SpongeBob, Barney promote 'gay tolerance (FedEx to Sponsor in Gov't Schools)

WorldNetDaily ^ | January 6, 2005

[NYer]

In a new video to be distributed to 61,000 schools across the nation, homosexual activists are using popular children's TV characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Barney the dinosaur to surreptitiously indoctrinate young children into their lifestyle, a pro-family activist group charges.

SpongeBob Squarepants is one of the popular children's TV characters appearing in a new 'tolerance' video.

Based on the 1970s hit song "We Are Family," the video will be distributed to public and private elementary schools nationwide March 11, along with lesson plans for teachers, points out the American Family Association.

The distribution, sponsored by FedEx, will coincide with the video's broadcast March 11 on Nickelodeon, PBS, and the Disney Channel in celebration of the proposed National We Are Family Day.

AFA researcher Ed Vitagliano sees the project as an "open door" to a secondary discussion of homosexuality, noting the the foundation has a "tolerance pledge" on its website that children and others are encouraged to sign, which includes sexual orientation. [Editor's note: This story previously linked to the website of a group that has the same name but no connection to the video. WND regrets the error.]

"While we want everyone to respect other people's beliefs, we do not consider it appropriate for children's television to be used in an effort to indoctrinate children to accept homosexuality," he said.

Vitagliano says the foundation is employing a bait-and-switch approach, with popular children's figures such as Arthur, Dora the Explorer, JoJo, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Big Bird and Bob the Builder.

The objective is to get children to the foundation's website "and there they're given the full pitch about homosexuality," he said.

Video producer Christopher Cerf called the video an "unprecedented event."

"For the first time characters from all of the important kids shows came together to appear in the same video," he said in a November news release. "The producers and performers from each show embraced the spirit and message of this project."

The We Are Family Foundation was founded by singer-songwriter Nile Rodgers, who wrote the hit song recorded in 1979 by Sister Sledge.

The video was financed by a grant from the Toni Mendez Shapiro estate.

"Cooperation and unity are the most important values we can teach children," Rodgers said. "We believe that this is the essential first step to loving thy neighbor."

The We Are Family Foundation says its partners in the production are the Anti-Defamation League, Crown Theatres, Disney Channel, FedEx, Nickelodeon, HIT Entertainment, Nile Rodgers/Sony Publishing/The Bernard Edwards Estate/Warner Chapel, Nelvana, PBS, Scholastic, Sesame Workshop, Toni Mendez Shapiro Estate, and WGBH-TV in Boston.

A Federal Express spokesman said the company is "proud" to provide shipping for the project.

"Promoting diversity is part of our corporate culture at FedEx," said William G. Margaritis, senior vice president, worldwide corporate communications.

Characters appearing in the video are from award-winning shows including "Arthur," "Barney," "Bear in the Big Blue House," "Between the Lions," "Blue's Clues, Bob the Builder," "The Book of Pooh," "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Dora the Explorer," "Jimmy Neutron," "JoJo's Circus," "Kim Possible," "Lilo & Stitch: The Series," "Little Mermaid," "Madeline," "The Magic School Bus," "The Muppet Show," "The Proud Family," "Rugrats," "Sesame Street," "SpongeBob SquarePants," and "Zoom."

The video also features cameo appearances by entertainers Bill Cosby, Diana Ross and Whoopi Goldberg.

[garbanzo]

Garbanzo, you claim to be an atheist. I doubt that - an agnostic, perhaps.

By definition, a theist is a person who believes in a god. Consequentially, an atheist is someone who is without, or lacks belief in a god. I am an atheist because I lack an affirmative belief in a god. I am also an aleprechaunist as well. Agnosticism is simply a pretty politically correct means of saying atheist.

[garbanzo]

Anybody know what the heck Barney and SpongeBob will be saying to promote 'tolerance' with respect to sexual identity?

Nothing. They will sing a chorus of a Slster Sledge song, "We are Family". The furor is over supplementary materials on a website that is approximately two links away from the website of the group promoting the Barney/Spongebob video.

[weegee]

Agnostics say "don't know" whereas atheists say "I know/believe that there is No god". The athiest has no proof of his position, he takes it on faith.

