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Janet, Justin, Jesus and justices
Arkansas News Bureau ^ | Feb 8th,2004 | David Sanders

Posted on 02/08/2004 4:54:13 PM PST by missyme

For years, social conservatives have waged war for America's heart and soul against the cultural left's permissiveness, godlessness and excess. The battle has been waged in such a way that the left has successfully countered that the right is solely made up of narrow-minded, hyper-religious, uptight individuals.

In recent days the culture war's leftward momentum may have been slowed a bit. Conservatives, who feel the country has gone too far down the path of depravity, have had fuel added to their fire.

The case for decency received a shot in the arm in the wake of Janet Jackson's and Justin Timberlake's overexposing halftime performance at this year's Super Bowl. Industry executives constantly tell entertainers to be "edgier." What was different about Jackson's performance wasn't what was exposed - turn on MTV or any other television program that markets to America's youth and you'll receive both an eyeful and earful.

This time, it was the response that was different. Jackson's actions were met with universal contempt. It was clear that a line had been crossed and was done so in the middle of prime time on one of the most watched television events of the year. Mom and Dad probably got a little taste of what their kids have been watching for years.

I expected the criticism of Jackson to draw the ire of many in the entertainment industry. The knee-jerk reaction is to pull out the First Amendment and cry "censorship." Not this time. Jackson, producers of the show, as well as the network that aired it, were shamed into apologizing. When was the last time an entertainer was shamed into doing anything? The incident has sparked a new debate about decency on the airwaves.

The yet-to-be-released film, "The Passion of the Christ," has been the topic of much disparagement. The controversial film, directed and produced by Mel Gibson, has been highly criticized for being anti-Semitic and fueling hate for depicting the last 12 hours of Jesus' life as told in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The irony is that Hollywood criticizes Gibson's "Passion," but has lauded works such as Scorsese's "Last Temptation of Christ" and Kevin Smith's "Dogma." Both films were highly offensive to Christians, but no one seemed to care. Mainstream Christianity has long been a target of the cultural left.

Gibson has quieted the criticism in Hollywood by screening the film with some high-profile members of the entertainment industry. Jack Valente, Chuck Norris and others have praised the film for preaching forgiveness and love, not hate.

Many in the Christian community have viewed the attack on the film as a direct attack on their faith. They aim to show Hollywood that they support Gibson. Churches all over the country have purchased tickets to give away. From the pulpit, ministers have urged their members to go see the movie. Many expect that the film will be a box-office boom. Will that be enough to silence the critics? Nonetheless, faith will now be in the spotlight for weeks to come.

On Wednesday, the Massachusetts Supreme Court said that the state must afford gay couples the right to marry. It claimed that civil unions are not enough to prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Never before has the institution of marriage, which has been defined as the union of man and woman, taken such a blow. The Massachusetts justices' ruling could have a direct effect on the status of who can marry in the other 49 states.

The fear is that the court's ruling will set the stage for direct challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed by President Clinton, as well as other state laws which define marriage as a union of a man and woman. This fight has only begun.

The culture war continues.


TOPICS: Announcements; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: culturewar; superbowl; thepassion
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1 posted on 02/08/2004 4:54:14 PM PST by missyme
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To: missyme
Janet the Bare-Breast Jackson (Song)

(Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer melody)

You know Micheal and Marlon and Jacko and Tito
Randy and Jermaine and Rebbie and LaToya
But do you recall the most famous Jackson of all
Janet the Bare-Breast Jackson, had a very shiney nipple
And finally when she beared it, you would even see it’s pierced
But Janet’s father Joseph, use to scream and steal her Toys
He never let poor Janet, sing with all the Jackson Boys.

Then one foggy super bowl day, MTV came to say
Janet with your breasts so big, won’t you play our half-time gig
Then how the tabloids loved her, and they shouted out with glee
Janet the Bare-breast Jackson, your career is history


2 posted on 02/08/2004 4:57:01 PM PST by Always Right
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To: Always Right

"Stop calling me Nip!"

3 posted on 02/08/2004 5:04:46 PM PST by Paul Atreides (Is it really so difficult to post the entire article?)
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To: missyme
...Scorsese's "Last Temptation of Christ" and Kevin Smith's "Dogma." Both films were highly offensive to Christians...

I have seen both movies and I was not offended.

4 posted on 02/08/2004 5:15:07 PM PST by conserv13
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To: Always Right

Janet and I jammed all alone,
In a halftime show we called our own;
She flashed a grin and I started to hum,
I tell you what, we’d lots of fun.

Chorus:

Ha, ha, ha, you and me,
Little Brown Jug don’t I love thee;
Ha, ha, ha, you and me,
Little Brown Jug don’t I love thee.
If all the folks in Adam’s race,
Were gathered together in one place;
Then you’d prepare to shed your gear,
Before I’d part it from you, my dear.

’Tis you who makes my friends my foes,
’Tis you who makes me tear off your clothes;
Here you are, so near my nose,
So strip her off, and down it goes.

Chorus:

If I’d a cow that gave such milk,
I’d clothe her in the finest silk;
I’d feed her on the choicest hay,
And milk her forty times a day.

Chorus:

When I think of all the alarm,
I think little Brown Jug caused so much harm;
Though, it was under a little pastie,
Little Brown Jug, ’tis you and me. Chorus: The rose is red, my nose is, too,
The violet’s blue, and so are you;
And yet I guess I'd better stop
Before it takes another drop.

