Why are Conservatives attacking SpongeBob??

[Pete's Mom]

But they do....

(gotcha though )

But they HUGE thongs, right?

 

[WWTBAMFAN]

WWTBAMFAN - Why didn't you appropriately title this thread "Why is DOBSON attacking SpongeBob".

I am a conservative and love SpongeBob.

The thread is titled this way because it is the conservatives who seem obsessed with attacking the sexual orientation of cartoon characters. Lets not forget Jerry Falwell and the teletubby. While not directly on topic, I still think that Dan Quayle's attack on Murphy Brown was one of the dumbest things that I have ever seen.

Today, the Bush administration went after another cartoon (on PBS) about the sexcual orientation of a character. See
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/national/26educ.html

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (AP) - Education Secretary Margaret Spellings denounced PBS on Tuesday for spending public money on a cartoon with lesbian characters, saying many parents would not want children exposed to such lifestyles.

The episode of "Postcards From Buster," which has not yet run, shows the title character, a bunny named Buster, on a trip to Vermont, a state that recognizes same-sex civil unions. The episode features two lesbian couples, although the focus is on farm life and maple sugaring.

Why are conservatives so worried about cartoons and fiction? I just find this strange.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

The thread is titled this way because it is the conservatives who seem obsessed with attacking the sexual orientation of cartoon characters. Lets not forget Jerry Falwell and the teletubby. While not directly on topic, I still think that Dan Quayle's attack on Murphy Brown was one of the dumbest things that I have ever seen.

Today, the Bush administration went after another cartoon (on PBS) about the sexcual orientation of a character. See
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/national/26educ.html Why are conservatives so worried about cartoons and fiction? I just find this strange.

Because it will create a generation of tolerant people who aren't worried about sexual orientation and that's a threat to the bible based utopia they envision?

And by they I mean the wacked out religious conservatives, not conservatives as a whole.

 

[WWTBAMFAN]

LOL See http://accessibleairwaves.org/2005/01/ucc-welcomes-spongebob.html

Joining the animated fray, the United Church of Christ today (Jan. 24) said that Jesus' message of extravagant welcome extends to all, including SpongeBob Squarepants - the cartoon character that has come under fire for allegedly holding hands with a starfish.

"Absolutely, the UCC extends an unequivocal welcome to SpongeBob," the Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president, said, only partly in jest. "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."

For that matter, Thomas explained, the 1.3-million-member church, if given the opportunity, would warmly receive Barney, Big Bird, Tinky-Winky, Clifford the Big Red Dog or, for that matter, any who have experienced the Christian message as a harsh word of judgment rather than Jesus' offering of grace.

The UCC's welcome comes in the wake of laughable accusations by James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, that the popular SpongeBob and other well-known cartoon characters are crossing "a moral line" by stressing tolerance in a national We Are Family Foundation-sponsored video that will be distributed to U.S. schools on March 11, 2005.

Later, an assistant to Dobson called SpongeBob's participation in the video "insidious."

Thomas said, on the contrary, it is Dobson who is crossing the moral line for sending the mistaken message that Christians do not value tolerance and diversity as important religious values.

"While Dobson's silly accusation makes headlines, it's also one more concrete example of how religion is misused over and over to promote intolerance over inclusion," Thomas said. "This is why we believe it is so important that the UCC speak the Gospel in an accent not often heard in our culture, because far too many experience the cross only as judgment, never as embrace."

I am glad that SpongeBob and the other outcast cartoon characters have a church that will take them.

 

[alabamaalan]

Well we didn't watch Spongebob but only because we don't have cable.

But I may rethink Arthur if the previous poster was correct about the tolerance lessons from Buster.

I also say just let cartoons be cartoons and quit using them to push an agenda.

 

[Sparx]

Ok, Ok... I am so sorry that I am having to post this, but I am starting a list...

Victims to date
Teletubbys (not sure which, to be honest...)
Spongebob
Patric
Pooh
Buster
Chip
Dale

Who else? That is all that I can think of now... If you know something else, feel free to make any amendments...

This is just getting sad... These people worry me...

 

[WWTBAMFAN]

I have seen mention of Chip and Dale being gay. They do sound like a married couple at times.

 

[Sparx]

Victims to date
Teletubbys (not sure which, to be honest...)
Spongebob
Patric
Pooh
Buster
Chip
Dale

 

[chadfromdallas]

Didn't see Bert and Ernie listed...