There is a subtle difference between agnostic and atheist.

Some atheists are rabid about it and want every trace of religious expression supressed in the public arena. They force their "no god" on everyone else.

Some rabid atheists, like Madilyn Murray O'Hare even formalize their atheism into an institutional religion.

[VastRWCon]

garbanzo Your gay right? Thought so. I learned this in kindergarden: Square peg does not fit in round hole. What don't you get?

[Wormwood]

Agnosticism is simply a pretty politically correct means of saying atheist.

I'm with you on this.

Bering agnostic is like being bisexual. Pick a side, dammit! ;)

/Wormwood, athiest

[Cogadh na Siths Girl]

Thanks to all for the fun, informative discussion today, but Cogadh na Sith is home, and will most likely want to use the 'puter, so i'll be signing-off now.

Happy trails!

[garbanzo]

Agnostics say "don't know" whereas atheists say "I know/believe that there is No god". The athiest has no proof of his position, he takes it on faith.

No they don't. The very word "atheist" is like "aleprechuanist" - without a belief in (god/leprechauns). There is no separate concept for "not knowing" whether or not there are leprechauns, either one accepts the existence of leprechauns or you don't. Similarly if one "doesn't know" or "doesn't care" if god exists, then you are an atheist, you are without a god.

[garbanzo]

garbanzo Your gay right?

Sorry dude, but I'm hetero.

[Yaelle]

I pledge to have respect for people whose abilities, beliefs, culture, race, sexual identity or other characteristics are different from my own.

Or other characteristics?? Like if my new coach likes to pull down my pants? Or if I saw Uncle Steve steal a CD from the store? Or if Dad smokes crack and leaves me in the car to wait for him? Or if my friend likes to torture kittens in his backyard?

Can we just teach the kids right from wrong, and to respect everyone unless someone is doing wrong?

[coydog]

SpongeBob seems to have acquired a huge resonance with gays, don't ask me why. A store I know of that caters mostly to gays and lesbians was crammed with SpongBob stuff.

[weegee]

http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/About.asp

The We Are Family Project was started in response to the events of September 11th. Legendary songwriter/producer Nile Rodgers and Tommy Boy Music president, Tom Silverman gathered together 200 celebrities on the weekend of September 22, 2001 to re-record Nile's world renown hit song "We Are Family" as a beginning towards the healing process.

The recording sessions that weekend proved the song's power to give hope and allow people to feel better through an uplifting beat and a message of unity.

The power of "We Are Family" continued.

Shortly after the "adult" recording, the world of children's television came together for the first time in history and recorded their version of the song with over 100 beloved characters.

The music video aired simultaneously as a Public Service Announcement on PBS, Nickelodeon and Disney Channel on March 11, 2002 and September 11, 2002 with a unified message our common humanity and idea of a global family.

Nile had no idea that the hit song he and his late music partner Bernard Edwards wrote for Sister Sledge in 1979 would be a part of history again by helping to bring people together and giving hope that we can live together in a peaceful world.

The We Are Family Foundation is a not-for-profit 501 c 3 corporation formed in July 2002 to continue the work of promoting our common humanity and the vision of a global family through the use of a simple song and message - We Are Family.

[Boazo]

You mean O'Hare in a drum?

[weegee]

http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/Article_PR_ChildDVD.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Over 100 Beloved Children's Characters Unite in Unprecedented Recording November 10, 2004

November 10, 2004, NEW YORK – Arthur, Barney, Bear, Big Bird, Clifford, JoJo and SpongeBob, as well as over 100 other beloved children's characters, have united to re-record the smash hit "We Are Family" in an unprecedented music video to

promote tolerance and diversity to America's children. The video, which demonstrates to children the importance of togetherness embodied in the word “family”, will be distributed to 61,000 public and private elementary schools in the United States on March 11, 2005, in celebration of the proposed National We Are Family Day.

