Dr. Seuss provides life lessons, not liberal indoctrination

Lou Dobbs of Fox News has attacked the upcoming children’s film “The Lorax” for “brainwashing children with liberal ideas.”

The movie is an adaptation of the famous Dr. Seuss children’s book by the same title. The story’s theme has been summarized as stressing the importance of environmental awareness in industrialized society.

Dobbs lumps this messaging in with Obama’s political rhetoric, which calls for each to pay his or her fair share in taxes. In an interview with talk-show hosts, Dobbs calls it all “insidious nonsense.”

Dobbs and Fox are off their rockers. Where do they get off criticizing Dr. Seuss? Dr. Seuss books are classic American children’s literature. His birthday is celebrated as Read Across America Day.

For years, Fox News has been attacking Hollywood for having a liberal bias. Recently, it criticized the Muppets movie, which included an antagonistic oil executive character named “Tex Richman.”

This attack on a Dr. Seuss creation quite effectively illustrates the absurdity of Fox News’ beef with movie messaging.

Lou aired his concern on Fox Business. Stock market information flowed below his image as he whined about the liberal leanings of “The Lorax.” 

Since when do business and morality for children intersect?

Fox Business’ slogan is “the power to prosper.” For Fox, prosper means profit. For Dr. Seuss, it likely meant something completely different — something more wholesome and colorful.

To see “The Lorax,” one will need to visit a movie theater or eventually rent the movie to bring home. Fox News runs all day, yet pundits complain that this messaging, which one sees by choice and effort, is too much for parents who don’t want to expose their children to such indoctrination. 

While the movie creation might be more overtly political than the book, as the main character appears to be under governmental surveillance for part of the preview, we must remember that movies, books and stories are not simply entertainment.

Seuss was a master of children’s literature who did not underestimate his readers. He made life lessons legible to young minds without pandering to them or sacrificing a sense of fun.

Without a message, political or not, “The Lorax” and many of his other creations would not have nearly the importance they still have today.

Fox News might prefer to think of Hollywood as a component of the Entertainment Industry, but movies are sometimes more than products for profit. Movies are a form of artistic expression. 

Stories of all kinds are types of parables, at the core of which lives a proposal for an attitude for living.

Just as the state has no authority in matters of religion, business has no authority in matters of art.

So cool your jets, Fox News. You have no authority about world views or ideas of prosperity.