Posted on 01/26/2005 9:58:34 PM PST by Mockingbird For Short
Dr. Dobson Takes on Media over 'SpongeBob' Controversy
by Gary Schneeberger, editor
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."
TAKE ACTION Want to hold the media accountable for their misreporting of the Dr. Dobson's comments regarding SpongeBob SquarePants? We've made it easy for you. Just click here, and you'll find out how you can send one e-mail message to five of the reporters/anchors whose stories included the most baseless attacks on Dr. Dobson.
I like Dr. Dobson he's a good man.
Thought you'd be interested, if you hadn't already seen this article.
Ping; I read this article earlier at Focus on the Family, and sent a scathing e-mail from his site.
If you get a chance, listen to the first five minutes of today's broadcast. I got bored with Michael Savage this evening at work and switched over to the local Christian radio station, and whose voice do I hear but Dr. Dobson's? He was talking about this controversy and how the media distorted his comments. It's all in the first 3 to 5 minutes. http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Focus_on_the_Family/
Me too. He's one of the few NORMAL Christians in the spotlight. (I mean, you know how many high-profile Christians are really weird?)
Thanks, EdReform. Bayb and Petronius did an awesome job on this story. Dr. Dobson must've gotten word about some of this, because he mentioned tonight how "We Are Family" removed many of their web pages.
They most certainly have....and they've removed even more in the past 24 hours.
Do you suppose this means that they are re-writing the curriculum so that it's not giving a plug for homosexuality? ; )
You're welcome! I posted the link in this thread for those who may have missed it.
Uh.....NOT!
You sure did post an article with some of the same comments I just made in another thread! Sometimes I just shake my head at the willfull ignorance of some folks. Thanks for the ping.
Apparently we should post that link in every thread until everyone realizes what's really going on.
I agree, as well.
Good post. This answers the smear job coming from the scumbag left. I had been wondering if Dobson finally lost his marbles. He hasn't.
LOL! SpongeBob's cool. Ever seen the episode where he and Patrick are having a snowball fight in Bikini Bottom? That was the first one I ever saw, and I thought "Man, whoever comes up with this stuff is reaaaaalllly good." I found the movie disappointing, though. I saw it with my [gay] brother; he was equally impressed.
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