The We Are Family Foundation together with its partners the Anti-Defamation League, Crown Theatres, Disney Channel, FedEx, Nickelodeon, HIT Entertainment, Nile Rodgers/Sony Publishing/The Bernard Edwards Estate/Warner Chapel, Nelvana, PBS, Scholastic, Sesame Workshop, Toni Mendez Shapiro Estate, and WGBH have come together to produce and distribute this unprecedented children's educational music video and curriculum. The characters appearing in the video are from award-winning shows including Arthur, Barney, Bear in the Big Blue House, Between the Lions, Blue's Clues, Bob the Builder, The Book of Pooh, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Dora the Explorer, Jimmy Neutron, JoJo's Circus, Kim Possible, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Little Mermaid, Madeline, The Magic School Bus, The Muppet Show, The Proud Family, Rugrats, Sesame Street, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Zoom, among others. The video, which also features cameo appearances by Bill Cosby, Diana Ross and Whoopi Goldberg, will air simultaneously on Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and PBS on March 11, 2005 as a Public Service Announcement. A PSA will also air in Crown Theatres across the nation.

"This is an unprecedented event: for the first time characters from all of the important kids' shows came together to appear in the same video," stated Christopher Cerf, award-winning children's TV/music producer, who, along with Mitchell Kriegman, president of Shadow Projects, spearheaded production. "The producers and performers from each show embraced the spirit and message of this project. They were thrilled to allow their characters to appear with other characters from different shows simply because they understood the importance and meaning behind 'We Are Family.'"

“Cooperation and unity are the most important values we can teach children. We believe that this is the essential first step to loving thy neighbor,” says Nile Rodgers, co-writer of the song “We Are Family” and founder of the We Are Family Foundation. “And the fun and exciting format makes it a lesson that's easy for children to learn.”

The special DVD includes opening and closing wrap-around comments from characters spreading the message of diversity and unity as well as a "sing along" version of the song. Additionally, there is a special introduction by FedEx, who has generously donated their services to deliver these educational packages to the U.S. public school district offices as well as to private schools nationwide. "FedEx is proud to provide in-kind shipping for the We Are Family project. Promoting diversity is part of our corporate culture at FedEx. As a multinational corporation, diversity is not just a people issue, it's a business issue. We value the diversity of our employees, customers and suppliers. Helping to deliver the We Are Family Foundation messages of respect, understanding and appreciation of differences to our nation's schoolchildren is a natural extension of how we do business,” states William G. Margaritis, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Corporate Communications.

Each package will include a DVD of the music video and a booklet containing educational lesson plans developed in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League's Miller Early Childhood Initiative of A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ® Institute. The lessons aim to put the video's themes of respect, understanding and appreciation of diversity into practice and are designed for pre-K through first grade audiences with additional teaching guidelines for grades two to six.

All teaching guides will be available for download from both the Anti-Defamation League (www.adl.org) and We Are Family Foundation (www.wearefamilyfoundation.org) Web sites. In addition, a preview of the children's video is available at the We Are Family Foundation Web site.

Production of this major initiative has been funded by a grant from the Toni Mendez Shapiro Estate. "We Are Family" is used courtesy of Nile Rodgers / Sony Publishing and Bernard Edwards Estate / Warner Chappel.


THE PARTNERS

Anti-Defamation League - A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ® Institute
The Anti-Defamation League's A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ® Institute is a leading provider of anti-bias and diversity education training programs used by schools, universities, corporations, community organizations, and law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. and abroad. The origins of the A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ® Institute date back to 1985, when ADL and WCVB-TV in Boston initiated the A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE campaign, a year-long series of education and media-driven programs designed to combat prejudice and create effective tools to address these issues in the classroom and community. The campaign's immense success led to ongoing programs and the 1992 official launch of the A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ® Institute, comprised of four distinct departments – CLASSROOM, CAMPUS, COMMUNITY and WORKPLACE. The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is one of the nation's premier human relations and civil rights agencies and is dedicated in purpose and program to combating anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defending democratic ideals and protecting civil rights for all.

Crown Theatres
Crown Theatres, L.P., one of the premiere motion picture exhibition companies in America, is a 182 Screen Motion Picture Theatre Circuit based at 64 North Main St., South Norwalk, CT 06854 with theatres in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada and Florida.

