This post is a response to David's post on Dobson and his attack on Spongebob Squarepants. I advise you to read that first (along with the article) before tackling this overreaction to what he said. I felt like trying to sound smart today...it goes with the sleep deprivation.
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Though I do understand what you're saying, I also understand why Dobson addressed the issue of SpongeBob. I think targeting Nickelodeon for that show instead of ABC for Desperate Housewives was a smarter move. The age group of kids who love Spongebob wouldn't be interested in wives looking to get some hanky panky, so they wouldn't go out of their way to watch it. Flipping through channels, kids would stop at cartoons, not drama about middle-aged women. They wouldn't get it.
On the other hand, I read the article, and Sponge Bob is probably not the best show to make this point on homosexuality. I don't know much about the story (and I didn't see the video), but it didn't seem like he had strong support to back him up. If I were him, I would have brought up the movie Shark Tale where there is a shark who is different than the rest and doesn't want to eat/kill other fishies. The way it was portrayed had that whole Tolerance Pledge idea in it. Obviously, it never referred to the Tolerance Pledge exactly, but the message was totally thrown in the kids' faces. That's insanely manipulative to tell kids that hey! just because people are wired differently doesn’t mean their bad people…period. It may be somewhat true, but to say that all people who are different are not bad is false. Me being someone from a standpoint of Christian morals and values, that statement is terrible. The movie puts Christians in the wrong. Call me sensitive or paranoid, but the movie was almost an attack on anyone with Christian beliefs on homosexuality.
I think the main point that Dobson was trying to make is that we need to defend our children from such ideas like the Tolerance Pledge makes in the area of homosexuality. Why? Children are our future. Our society and culture is handed down to these people, and it is up to us to teach them and make them understand what is right and what is wrong from God’s perspective; for God’s idea of right and wrong is the absolute. This is a very important issue indeed! Dobson was trying to make the point that cartoons having messages to tell children to accept homosexuality is spiritually degrading for our children.
We shouldn’t tolerate beliefs that support homosexuality. That doesn’t mean that I will avoid gays or spit in their faces when they pass me by, but respectfully help them understand where they are at fault. As Christians, we must try our best to lovingly show them the Way. if we get ridiculed or hated for it, so be it. I would rather know I tried by best discussing this issue with a homosexual and failing than to ignore him and condemn him to hell. I’ll leave the condemning to God.
That’s my two cents.
P.S. Disney owns everything.
Monday, January 24, 2005
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1 comment:
Lem,
You should know by now – don’t take me too seriously. See, look what you started ...
More from me:
1) Christian organizations, such as Focus on the Family, are fighting really silly battles amidst a very delicate time in our country. Their argument, however absurd as it may be, is done with good intentions but it’s being executed at the wrong time in our history. There are far more important things that they can do to initiate God’s Work than blasting a cartoon – which by the way, are intended for kids between 3 and 7 who are oblivious to “homosexuality”. Focus on the Family should focus more on families – families that need financial support, kids that need better education, families that may have lost someone in the war, etc … Family values start with mothers and fathers – not Nickelodeon.
2) Why address the issue at all? Bill O’Reilly, who’s probably the most conservative voice on tv and radio said, “There’s nothing wrong with the ‘We Are The Family’ video. Its just teaches kids to be nice”. In a time when we see so much filth and violence on our airwaves, a positive spin on equality and “niceness” wouldn’t hurt a bit.
3) From Webster: Tolerance; freedom from prejudice / open-mindedness. Tolerance is not about agreeing to certain lifestyles. It’s not about compromising our Christian beliefs to be part of society. It’s being open-minded to a point. Mind you, the early settlers, who brought Christianity to America, believed in slavery and segregation. Imagine if they refused to open their minds to equality? I believe homosexuality is a sin. But you nailed it right on the head. In order to reach people we have to “lovingly show them the way”. Focus on the Family’s intent with this issue is not to reach people to Christ, it’s about condemning a certain lifestyle. You can’t reach people by telling them they’re wrong and that they’re going to hell. You reach people with love, relationships, and with prayers. The Christian coalitions in America are not going to win this battle unless they change their ways. They may have a campaign paved with good intentions, but it comes across as condemnation towards others who have different beliefs. That’s just not how to go about it.
4) Yes, kids won’t be inclined to watch "Desperate Housewives" compared to Sponge Bob. I was just merely pointing out that there’s a double standard and that there’s more filth on tv worth fighting against than a cartoon or a video that just teaches kids to be nice.
5) And this is the sad part of the whole thing: if you check out the website for Focus on the Family, the first thing you see is their effort to help people affected by the Asian tsunami. But you know what? That’s not what people are talking about. People are more inclined to spend time on the Sponge Bob issue rather than something that’s really important and positive.
I guess that’s the rest of my argument. But, keep in mind, don’t take me seriously. What do I know?
Fact of the Day:
Did You Know? David Hasselhoff was in "sponge Bob the Movie". I should know. I saw it. =O)
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