SpongeBob In Crosshairs (Dobson Alert)

Kansas City Star ^ | January 20, 2005

[E Rocc]

SpongeBob in crosshairs

The New York Times

WASHINGTON — 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.

James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said that SpongeBob's creators have enlisted SpongeBob in a “pro-homosexual video,” in which he appeared with other children's television characters.

The makers of the video, Dobson said, plan to mail it to thousands of elementary schools this spring to promote a “tolerance pledge” that includes tolerance for differences of “sexual identity.”

[Celtjew Libertarian]

And if this homosexual advocacy group used those classic cartoons in a public school program to indoctrinate impressionable children into advocacy of the homosexual lifestyle I would also find that objectionable.

Even if there is no outright advocacy, such cartoons, it seems, would lessen moral outrage about cross-dressing and the like.

< Seinfeld > Not that there's anything wrong with that.< /Seinfeld >

[ThinkingMan]

Btw, whatever happened to that "Angry Beavers" cartoon? It was one of my favorites!

just because it is such an easy shot to take- it should be obvious that the angry beavers were "outed" as just slighty upset lesbians.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Aren't they rectangle pants?

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

He is a rectangular sponge (if that answers your question)

Yep. His pants look like a rectangle to me. LOL!

[Ignatz]

just because it is such an easy shot to take- it should be obvious that the angry beavers were "outed" as just slighty upset lesbians

Ahhhh! Kinda like "Lesbians Against Bush", eh?

[niteowl77]

I thought "Angry Beavers" was funny, ditto "Ahhh! Real Monsters," "Rocko's Modern Life," etc. Not that there wasn't some PC crap in them, but it wasn't crammed up/down my orifii. Nick made a conscious effort to replace cartoons like those with more demonstrably PC-loaded fare like "Wild Thornberrys," "Rocket Power," and "Spongebob Squarepants."

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I do have to say, though, that of all the cartoons my son watches, SpongeBob is the one I really dislike. It's just annoying.

[frog_jerk_2004]

it's probably the most solid-pro family/pro-faith (if not organized religion) show on t.v. nowadays.

I think the show is funny as hell but it is definitely not a pro-family/pro-faith show. Lisa, basically the hero of the show, is a devout Atheist. The Simpsons are funny because they are a disfunctional family...

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

"Here comes the "cartoons are evil" stampede"

You might find out what you are talking about before you side with the video makers. No one said the cartoons were evil. The Cartoon characters, however, are being used to promote homosexual and feminist ideology to elementary kids. Are you okay with that?

[Hemingway's Ghost]

So anyway, again and again, I find that the people who hate the intrusive God of Jesus also tend to hate Dobson as well. Having some moral failing of theirs seems to bring out the ugliest in them.

The problem normal, rational people have with Dobson is the same problem normal, rational people have with Newdow: we're sick to death of people with chips on their shoulder, for whatever reason, finding perceived "insult" and "offense" everywhere they look, and expecting that society offer them some form of official redress because of it. I know you and your ilk are too wrapped up in the righteousness of your religious beliefs to understand this, but trust me: you're exactly the same as those whiny atheists who insist that their lives will come crumbling down because some city council member mentioned "God" at a meeting.

Just imagine how easy a sell conservatism would be if we didn't have nutjobs like this "on our side" . . .

[frog_jerk_2004]

They're almost all good. But my favorites are the Rabbit Fire/Rabbit Seasoning/Duck! Rabbit! Duck! trilogy with Bugs, Daffy and Elmer, which were early to mid 50s, I think.

Or Bugs vs. the Gashouse Gorrilas at Yankee Stadium!

[frog_jerk_2004]

Or Bugs vs. the Gashouse Gorrilas at Yankee Stadium!

I meant the Polo Grounds!

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I saw that cartoon just a few days ago. I'll say this much: That's one catch Willie Mays couldn't have made.

[StoneColdGOP]

Becoming? Dobson set sail on the good ship Crazy-Ass long ago...

[freedomcrusader]

So warning people that their kids are about to be indoctrinated with the homosexual agenda via the cartoon characters they may know well is "finding perceived insult and 'offense' everywhere they look, and expecting that society offer them some form of official redress"?

That's quite a leap.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

The Cartoon characters, however, are being used to promote homosexual and feminist ideology to elementary kids. Are you okay with that?

I think it's a waste of time. Cross-dressing and gender-bending have been such a staple of kids cartoon for so long, that I don't think elementary kids will get any political message.

I don't think schools are a place for any political message. But, since I'm socially libertarian and gay-tolerant (to say the least), I worry more about anti-Capitalist, pro-environmentalist politics in the public schools.

Mind you, my son goes to a non-religious private school and my daughter did until high school.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

The message is not in the cartoon so much. It is in the curriculum that accompanies the cartoon. THAT is steeped in it. If that's okay to teach your kids then fine. Most parents don't want it taught to their child in school. I don't want my tax dollars used in this way.

[DTogo]

I was also extremely offended this Holiday season when watching "White Christmas" during the scene where Crosby and Kay dressed as women and sang "Sisters." /sarc

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Libertarians should be concern about the liberty of those who do not want their children taught gay-is-okay in school. It's a violation of the moral and religious rights of those students and parents who disagree.