 

[Sparx]

Victims to date
Teletubbys (not sure which, to be honest...)
Spongebob
Patric
Pooh
Buster
Chip
Dale
Bert
Ernie

 

[WWTBAMFAN]

Also Big Bird and the Count

 

[TowerOfTerrorFreak]

I hate those religious nut jobs. They make me sooo sick

 

[Sparx]

Victims to date
Teletubbys (not sure which, to be honest...)
Spongebob
Patric
Pooh
Buster
Chip
Dale
Bigbird
Count

Notice how most of these are on Sesmea' street? (i can't spell today...)

 

[Chipperdini]

No opinion, since I'm not informed enough to comment.

But in case anyone's interested, here's a link related to the topic of the thread.

 

[peacefulgirl]

I cant even read this thread. Reporters twist words and the public falls for it. I give Dobson all the credit in the world for caring about the family. The news doesn't.
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0035309.cfm

January 25, 2005
<!-- Article Title -->[font=Arial,Helv,Geneva]Dr. Dobson Takes on Media over 'SpongeBob' Controversy[/font] <!-- Article Subtitle --><!--DB.AD--><!-- Author info -->



[font=Arial,Helv,Geneva]by Gary Schneeberger, editor[/font] <!-- Article Text -->

[font=Arial,Helv,Geneva]Focus on the Family founder did not criticize a cartoon character, as has been widely reported, but was warning parents that the group behind a "diversity" video may put material in teachers' hands that could prompt them to teach kids that homosexuality is equivalent to heterosexuality.

Dr. James Dobson set the record straight today about the onslaught of media reports mocking him for comments he is alleged to have made about the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.

"I've been in the public eye for thirty-something years and I have never had my words more misrepresented than they were in this instance," Dobson said on today's installment of his internationally syndicated radio program. "I was said to be on the warpath for my dislike for SpongeBob — who supposedly has homosexual characteristics.

"I said no such thing."

What Dobson did say, in a speech last week in Washington during an event sponsored by the Family Research Council, was that SpongeBob is one of 100 popular animated characters that may have been co-opted by an innocuous-sounding group to promote acceptance of homosexuality to children. The group, the We Are Family Foundation, has produced a video slated for distribution to 61,000 public and private elementary schools; it features SpongeBob, Big Bird, Barney and others singing the old disco hit "We Are Family" and spreading a message of "diversity and unity."

And therein lies the rub — albeit well-concealed.

While words like "diversity" and "unity" sound harmless — even noble — enough, the reality is they are often used by gay activists as cover for teaching children that homosexuality is the moral and biological equivalent to heterosexuality. And there is ample evidence that the We Are Family Foundation shares — and promotes — that view.

"Unfortunately," Dobson explained, "the We Are Family foundation has very strong homosexual advocacy roots and biases."

For example, a tolerance pledge, which the foundation says it is "pleased to provide" on its Web site, reads in part: "I pledge to have respect for people whose abilities, beliefs, culture, race, sexual identity or other characteristics are different from my own."

And it's not the only piece of pro-homosexual content that has been posted on the group's Web site — some of it removed in recent days.

The curriculum booklet that will accompany the "We Are Family" DVD when it is sent to schools in March, for instance, is likely to contain resources for educators seeking to normalize homosexuality. Although that guide has not yet been made public, a 2003 manual, also associated with the "We Are Family" cartoon-character video, offered several exercises for educators that equate homosexuality with immutable characteristics, such as race or gender, and suggest it deserves limitless tolerance and acceptance.

Another previous curriculum posted on the We Are Family Foundation Web site, called "Writing for Change," includes exercises such as:

• Generating a Description - encourages students to discuss the definition of "lesbian."

• Talking About Being "Out" - offers worksheet questions and a discussion of "perceptions of sexual orientation."

• Uncovering Attitudes About Sexual Orientation - explores the impact of "homophobia" and "heterosexism."

• Developing definitions - presents a list of stereotypical definitions, including "compulsory heterosexuality." That is described "the assumption that women are naturally or innately drawn sexually and emotionally toward men, and men toward women; the view that heterosexuality is the "norm" for all sexual relationships."

"The institutionalization of heterosexuality in all aspects of society includes the idealization of heterosexual orientation, romance, and marriage," the guide states. "Compulsory heterosexuality leads to the notion of women as inherently 'weak,' and the institutionalized inequality of power: power of men to control women's sexuality, labor, childbirth and childrearing, physical movement, safety, creativity, and access to knowledge. It can also include legal and social discrimination against homosexuals and the invisibility or intolerance of lesbian and gay existence."

