Flashing back to the Brady Bunch

By Anne Ludden

I've come out of the closet. I have started to admit freely how much I love watching the Brady Bunch. In doing so, I've discovered a surprising fact: 90% of thirty-somethings are closet Brady fans, and the other 10% lie and say they aren't. We've all lived the Brady Bunch and most of us can recite every episode word for word.

I'm sure I'm not the only one having Brady flashbacks these days when the evening news comes on. As I watch the reporters drool and compete for the evolving story of Ms. Monica Lewinsky, all I can think of is Jan Brady's infamous words: "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" being replaced by the contemporary: "Monica, Monica, Monica!!"

The entire Monica scandal has been like a bad Brady episode. We desperately want to stop thinking about it, but can't help replaying it all in our minds. We hear an echoing "I did not have sexual relations with that woman!" and, sadly, blue dresses and cigars will never be the same for any of us.

We all love to groan about this pitiful situation, or even worse, get vicarious thrills from it. But the real and lasting impact upon our lives, families and futures is undeniable. None of us are immune from the negative effect of this national episode as it has managed to reach to all of us, like it or not. I feel this most when my six year old son speaks innocent, yet profound insights into the entire matter.

He makes no secret of his future plans. "When I grow up, I will be a rabbi, a firefighter, a cop, a movie star, the real Superman and a news reporter! But I can't be the president. The president has to lie, and I am not a liar!" Recently, on a tour through the White House, my boldly inquisitive son casually asked the tour guide where the room was that Bill Clinton had sex with Monica Lewinsky.

The look on the tour guides face was priceless, but it speaks to a much sadder reality. This is teaching our children some very dark lessons. It is ok to lie, if you are important. You can become famous if you degrade yourself with the right person. Sel -respect and ethical morality are not nearly as valued as scandalous, steamy sexual episodes.

As a Jewish mother, I find myself particularly challenged as once again the secular collides with the sacred. Every Jew knows the famous words of Hillel: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?" and "If I am only for myself, who am I?" Teaching these basic concepts to a child is nearly impossible when our society conversely demonstrates that one should rally to support those who disrespect themselves, and that one should only be for himself, regardless of the result.

Perhaps, beyond Hillel's brilliance, the ultimate lesson lies in the wisdom from Mike Brady: "Cindy, what other people say privately is none of our business." I can't help but wonder that if Linda Tripp had heeded this advice, we all might be a lot better off.