Sorry about that-
Happy little SpongeBob too gay for US conservatives
January 21, 2005
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SpongeBob SquarePants ... accused of appearing in a "pro-homosexual video".
On the heels of electoral victories to bar same-sex marriage, some influential conservative Christian groups are turning their attention to a new target: the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.
"Does anybody here know SpongeBob?" Dr James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, asked guests on Tuesday at a black-tie dinner for members of Congress and political allies.
In many circles, SpongeBob needs no introduction. He is popular among children as well as adults who watch him cavorting under the sea on the Nickelodeon cartoon program that bears his name. In addition, he has become a well-known camp figure among adult gay men, perhaps because he holds hands with his animated sidekick Patrick and likes to watch the imaginary television show The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy.
Now, Dr Dobson said, SpongeBob's creators had enlisted him in a "pro-homosexual video", in which he appeared alongside other children's television characters. The makers of the video, he said, planned to mail it to thousands of schools this northern spring to promote a "tolerance pledge" that includes tolerance for differences of "sexual identity".
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The video's creator, Nile Rodgers, who wrote the disco hit We Are Family and led the group Chic, says Dr Dobson's objection stemmed from a misunderstanding. Rodgers said he founded the We Are Family Foundation after the September 11 attacks to create a music video featuring 100 well-known cartoon characters dancing to his song to teach children about multiculturalism.
Nothing in the video or its accompanying materials refers to sexual identity.
Rodgers suggested that Dr Dobson might have been confused because of an unrelated website belonging to another group called We Are Family. That site is owned by a South Carolina group aimed at supporting gay youth
Happy little SpongeBob too gay for US conservatives
January 21, 2005
Page Tools
SpongeBob SquarePants ... accused of appearing in a "pro-homosexual video".
On the heels of electoral victories to bar same-sex marriage, some influential conservative Christian groups are turning their attention to a new target: the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.
"Does anybody here know SpongeBob?" Dr James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, asked guests on Tuesday at a black-tie dinner for members of Congress and political allies.
In many circles, SpongeBob needs no introduction. He is popular among children as well as adults who watch him cavorting under the sea on the Nickelodeon cartoon program that bears his name. In addition, he has become a well-known camp figure among adult gay men, perhaps because he holds hands with his animated sidekick Patrick and likes to watch the imaginary television show The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy.
Now, Dr Dobson said, SpongeBob's creators had enlisted him in a "pro-homosexual video", in which he appeared alongside other children's television characters. The makers of the video, he said, planned to mail it to thousands of schools this northern spring to promote a "tolerance pledge" that includes tolerance for differences of "sexual identity".
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The video's creator, Nile Rodgers, who wrote the disco hit We Are Family and led the group Chic, says Dr Dobson's objection stemmed from a misunderstanding. Rodgers said he founded the We Are Family Foundation after the September 11 attacks to create a music video featuring 100 well-known cartoon characters dancing to his song to teach children about multiculturalism.
Nothing in the video or its accompanying materials refers to sexual identity.
Rodgers suggested that Dr Dobson might have been confused because of an unrelated website belonging to another group called We Are Family. That site is owned by a South Carolina group aimed at supporting gay youth
RussDill
Philosopher
ok...so they'd rather teach kids to be intolerant and hatefull of homosexual peers, because after all, isn't intolerance what christianity is all about?
Tony
Penultimate Amazing
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RussDill said:
[russdill pc mode]The behavior that you attribute to christians can also be attributed to muslims. Interolerance based on their religion is not restricted to christians.
[/russdill pc mode]
But seriously, I think silly objections to stuff like this is counterproductive to the fundie community. More than anything, it runs the risk of turning them into laughing stock. Not a bad thing really.
Bikewer
Penultimate Amazing
First those kinky little teletubbies, now Spongebob. Will these assaults on our values never ceases.
Does anyone know what holds the Little Mermaid's clamshells on?
Does anyone know what holds the Little Mermaid's clamshells on?
Lisa Simpson
Unregistered
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hgc
Penultimate Amazing
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The current faithful buy this stuff hook, line and sinker. The leadership has a balancing act between being taken seriously by marginal adherents and keeping the true believers interested. The very red meat that sustains the movement is inevitably repulsive outside the movement.Tony said:
Skeptical Greg
Agave Wine Connoisseur
Why should we surprised that people who believe all the goofy stuff in the Bible, and empty their pockets to those who feed it to them, have a problem with the alleged gay agenda of Spongebob Squarepants?
Does anyone else think Sandy is hot? Ooooooo, that Texas accent..
Does anyone else think Sandy is hot? Ooooooo, that Texas accent..
RussDill
Philosopher
KelvinG said:
I realize you may have those urges, but I think if we can eliminate poverty, the problem will go away.
Risk
Posted by Tony, "More than anything, it runs the risk of turning them into laughing stock."
Risk? I'd say it is a slam dunk. I think they should all cover themselves when they become silly boobs - where's Ashcroft when you need him
At least sex with Spongebob wouldn't stain the sheets
Bentspoon
Posted by Tony, "More than anything, it runs the risk of turning them into laughing stock."
Risk? I'd say it is a slam dunk. I think they should all cover themselves when they become silly boobs - where's Ashcroft when you need him
At least sex with Spongebob wouldn't stain the sheets
Bentspoon
Skeptical Greg
Agave Wine Connoisseur
Re: Risk
Apparently you haven't seen ' Suds '...
Bentspoon said:
Apparently you haven't seen ' Suds '...
Actually, I would send them a whole list of other cartoon characters from around the world, and make highly tenuous connections to any of their current hot-button subjects. Iw ould encourage them to get even more outraged over even sillier subjects, and the more public the better.
Sooner or later, either one of their peers is going whack them on the forehead with a spoon and tell them they are in danger of being publicly committed to bedlam and would they kindly shut the hell up, or they will explode with righteous indignation. It's sort of like watching one of those strongmen blowing up a hot-water bottle...amusing but filled with tension!
Sooner or later, either one of their peers is going whack them on the forehead with a spoon and tell them they are in danger of being publicly committed to bedlam and would they kindly shut the hell up, or they will explode with righteous indignation. It's sort of like watching one of those strongmen blowing up a hot-water bottle...amusing but filled with tension!
C'mon folks...Spongebob is obviously as gay as a ceramic thimble! I mean really...'bob'? And isn't a sponge a contraceptive device? Doesn't he live in 'Bikini Bottom ?
As a matter of fact aren't all cartoons really carrying the gay agenda flag? They are irrisistable to children because they are different and we all know what different means, nudge nudge, say no more!
What the Christian right has to do is do away with different! Imagine a world without gays, blacks, Muslims, Atheists, and those particularily despicable Dutch! Everyone looking the same, acting the same, doing the same, worshipping the same God (and I don't mean that evil Catholic god or blasphemous Allah or that vile Presbyterian god).
As a matter of fact aren't all cartoons really carrying the gay agenda flag? They are irrisistable to children because they are different and we all know what different means, nudge nudge, say no more!
What the Christian right has to do is do away with different! Imagine a world without gays, blacks, Muslims, Atheists, and those particularily despicable Dutch! Everyone looking the same, acting the same, doing the same, worshipping the same God (and I don't mean that evil Catholic god or blasphemous Allah or that vile Presbyterian god).