Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Hands Off SpongeBob!(Reuters more accurate than the NYTIMES)
Toonzone via Instapundit. ^ | 01/21/05 | Maxie Zeus

Posted on 01/22/2005 10:37:46 AM PST by Pikamax


First they came for the Teletubbies and I did nothing, because I hate mewling horribles who live in Orwellian romper rooms. But then they came for SpongeBob SquarePants. Now it's time to march.

That's the reaction a lot of people--not all of them cartoon fans--seem to have had when The New York Times on Thursday reported that James Dobson had criticized Nickelodeon's cheerful yellow sponge for appearing in a video promoting tolerance. The problem, apparently, is that the kind of tolerance being promoted would extend to (among others) people who are gay.

ImagePeople who read the Times account weren't very happy with Dobson. Over dinner, for instance, my sister laid it on the table with the off-hand remark, "I see that now they're attacking SpongeBob for being gay." "They" are not one of her favorite groups. Nor one of mine.

At Toon Zone, we haven't followed this story with focused interest. But I have watched, with a mounting dread, as each piece of the current controversy started to fall into place. Last November we reported on the video now being criticized.

We reported, too, when the attacks started earlier this month.

And on Thursday we duly carried a summary and link to the Times article (registration required; here is a hassle-free copy).

So I'm not exactly surprised to see this break out into the wider world. While posting the earlier articles I could be heard silently muttering to myself: "3… 2… 1… Make controversy go now!" Complaints that cartoons are corrupting our kids are about as bewhiskered as the Bugs Bunny in a dress gag. This kind of hysteria makes me very tired, both because it's very silly and also very old.

At the same time, let's remember that it's The New York Times we're dealing with. These days it helps to have an advanced degree in Kremlinology while perusing their articles.

Look at the Times opening grafs:

On the heels of electoral victories to bar same-sex marriage, some influential conservative Christian groups are turning their attention to a new target: SpongeBob SquarePants.

"Does anybody here know SpongeBob?" James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, asked the guests Tuesday night at a black-tie dinner for members of Congress and political allies to celebrate the election results.

In many circles, SpongeBob needs no introduction. He is popular among children and grownups as well who watch him cavorting under the sea on the Nickelodeon cartoon program that bears his name. In addition, he has become a camp figure among adult gay men, perhaps because he holds hands with his animated sidekick Patrick.

Now, Dobson said, SpongeBob's creators had enlisted him in a "pro-homosexual video," in which he appeared alongside other children's television characters such as Barney and Jimmy Neutron, among many others.

Compare it with this summary from Reuters:

Christian Conservative groups have issued a gay alert warning over a children's video starring SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney and a host of other cartoon favorites.

The wacky square yellow SpongeBob is one of the stars of a music video due to be sent to 61,000 U.S. schools in March. The makers -- the nonprofit We Are Family Foundation -- say the video is designed to encourage tolerance and diversity.

But at least two Christian activist groups say the innocent cartoon characters are being exploited to promote the acceptance of homosexuality.

Notice the difference?

The Times: Several conservative Christian groups are criticizing SpongeBob SquarePants for appearing in a video that they claim promotes homosexuality. (Those are the words of our reporter Ace the Bathound.)

Reuters: Christian groups are criticizing a video that exploits cartoon characters to advance a pro-gay agenda.

As Reuters describes it, Christian groups are attacking a video; the various cartoon characters and entertainers who appear in it are being criticized indirectly (if at all) for lending themselves to an agenda that these critics deplore. As the Times describes it, though, these groups are specifically attacking SpongeBob. And by sticking in an early and gratuitous reference to SpongeBob's popularity with gay men (a point utterly irrelevant to a story about the video), the Times creates the impression that Dobson is attacking SpongeBob for being a gay icon. No wonder a casual reader comes away with the impression that Dobson is attacking SpongeBob for being gay.

In fact, if you read the Times article carefully you'll see that it adds nothing to the story carried by WorldNetDaily two weeks ago, except for some innuendo about a popular cartoon character. (Reuters' more pellucid summary makes clear that the story hasn't advanced in the last two weeks.) Of course, I don't know for sure: maybe Dobson went off on an anti-gay tirade in which he mocked SpongeBob for his cheerfulness, his tendency to skip and sing, and his fondness for holding hands with his best friend Patrick. But if so, why is the only Dobson quote in the Times the colorless "Does anybody here know SpongeBob?"

I'm not interested in the "gay" angle to SpongeBob, and as an editor and reporter on this site I have no interest in gay marriage, gay rights or any of the other social controversies that so exercise Dobson. I think Dobson and his allies are very foolish to treat what sounds like a bland grammar-school video as a threat to American values; I think it is execrable that he should try piggybacking his social agenda onto innocent cartoon characters and their innocent creators.

But the Times, intentionally or not, appears to be guilty of the same thing. Deliberately or not, it appears to have twisted Dobson's position and imputed to him (without evidence) an argument he does not seem to have made. And in making SpongeBob sound like a martyr, it appears to be trying to piggyback a rival agenda onto his very thin shoulders: Save SpongeBob from the bluenoses!

Cartoons don't deserve this. SpongeBob doesn't deserve this. And SpongeBob's creator, Stephen Hillenburg, certainly doesn't deserve to have his creation kidnapped and turned into a giant puppet in some freak protest parade, no matter what its cause.

To Dobson and the Times I've a simple message: Get your hands out of SpongeBob's square pants.