Disney Channel
Disney Channel is the only television network dedicated to kid-driven, family inclusive programming 24 hours a day. In the most recent Nielsen Media Research monthly data (October 2004), Disney Channel primetime is #1 with Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14. Disney Channel's lineup, featuring original live action and animated series and movies plus contemporary acquired programming, reflects kids' life experiences and incorporates the multiplicity of today's world, including people of many cultures, religions, geographic locales and physical and mental capabilities. The network's "Express Yourself" campaign featuring Disney Channel stars encouraging viewers to embrace and accept their differences also supports its dedication to communication, diversity and optimism. Playhouse Disney, a programming block for the youngest viewers, features learning-based programming that invites co-viewing with parents and caregivers. All Playhouse Disney programming is guided by a "Whole Child Curriculum," a philosophy that suggests intelligence and learning go far beyond verbal and quantitative skills like memorizing the alphabet and learning to count. Available on basic cable in over 85 million homes, Disney Channel is part of Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company.

FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $26 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 240,000 employees and contractors to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit fedex.com.

HIT Entertainment PLC
Established in 1989, HIT Entertainment PLC (www.hitentertainment.com) is one of the world's leading preschool children's entertainment producers and rights owners. With operations in the U.S., UK, Canada, Japan and Germany, the company's activities span television production and distribution, home entertainment, consumer products, publishing and live events. HIT's portfolio of internationally renowned children's brands, such as Bob the Builder ™, Barney™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™ , Rubbadubbers™ and Angelina Ballerina™ are enjoyed by children in over 180 countries. In the U.S., UK and Canada, HIT Entertainment also acts as a representative for the popular preschool property, The Wiggles ® . Additionally, HIT owns the Guinness World Records Ô publishing and television property. HIT is committed to providing enduring entertainment that supports the values of devoted caregivers and empowers young children with a positive approach to life.

Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is one of the world's leading international producers and distributors of children's programming and products. Its current stable of franchise properties includes Emmy Award ® -winning and globally renowned brands such as Babar , Franklin , Maurice Sendak's Little Bear , The Berenstain Bears and Beyblade . Nelvana is owned by Corus Entertainment, a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in both specialty TV and Radio. The company's other interests include music, television broadcasting and advertising services. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) Exchanges. Corus' website can be found at www.corusentertainment.com .

Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, the only network that puts kids first, launched in 1979 and has grown to become the most-watched television network by kids in the United States and basic cable's number-one network overall. Nickelodeon's "kids first" philosophy is the key element to its business successes, which in addition to television now includes feature films, consumer products, records, online, recreation and publishing. Nickelodeon television programming is seen in more than 86 million households in the United States and 471 million households globally in 161 territories via channels, branded program blocks and international program sales. Nickelodeon operates 29 channels across Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim, CIS/Baltic Republics, Europe, Latin America and the United States.


PBS
PBS is a private, nonprofit media enterprise that serves the nation's 349 public noncommercial television stations, reaching over 90 million people each week through on-air and online content. Bringing diverse viewpoints to television and the Internet, PBS provides high-quality documentary and dramatic entertainment, and consistently dominates the most prestigious award competitions. PBS is the leading provider of educational materials for K-12 teachers, and offers a broad array of educational services for adult learners. PBS' premier kids' TV programming and Web sites - pbskids.org and pbskidsgo.org - continue to be parents' and teachers' most trusted learning environments for children. More information about PBS is available at pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet, averaging more than 30 million unique visitors and 380 million page views per month in 2004. PBS is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in children's lives around the world. Founded in 1968, the Workshop changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street . Today, the Workshop continues to innovate on behalf of children in 120 countries, using its proprietary research methodology to ensure its programs and products are engaging and enriching. Sesame Workshop is behind award-winning programs like Dragon Tales and Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat and ground breaking multimedia productions in South Africa, Egypt and Russia. As a nonprofit, Sesame Workshop puts the proceeds it receives from sales of Sesame Street , Dragon Tales and Sagwa products right back into its educational projects for children around the world. Find the Workshop online at www.sesameworkshop.org .