Tom Minnery, vice president of government and public policy at Focus on the Family, said reporters who have mocked Dobson for his comments have deliberately ignored these details in their quest to marginalize a pro-family leader.

"The media is trying to use this SpongeBob nonsense as a smokescreen, because they're not willing to tell the people what's really at stake," he explained. "What's at stake is the forced normalization of homosexuality in the public schools."

Dr. Bill Maier, Focus' psychologist in residence and a guest on today's broadcast, said he didn't think the media's efforts to undermine Dr. Dobson's integrity as a national spokesman for moral values would succeed.

"Clear-thinking Americans won't buy it," Maier said. "They've trusted Dr. Dobson for 27 years and will see through the media's SpongeBob charade."

[/font]

 

[chadfromdallas]

[font=Arial,Helv,Geneva] but was warning parents that the group behind a "diversity" video may put material in teachers' hands that could prompt them to teach kids that homosexuality is equivalent to heterosexuality.[/font]

And this is wrong why?

 

[peacefulgirl]

And this is wrong why?

taking from Dobson.... and your answer is in bold.

From the outset, let's be clear that this issue is not about objections to any specific cartoon characters. Instead, Dr. Dobson is concerned that these popular animated personalities are being exploited by an organization that's determined to promote the acceptance of homosexuality among our nation's youth.

We applaud the ideal of championing to children the value and dignity of every human life as well as respect for our differences. What we vehemently object to is using these beloved characters to help advance an agenda that's beyond the comprehension of 6 and 7 year-old children, not to mention morally offensive to millions of moms and dads.

The video in question is slated to be distributed to 61,000 public and private elementary schools throughout the United States. Where it is shown, schoolchildren will be left with the impression that their teachers are offering their endorsement of the values and agenda associated with the video's sponsor. While some of the goals associated with this organization are noble in nature, their inclusion of the reference to "sexual identity" within their "tolerance pledge" is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral line.

We believe that it is the privilege of parents to decide how, when and where it is appropriate to introduce their children to these types of sensitive issues. The distribution of this video trumps the authority of mothers and fathers and leaves it in the hands of strangers whose standards may very well be different than the children they teach.

By calling to light this video and its affiliation with this larger organization, we are attempting to do for parents what their busy lives often prevent them from doing themselves--connecting the dots.

 

[WorldlyWise]

Dr. James Dobson set the record straight today about the onslaught of media reports mocking him for comments he is alleged to have made about the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.

"I've been in the public eye for thirty-something years and I have never had my words more misrepresented than they were in this instance," Dobson said on today's installment of his internationally syndicated radio program. "I was said to be on the warpath for my dislike for SpongeBob — who supposedly has homosexual characteristics.

"I said no such thing."
[/size][/font]

Hmmm.... guess OP is full of beans.

 

[WWTBAMFAN]

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpmcc274126310jan27,0,50510.column

You can't say we couldn't see it coming. In 1994 the Rev. Joseph Chambers of Charlotte, N.C., tried to get Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie banned under under an anti-gay state law that existed at the time. The Pentecostal minister said he knew the puppets were gay because in one episode Bert taught Ernie to sew

A few years later the Rev. Jerry Falwell attacked Tinky Winky, the sweet-natured Teletubby on the children's TV show because Falwell claimed he was modeling the gay lifestyle.

Now James Dobson of the religiously conservative group Focus on the Family is accusing the producers of a music video for children, intended to promote social tolerance and featuring scores of beloved children's show characters, of promoting homosexuality.

Why? Because it shows SpongeBob SquarePants holding hands with his pal, a starfish.

That's scandalous behavior if I ever saw it, although I wonder if Dobson's real concern is over SpongeBob's sexual preference or whether he's a contraceptive device. It's too silly, and the affair makes Dobson look ridiculous. Yet while we laugh at this latest example of overreaching by Christian conservatives, it doesn't mean we shouldn't take them seriously. They often see insidious plots in the most innocuous aspects of popular culture. Now they're emboldened by support from the Bush administration, and are claiming credit for his re-election. While flexing their muscles in the past sometimes felt like a joke, now it could have serious consequences.

Knowing how to sew is a sign of being gay?

 

[robinb]

Knowing how to sew is a sign of being gay?

That sews it up! I'm definately hetro .