I have been doing some research on my own on this video and came across this thread via Google so thought I would chime in.
Well. after reading these two articles (#1: http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/42005c.asp; #2: http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/102005a.asp), The skeptic in me said that it could not be THAT bad, so I did some checking. I went to the website that the video will be advertising -- http://wearefamilyfoundation.org -- and looked for myself. All I found was a lot of generic language on tolerance and lots of information about the March 2005 video and the media/educational campaign that follows . . . UNTIL I dug a little deeper. There is a convenient "Search" bar on the site so I helped myself to see if anyterms like "sexual" or "sex" might be found on the list (even in terms such as Sexism). I found it peculiar that no listings were found. I tried several other terms that would appy and got no "hits." I decided to peruse the site myself only to find the term "sexual" listed in a few places, therefore telling me that the search engine was obviously not indexing the entire site and was apparently only providing pre-screened content. Thank heavens for Google!! I ran the following Advanced Search on Google (you can copy and past this and do the search yourself!): [ sexual site:wearefamilyfoundation.org ]. (Also you can simply click here: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2004-49,RNWE:en&q=sexual+site%3Awearefamilyfoundation%2Eorg )
I got SEVEN hits which I have viewed and I will comment on each of them below. {Keep in mind that, as the prviously posted articles say, the basic goal of the kids video (and the media frenzy that will most assuredly accompany it) is to not only promote so- called "tolerance" but to re-direct the viewers (children, teachers, parents) back to the "We Are Family" website for more information and resources.}
1. http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/TEACHERS/wfc_s1.asp (Worksheet -- part of item 3, below, asking questions to prompt writing on sexual orientation of fellow students and the feelings the knowledge of their orientation generates)
2. http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/tolerance_pledge.asp (Tolerance Pledge that includes "...I pledge to have respect for people whose ... sexual identity [among other items listed]... [is] different from my own."
3. http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/TEACHERS/wfc_use.asp ("Using This Guide" part of "Writing for Tolerance", includes the hope that this guide will "...reach people in a broad range of ages, classes, sexual orientations, [list continues] ...)
4. http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/TEACHERS/wfc_resources.asp (list of resources including: American Psychological Association. "Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality." Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, 1998. By the Way, this is the FIRST resource listed!!; Also listed: Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. "Faith in Our Families: Parents, Families and Friends Talk About Religion and Homosexuality." Washington, DC: Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, 1999. Of course, NO listings by PFOX or any other pro-gay-change/ex-gay resource)
5. http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/ADL_101Ways_YourComm.htm (101 Ways to Combat Prejudice #93: Meet with school and community librarians and local bookstores to discuss ways to highlight literature that is representative of all cultures and sexual orientations. #40: Organize a No-Ethnic/Homophobic Humor Open-Mike Nite featuring stand-up comedy by students. #14: Initiate classroom discussions of terms such as anti-Semitism, racism, sexism, homophobia and bias. Then compose a list of definitions and post it in a prominent place; ALSO, under Subtitle: "Developing A Common Language" is this: Heterosexism -- Heterosexism is prejudice and/or discrimination against people who are or who are perceived to be lesbian, gay or bisexual. Homophobia is the irrational fear of people who are believed to be lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
6. http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/PrinterFriendyPages/Article_MissAmerica.htm ("Miss America 2004 -- Tolerance Out, Understanding In" By Lauren Parker {Interviewing the Current Miss America, who is African-American}: "Dunlap also explains that 'acceptance' needs to spread far beyond black-white race issues, and far beyond race in general. 'America isn't just black and white, so I don't approach my platform from just a racial standpoint,' she says. 'It's about uplifting everyone--people of all varied religious beliefs, sexual orientations, class differences, cultural diversities, and the like.' "
7. http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/PDFs/WeAreFamily-guide.pdf ("We Are Family" Guide Activities geared to grades Pre-K through Grade 12, including: {from high school activity -- "Pyramid of Hate"} "...Ask the students if they can think of examples of genocide that occured due to race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, etc...."; {also from "Pyramid of Hate"} Student Handout including these questions: Have you Ever... Overheard a joke that made fun of a person of a different ethnic background, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation? Have You Ever... Been the target of name calling because of your ethnic group, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation? Have You Ever... Engaged in stereotyping (lumping together all people of a particular race, religion, or sexual orientation?)
Ping to NYer, scripter and EdReform for look at post 160.
( Archived as reply 386 in Scripter's Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Revision 1.1) thread. )
I replied to myself so as not to offend anyone! -- but it is meant for ALL!)
What the liberal media fails to realize is that the video in question makes 2 separate references to the Foundation, including a clip from the character "Mouse" from PBS's "Between the Lions" which shows he apparently has found the Foundation's website on his computer.
The Foundation, itself, beyond just the "Tolerance Pledge" has at least SIX different references to homosexuality, sexual identity, or sexual orientation in its site's materials, mostly in suggested lesson plans (from previous campaigns) aimed at school-aged children.
The actual lesson plans that will be accompanying the video are not publicly posted anywhere for review, so no one knows what the exact package will contain (Though MSNBC supposedly has a copy).
My website's discussion board has research showing at least SEVEN references on WAFF's website as well as a sample letter to school administrators who might be showing the video or other pro-gay material in the classroom (see links, below).
Yes tolerance can and should be promoted, but would it not be better to use more neutral or all-inclusive language, like "tolerance for individuals no matter what there difference is." "You should not tease other kids no matter what the reason is." "You should try to get along with others even if you disagree on things."
These are simple statements that ANY sane person would accept as true and healthy for young children to hear, but SPECIFICALLY singling out homosexuality among a list of other groups does something more -- it attempts to bring homosexuality to the same level and status of other minority or oppressed groups as if it is something to be honored, not just shown tolerance to.
In addition, I find it fascinating that not only has WAFF threatened a lawsuit against AFA but has also REMOVED most of the offensive pro-gay pages from its site, especially the ones that AFA has specifically referenced (including #'s 1, 3 & 4 from my earlier post). Is this an attempt at making peace or an attempt at removing evidence?? (for more info on this see: http://www.earnedmedia.org/sbm0125.htm )
Research: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exgaydiscussionboard/message/13428
Letter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exgaydiscussionboard/message/13456
--Alan