I've posted the link to the entire article below. It was originally in the Baltimore Sun. I'm not sure whether you have to sign up to access the site or not. It's worth a read, though.I sign up at most sites just to get a variety of news articles.
I think this is an attempt to "lead by fear" once again. Once the lowly citizens are sufficiently scared, the regime will announce Patriot Act II, the Sequel.
This is just one more reason why I no longer watch any "commerical" tv except the Daily Show.
"Effective ads, or too scary?
Terror: TV spots from Homeland Security play the 'guilt card' to get parents' attention.
By Stephen Kiehl and Abigail Tucker
Sun Staff
Originally published November 24, 2004
A little girl with big brown eyes sits at the kitchen table eating cereal. Milk dribbling down her chin, she asks innocently, "So, Mom, what if something happened? Should I stay where I am and wait for you or go to Grandma's house since it's closest? Is there a place we all meet? What should I do?"
The ad, soon to appear on television, is part of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security campaign to encourage families to develop plans in case of a terrorist attack.
The attention-grabbing campaign, unveiled this week, uses sweet young children and haunting music to strike an emotional chord - but perhaps an overly dark one, some fear.
"I'm concerned that it will lead to a bogeyman mentality," said Ned Gaylin, professor emeritus of family studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. "We talk to kids about not talking to strangers. We don't tell them they could rape you. We don't tell them they could put a gun in your mouth.
"You want to give kids the truth. You don't necessarily want to give them the whole truth."
Previous public service campaigns by the Homeland Security Department featured Secretary Tom Ridge talking about being prepared - hardly gripping television.
Hoping to draw more notice, the department enlisted BBDO Worldwide - known for such touching campaigns as GE's "We Bring Good Things to Life" - to create a new series of ads."
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/custom/attack/bal-te.to.ads24nov24,1,2798775.story?coll=bal-attack-headlines