Television commercials can stick out like a sore thumb.

They can be funny, weird, can make a statement or can say something memorable.

I recently turned on the television and saw the famous Chuck E. Cheese commercial advertising its famous slogan “Where a kid can be a kid.”

Throughout the commercial, children are seen having fun, enjoying their innocence.

But I ask myself what happens after a child leaves?

Some go home to a life of normalcy while others live in a reality of hell.

The hells I speak of are the hells of being poor, parentless, and physically and mentally abused.

Whenever my best friend and I have time to talk, we talk about subjects that matter.

It ranges from things affecting our community to the people who live within.

While sitting on the porch on a hot summer day in 2009, we noticed some young women walking in the middle of the street wearing next to nothing.

I couldn’t believe how these young women were prancing up and down the street flaunting what my grandmother used to call “their imagination.”

These young women didn’t care who looked because they wanted the attention from the boys who played basketball in the neighborhood park.

Watching these young women, the vulnerability was apparent.

They tried to be tough on the exterior but, inside, you got the feeling they were scared.

They could’ve been scared of what other people thought about them or they were just scared of being caught by the right adult who would tell them about themselves.

I recently caught an episode of the “Wendy Williams Show” where she discussed her hot topics of the day.

On this particular day, Williams discussed “tween” fashion and even held a fashion show for young girls.

Before Williams proceeded, she discussed the upcoming clothing line of Noah Cyrus, the younger sister of Disney star Miley Cyrus.

Williams forewarned the audience and viewers about the photo we were about to see.

Wendy featured a profile shot of Miley’s younger sister along with a friend wearing “tween” lingerie.

Both had tube tops with lace, a corset-like bustier, with knee-length boots.

My mouth dropped and gasped along with the studio audience.

It made me remember those young women who walked in my neighborhood.

Where are the parents in these children’s lives? How could they justify the clothing these children are wearing?

When you look at television or anything print media, you’re blasted with images of over-sexualized children.

Many of today’s designers are all about making a quick buck, rather than consciously thinking about the child at hand.

What does a child need to know about being a “brickhouse” or a having Beyonce’s curves at the age of 10?

My nieces didn’t even think about having that look at that age.

We are living in a world of sick perversion. Neighborhoods are filled with child predators and even those who are supposed to be protectors of children prey on children.

Our country right now has the highest concentration of teen pregnancies in the world.

The irresponsible nature of how our kids are over-sexualized in my opinion contributes to this problem.

Parents should stand their ground and not allow their kids to walk around in provocative clothing.

If parents would stop trying to compromise and being their child’s best friend, I think these kids would enjoy life instead of wanting to grow up too fast.

Never addressing the issue of provocative clothing will only lead to disaster.

Putting your child in the line of fire will burn them for life if some tragic happens.

Now I remember why my best friend chooses to dress her kids like Punky Brewster or Blossom.

After seeing how most of these children lack parenting or direction, I don’t blame her.

By C.J. DANIELS

Editor

chdaniel@umail.iu.edu