Gangsta Rap on TV

The executives at BET (Black Entertainment Television), MTV and request-video station the Box are missing the point (“Overlooked in the Rap Flap,” Dec. 16).

The truth is, some hard-core rap videos would be given PG-13 or R ratings as full-length feature films, yet potentially millions of young children have the opportunity to watch these videos unsupervised after school before their parents come home.

Speaking from experience, I can tell you that MTV had its biggest influence on me when I was about 10 years old.

BRIAN P. SHARKEY

Rancho Palos Verdes