So
there!! The DBZ you see now has been edited, cut and censored and
is now being shown on children's television!! You are just lucky
they cut out half the stuff they did if you have that much of a problem
with what the show is like now-if you do, hears a tip, never visit
Japan. Phew, cool head Ryoko.
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