In today’s world, “sexually suggestive” material and four-letter words are cut from television shows, and a slew of radio-hosts hold their tongues or face stiff fines. Meanwhile, shows and video games advance themes that are much more damaging.

Although some censorship may be necessary, our society is heading in the wrong direction. Instead of restricting violent, offensive or degrading material, we censor language, conceal the natural body parts of men and women and keep relatively innocent moments between gay and lesbian couples off screens. The Federal Communications Commission has even gone as far as concealing the body parts of cartoon characters and the bottoms of babies.

When Janet Jackson stood with one breast exposed on the stage at the 2004 Superbowl, people were outraged, sparking chaos all over the country. For some reason, society could not accept this occurrence as a wardrobe malfunction. Because of Janet Jackson’s little “oops,” for which CBS was heavily fined, the FCC mandated at least a seven-second delay for all live shows.

Meanwhile, increasingly gruesome video games pop up online and in stores. Recently, someone created a computer game called “Border Control,” in which the purpose is to shoot immigrants: a Mexican nationalist, a drug smuggler and a pregnant woman with children, also known as a “breeder.” At the end of the game, the player gets a score based on how many immigrants he or she killed. “Grand Theft Auto,” another explicit video game, shows mainly African Americans shooting each other, stealing cars and treating women as possessions.

Eighties rapper Flava-Flav’s reality TV show, “Flavor of Love” followed 20 girls fighting for “Flava’s heart” — more truthfully for his money. Though supposedly a “reality show,” it completely degrades women, with scenes edited together to emphasize girls humiliating themselves by fighting with each other and swapping spit with the rapper.

What affects a child more: a full-action scene of violence in an imagined American city where ethnic minorities are either cold-hearted predators or cannon fodder — or the word “shit”? What is worse: A clothed woman becoming the target of a gun — or her bare breast? A young college student being exploited by a sleazy older professor — or two girls kissing?

Society should worry more about violent and demeaning material targeted at women, ethnic minorities or any other social group rather than about supposedly sexually suggestive material or “bad” words. Censuring such things is ridiculous in the face of the damaging messages Americans continually receive.