Scholastic Entertainment
Scholastic Entertainment (SE) is a leading producer of quality, family-oriented feature films, television programming, videos, and web sites and is a major developer and marketer of children's brands worldwide. SE produces the award-winning, top-rated animated series Clifford The Big Red Dog Ò (PBS KIDS Ò ); the spin-off to this hit series, Clifford's Puppy Days™ (PBS KIDS) ; the Emmy-award winning series I SPY (HBO Family) and The Magic School Bus Ò (TLC), starring Lily Tomlin; the award-winning Dear America Ò series; and the popular kids' adventure series Animorphs ® and Goosebumps Ò . This fall, SE's new series, Maya & Miguel ™, debuted on PBS KIDS GO!. Scholastic Entertainment's critically acclaimed feature films include Clifford's Really Big Movie , The Baby-sitters Club , The Indian in the Cupboard , and The Mighty. SE also recently announced that it will produce the award-winning Philip Pullman trilogy, His Dark Materials, for New Line Cinema . Scholastic Entertainment is the entertainment and media division of Scholastic.

We Are Family Foundation
The We Are Family Foundation (WAFF), a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 2002 by legendary songwriter/producer Nile Rodgers. WAFF celebrates our common humanity and the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that inspire and educate individuals of all ages about diversity, understanding and multiculturalism. www.wearefamilyfoundation.org.

WGBH
WGBH Boston is the producer of award-winning children's series such as Arthur (produced with Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc.), Between the Lions (produced with Sirius Thinking, Ltd), Postcards from Buster (produced with Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. in association with Marc Brown Studios) and ZOOM , airing on PBS and Peep and the Big Wide World (produced with 9 Story Entertainment in association with TV Ontario and Discovery Kids) airing on Discovery. Under the leadership of vice president Brigid Sullivan, the WGBH children's lineup leads the field in educational multimedia (including the Web, broadband, and interactive television) and in technologies and services that make media accessible for people with disabilities. WGBH's current children's series have been recognized with some of the world's most prestigious awards, including 10 Emmys, the George Foster Peabody award, three Prix Jeunesse awards, a BAFTA, and more than half a dozen Parents' Choice awards.

[weegee]

http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/tolerance_pledge.asp

The We Are Family Foundation is pleased to provide Tolerance.org's Declaration of Tolerance, part of the Southern Poverty Law Center's National Campaign for Tolerance

Tolerance is a personal decision that comes from a belief that every person is a treasure. I believe that America's diversity is its strength. I also recognize that ignorance, insensitivity and bigotry can turn that diversity into a source of prejudice and discrimination.

To help keep diversity a wellspring of strength and make America a better place for all, I pledge to have respect for people whose abilities, beliefs, culture, race, sexual identity or other characteristics are different from my own.

[garbanzo]

And your point is? Spongebob has nothing to do with the teaching materials other than singing a song...

[Smartass]

QUEER EYED BOB, IS NOT OK!

[weegee]

http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/TEACHERS/NCCEVWarGuide_Teacher.asp



"Teachers should be careful not to impose their own political beliefs on students."

Yes, that could put their 501c3 tax-exempt status in jeopardy.

[borntobeagle]

The Company on your list that has me the most disappointed is Scholastic.

As a HS mom, I have been able to purchase books through warehouse clearances that I may not have been able to afford otherwise. They have been a valuable resource in the past. I hate to have to let them go.

And for you PS parents, Scholastic is the monthly book magazine that your teacher sends home with your child; offering you the opportunity to purchase books at a substantially lower cost.

Just an FYI for future reference

[DaveTesla]

Brought to you by the people that can't even figure out
how to get my packages delivered on time (Fed-X). Instead
of taking care of their business the are now experts in
morals (the package thing was too tough) and need to
to correct us stupid Christian’s on how to raise our children.
This seems to be self-perpetuating. The dolts that go
to work for these companies got all this leftist Babylon
crap brainwashed into them from the colleges and
universities. Now they are going to use stockholders money
and the package delivery business to carry on their disease.
Mean while I will instruct my people to use UPS instead.
Faithful Christian’s should not give their business to companies
who wish to teach their children Idol worship.
Seems Fed-x wants to go into a different type of package
delivery business.