Animals and Vegetarianism in TV Drama Show, part 2

We can be encouraged by the Tuesday, April 19, episode of the CBS drama series 'Judging Amy', following Lauren's decision, on the April 12 episode, to go vegetarian. Because of the way Lauren's new friends, the Straight-edge kids, present themselves, Amy is worried. But the message, so far, has been that she does not really have much to worry about with Lauren. I urge people to thank the show for the sensitive coverage of this story line. The show takes comments at:
http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.shtml Choose "Judging Amy" from the pull-down menu.

Here's what happened on the episode, regarding Lauren:

Amy gets a call from Lauren's school. Lauren is being sent home -- a short suspension.

We see Amy in the assistant principal's office as Lauren sits outside. We again see various animal-friendly badges on Lauren's clothing.


Assistant principal, Ms Fisher: "It started out as a protest against the food service company. Today was hamburger day, which apparently upset the Straight-edge kids."

Amy: "I am sorry, the who?"

Ms Fisher: "The kids Lauren hangs around with. She has never talked about that?"

Amy: "No, not really."

Ms Fisher: "They don't believe in drinking or taking drugs or having sex. (Amy looks pleased.) "But they are big into tattoos and piercings and destroying trays of hamburger patties."

Amy: "Lauren did that?"

Ms Fisher: "Along with 20 other kids. My understanding is they were only planning to hold hands and prevent the food service company from making its delivery but there was some shoving -- it got out of hand."

Amy: "I am so sorry Ms Fisher, this is not like her."

Ms Fisher: "I know that. Look, Lauren is good a kid, she is trying to find herself. And as far as extreme philosophies go Straight-edge isn't so bad. But we can't have this kind of disruption on school grounds."

Amy: "I know, I will take care of it."

As they leave the school, Amy expresses her concern to Lauren and grounds her.

That night, Amy's brother, Vincent (he is in his late twenties) comes into Amy's room:

Vincent, incredulous: "Your daughter got sent home from school today?"

Amy: "Yes.

Vincent: Did you kill her?"

Amy: "No. It was a stupid protest. Some people didn't get their hamburgers, that was about the extent of it. The assistant principal is worried about Lauren..."

Vincent congratulates Amy for not flying off the handle and asks her what she is reading.

Amy: "Some stuff I downloaded off the Internet. You ever hear of this?"

Vincent: "Straight-edge? No, what is it?"

Amy: "It is a movement or philosophy. I don't know, you know, like the punk rock scene? They don't believe in smoking or drinking or taking drugs or promiscuous sex or eating meat. They're Lauren's new friends."

Vincent: "Seriously? Lauren's part of a movement!"

Amy: "Don't be so happy about it."

Vincent: "Hey come on. Remember the kind of movement we were involved in? We weren't against drugs, alcohol, sex or hamburgers. She could be doing a lot worse."

Amy: "I know, its just the group-think aspect that bothers me."

Vincent: "You think they are brainwashing her?"

Amy: "No I think she is a sensitive little girl who is easily swayed. I don't think she is revolutionary."

Vincent: "Maybe she is."

Amy: "Vincent!"

Vincent: "She doesn't even know who she is -- how could you know?"

Amy: "That's my point. She is susceptible to these people. She is not thinking for herself."

Vincent: "She stood up to you. That's not easy."

The next night Amy is in Lauren's typically messy teenager's room, picking things off the floor. Protruding out of Lauren's jacket she sees a roll of bills. Lauren walks in and asks what her mother is doing in her things. Amy asks where the money came from.

Amy: "Lauren, there has to be nearly $300 here. I personally watched you empty your savings account last week to buy new boots. So I am going to ask you again..."

Lauren, upset at being accused: "I am not telling you anything, on principal!"

Amy: "Then on principal you're going to be grounded till you are forty. Does this have anything to do with Regan Swope (who gave Lauren the 'Meat is Murder' t-shirt in last week's episode) or the kids who say they don't do drugs?

Lauren: "They don't!"

Amy, yelling: "Then why do you have $300?"

Lauren: "Gosh, why do you always have to think the worst of me? Maybe if I did a drive-by with my cousin you'd be on my side.

Amy: "Graciella? (A kid who came before Amy in her courtroom, in whom Amy has taken a personal interest.) You're mad at me because I am helping Graciella?"

Lauren: "I am just saying you like her!"

Amy: "Graciella has no one, Lauren. You have me, you have Grandma, you have Daddy, you have your uncles, you have your friends, you have your teachers. Lauren, I love you more than anything or anyone in the world!"

Lauren: "Then why are you always so mad at me?"

Amy: "I am not mad! I am scared! All the time! Especially these days! I am scared that I haven't been there with you enough. I haven't been there watching over you, making sure you eat right and do your homework. I am not here when you get home from school. And now that you are getting older I am scared that it is too late for me -- that I have been gone too much and too long and that it is too late!

There is a long pause between them. Lauren looks touched.

Lauren: "School told us we had to pay for the food we destroyed in the cafeteria so we all kicked in fifteen dollars and I am supposed to give it to Ms Fisher tomorrow."

Amy: "Thank you for telling me."

They embrace. It is a tender moment. The overriding message is that Lauren is a good kid, and Amy doesn't need to be scared because her new crowd dresses loud and protests meat.

You can put in a good word for Lauren by going to the Judging Amy page at http://www.cbs.com/primetime/judging_amy/ and voting is this poll:

Is Lauren too bratty?

-- Yes, she needs to learn to respect her mother.
-- No, she's acting like a normal teen.
-- Not sure.

And again, please thank the show for this story-line at http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.shtml
Choose "Judging Amy" from the pull-down menu.

As more and more teens choose a compassionate diet, millions of mothers will face this issue, and many will model their response on Amy's. The show deserves much appreciation for putting forward a positive message with regard to Lauren's choice.


(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. If you forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts, please do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this tag line.)