Following are the words of real teens, taken verbatim from their personal notes and letters written during ATF rallys in cities across America and Canada.  

Most of these notes are written to unseen corporate marketers and even specifically to MTV executives who have the power and influence to change the way they do business with teens.

Letters From The Culture War will be updated regularly.  Keep coming back for more real letters from teens.

Many of these letters are personal and sensitive.  Some speak of family members affected by today's pop-culture world.  To protect the identities of these teens and their circumstances, BattleCry is hiding the writer's identity and the city where they live.

 

Dear MTV, I think what you are doing to us and putting in our minds is wrong!  I am standing for what is right.  I will not be branded in what you are showing us!”  

“To whom it may concern: I know that I am just one person.  But, I am one person who has had enough of being owned and watching the people I love be brainwashed by propogandic ideals that destroy them.  I’m done. I may not be able to change the world, but I can change me.  You don’t own me; God does."  

“Hey MTV, Stop ruining people’s lives for money.”  

“Dear MTV, You don’t realize the impact you could have on kids if you would change the things you do and show.  You are killing our generation.  I hope one day you will come to your senses.”  

“MTV – I am furious!  Not only have you influenced me in some ways, you are ruining my little sister’s life.  She is only 12 years old and she idolizes everything that is shown on your network.  She wants to be just like you, not God.  I want to be like my Jesus and help my sister but because of you my path is rough.

" Dear MTV - Do you have any idea what you are doing to teens?  You are showing women who are skinny to be real and you are showing girls as an object to be won.  You show sex outside of marriage.  You show sex without consequences like a girl won't become pregnant or anything.  WELL STOP!

To The Media: I don't want to find my worth in the way I look.  I don't want to place my security in the way people view me.  I don't want to hear that I have to be "sexy and hot" in order to be acceptable.  I am sick of seeing young kids put their security in how sexy the look and act.  This generation and future generations need people like you to step up and wake up, and make a positive influence.

 MTV - Our generation is so sick and twisted because of your TV shows and songs.  This show has destroyed my little brother and he is wrapped around your finger and I pray that you will lose his money and he will no longer be branded by you and you won't own him!  Our whole generation is twisted by the mind games you play with all of us.  Not all of us want what you show and it has corrupted our generation. I am through going through life trying to be like someone I am not.  I want to be like Jesus Christ!  I don’t want to be branded by you.  I want to be branded by God!

Dear TV Executive: I believe that your TV shows that you are producing are horrible.  You try to make everything sound good (talk to your kids about drugs) but the next show that comes on is a video clip of someone smoking pot.

To whom it may concern:  My name is J**** and I am a Christian who actually watched your programs.  I didn’t realize how much your shows affected me.  I am writing to say, you don’t own me!  Jesus Christ does! You are ruining me!

Additional Letters Added 11-28-06

The things in your shows are changing us little by little.  

God help you realize that money isn’t worth ruining all the lives you change daily.

I feel betrayed because you have made a certain image that I (my generation) feel like we have to live up to.  It is confusing.  We don’t know who we are anymore.  

You are making our world a scary place for kids to live.  

God loves you.  Please change for the next generation.  

I’ve come to realize how you’ve changed my life in a way I thought was right and cool.  Don’t use the power you have to throw false ideas to this generation.  We deserve better.  

Stop trying to brand me!  
My heart breaks at how good you are at what you do!