5 posted on 02/08/2004 5:21:51 PM PST by Paul Atreides (Is it really so difficult to post the entire article?)
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To: conserv13
I haven't seen either but I was never iterested....
6 posted on 02/08/2004 5:22:26 PM PST by missyme
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To: Paul Atreides
Justin Timberlake is a Troll He acts like a Michael Jackson wannabe what a thing to strive for....
7 posted on 02/08/2004 5:23:55 PM PST by missyme
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To: Always Right; Ragtime Cowgirl; Joy Angela; Alamo-Girl; risk; onyx; Republic
.

...After bare-ing her Right Breast to us and our children on National TV last Sunday...

...I wonder which Sexual-Abusing member of the JACKSON Family is being talked about by everyone,

...JANET or her very Legally at Risk brother MICHAEL..?

...Thought so.

...MARK GERAGOS, Defense Attorney to ROGER CLINTON, SCOTT PETERSON and MICHAEL JACKSON is but the latest Big Time disciple of the CLINTON Lifetime M.O. :


'It's the TV, Stupid, no matter WHO pays for it"


...Only now, we're all the ones doin' the payin'..!!!

.
8 posted on 02/08/2004 6:34:43 PM PST by ALOHA RONNIE (Vet-Battle of IA DRANG-1965 www.LZXRAY.com.)
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To: missyme
What would Jesus do at a Super Bowl halftime?
9 posted on 02/08/2004 6:37:03 PM PST by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything!")
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To: Revolting cat!
What would Jesus do at a Super Bowl halftime?

Change water into Bud Lite?
10 posted on 02/08/2004 7:10:55 PM PST by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
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To: missyme
Sadly, I understand McDonald's has vowed to keep him on as a representative of all that is best in Today's Youth. I guess they figure his latest bit of fame will sell a bunch of Big Macs for them.
11 posted on 02/08/2004 7:22:11 PM PST by madprof98
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To: gcruse
; )
12 posted on 02/08/2004 7:33:11 PM PST by shiva
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To: ALOHA RONNIE
Gotta agree with you on this one, Ronnie. Families used to watch the games together, and it was all about tradition, winning against all odds, and teamwork. Pre-game and half-time programs were a chance to highlight individual achievement and discuss past and present potentials. I can remember as well the highlights of super bowl urban history, perhaps patriotic themes in the northeast and industrial history in the midwest. It was always a family safe event.

Now we have MTV style entertainment, with all the risque and valueless options is offers. In the pre-game prgramming I happened to watch, Saturday Night Live's Jimmy Fallon kissed a male host in a sarcastic effort to demonstrate that he wasn't being a macho jock by comedy guest hosting with the other two MTV-style hail and greet hosts. His entire demeanor exuded distaste for football. He was a sort of standup guy for downfallen family values and his disdain for tradition both in not knowing anything interesting about football and in demonstrating it was obvious.

So it was absolutely no surprise to me when Janet and Justin paraded onstage in their S&M follies.

Is anyone surprised that Americans aren't happy to see their traditions lampooned by unworthy entertainers who haven't acheived much more than lipsynching bravado?

I found it nauseating, as much the impropriety as from the lost traditions. As one FReeper so aptly wrote, responsible men do not watch pornography in their living rooms with their wives and underage children. But the NFL assumes that they should, and that the next generation actually prefers this. I hope that's seen as wrong in every way.
13 posted on 02/08/2004 8:44:35 PM PST by risk
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To: ALOHA RONNIE
Thanks for the ping!
14 posted on 02/08/2004 8:52:22 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Alamo-Girl; ALOHA RONNIE
The other thing that annoys me about the NFL's choice for entertainment this superbowl is more complicated to explain. I think Ronnie alluded to it. Isn't it somehow wrong that a family that refuses to denounce one of its members' child abuse can still be rewarded with millions of dollars in contracts? Doesn't that send the wrong message to our youth? In other words, doesn't it tell the young that no matter how deep the errors of their ways, if they can stay popular enough, no harm to them will come? This could explain why "any publicity is good publicity."

Why should we be surprised that Janet wants more bad publicity when she's not willing to denounce her vile brother's abuse?
15 posted on 02/08/2004 9:03:27 PM PST by risk
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To: risk
It does not surprise me. Since God was kicked out of the public schools, there has been little to stop the move towards moral ambiguity (in my humble opinion). That in turn causes a revulsion by social conservatives - hence the right and left are hardening in their positions and the number in the middle, shrinking.

My two cents...

16 posted on 02/08/2004 9:14:17 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Alamo-Girl
I don't see why we can't maintain complete religious neutrality in the classroom and still use the KJV bible as a historical literature text at all levels. It would improve grammar skills, vocabulary, and come at an affordable price. The P.C. nuts would have a fit, though.
17 posted on 02/08/2004 9:25:31 PM PST by risk
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To: risk
Indeed. Introducing the Bible in such a fashion would be fought vigorous by the left while at the same time allowing all kinds of strange ideology to be promoted at the taxpayer's expense.
18 posted on 02/08/2004 9:31:48 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Alamo-Girl; risk
.

What a positively brilliant discussion you both are having for the rest of us to enjoy on Freerepublic.com,

...the Voice of...

...CLARITY...

...in a Sea of Confusion.

.
19 posted on 02/08/2004 9:46:19 PM PST by ALOHA RONNIE (Vet-Battle of IA DRANG-1965 www.LZXRAY.com.)
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To: gcruse
And stand in line like the rest of us... that's the beauty of the Christ.
20 posted on 02/08/2004 10:09:05 PM PST by des
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