Update: Dobson's organization has released a statement on the controversy.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dobson; fotf; homosexualagenda; spongebob
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 421-429 next last
To: gradient_salient

I know about Krabby patties. I just don't get the oblique comment directed towards Dobson. Is someone suggesting that he be rewarded or asked to shut up. Gee. It's a puzzle.


41 posted on 01/22/2005 12:17:44 PM PST by Zechariah11
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: DaveDCMetro; EdReform; scripter
It plays on the fears of rural conservatives of those "evil" gays in big blue cities. Moreover, it identifies their children as the target of that attack --- one of the surest ways to get emotions trumping reason.

BUMP

42 posted on 01/22/2005 12:19:05 PM PST by SweetCaroline
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: annyokie

Well I agree with that actually. I know 3 adult children who went to the same therapist and all "recovered" the memory of being molested by their father. I am suspicious to say the least. But they did not have all the other symptoms in between the supposed abuse and the recovered memory, so how do you confirm it? I don't. I've seen the real thing -- more than once -- and it is devastating.


43 posted on 01/22/2005 12:19:19 PM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Zechariah11

It was supposed to be a humorous comment. Nothing more, nothing less.


44 posted on 01/22/2005 12:20:18 PM PST by gradient_salient
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: garbanzo
If the creators of SpongeBob want to allow their franchise to be used to support activism, then they must suffer the consequences.

SpongeBob is not supporting freedom or a campaign against littering. He is supporting the gay agenda.

The gay agenda is not tolerance, but celebration.

SpongeBob is spending the coinage of its franchise as it sees fit.
45 posted on 01/22/2005 12:21:27 PM PST by Dysfunctional
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Dysfunctional

Exactly. Word will get out. Spongebob will trade off trusting family viewers for liberal praise. That's a trade they'd like to make though.
Too bad. I liked the program.


46 posted on 01/22/2005 12:27:59 PM PST by Zechariah11
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: DaveDCMetro

At some level I think it's all meaningless anyway. Look at the Boomers, they were raised on the most wholesome patriarchial pro-family censorous mass media environment possible and look at how they turned out. The kids who watched "Leave It To Beaver" grew up to burn their draft cards, smoke dope and practice free love. The wrangling over the moral direction of youth is well overblown.


47 posted on 01/22/2005 12:28:07 PM PST by garbanzo (Free people will set the course of history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: gradient_salient

Thanks.


48 posted on 01/22/2005 12:29:30 PM PST by Zechariah11
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Dysfunctional

Note that characters like Jimmy Neutron and Clifford the Big Red Dog also appear in the video. Why is it that SpongeBob is getting all the attention?


49 posted on 01/22/2005 12:30:00 PM PST by garbanzo (Free people will set the course of history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

Anecdotelly, I have a friend who is the child of a very violent alcoholic mother. She cannot recall much of her younger years. It is a defense mechanism, to my mind.

Having been a victim of rape, I can say one does not "recover" said memory.


50 posted on 01/22/2005 12:33:38 PM PST by annyokie (If the shoe fits, put 'em both on!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: annyokie

Tony Snow spent a tremendous portion of his radio program yesterday talking about how attacking Spongebob makes Dr. Dobson look as foolish as Jerry Falwell attacking Tinky-Winky.

I have to agree with Tony. I am looking forward to Dobson appearing on Tony's show in the next few weeks as he was already scheduled.




The left and neocons don't like Dobson. SO what else is new?


51 posted on 01/22/2005 3:30:56 PM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: nmh

You do know that "neo-cons" is code for Jews, do you not?


52 posted on 01/22/2005 3:32:25 PM PST by annyokie (If the shoe fits, put 'em both on!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: SweetCaroline

"When Sponge Bob and some other character were talking about raiding grandma's panties it was the last time my 4 year old grandson was allowed to watch that program in my house."

Yes ... I've heard some other stuff from credible parents.

Sponge Bob is disgusting but hey, the left loves him and so do neocons. They'll vehemently deny what you state. They'll say you're an EXTREMIST and defend him.


53 posted on 01/22/2005 3:32:46 PM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: spinestein

"Talk about silly..."

YEah, Sponge Bob is so silly that I didn't find him funny when I viewed part of his show. Then again, with kids and adults being dumbed down, I'm not suprised it is a hit - especially the content - gutter humor - hits home with the left and neocons.


54 posted on 01/22/2005 3:34:35 PM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: DaveDCMetro
"Look, I'm not a Bible Belt conservative..."

No kidding?

"What I do know is that, regardless of any culture war that may exist between Red and Blue America, SpongeBob is not a player in this conflict. Dobson's demagoguery is good, old-fashioned propaganda that follows a formula that's as old as time."

I sure you'd opine as "propaganda" the premise that one cockroach leads to many more?

Twice you mentioned Dr. Dobson "demogoguery." Try looking into a mirror and repeating your post. You'll get a whiff of your own propagandist "demogoguery."

55 posted on 01/22/2005 3:50:04 PM PST by Liberator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax
Dobson is not the first.

Hagee beat him to it a while back http://thedoormagazine.com/archives/spongebob.html

Indeed, there are folks who think that Bob and Patrick *are* gay and enjoy the clarinet just a little too much.
56 posted on 01/22/2005 3:51:27 PM PST by McChordwatcher (Still Learning FR's Ropes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Ghost of FReepers Past; ncxds; spinestein; Pikamax; longtermmemmory; nmh; annyokie; ...
Reply 460 posted by ncxds in the thread SpongeBob, Barney promote 'gay tolerance (FedEx to Sponsor in Gov't Schools):

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?)




So the second article was EXACTLY on target by saying this is a "Stealth" campaign to promote acceptance and tolerance of homosexulaity to grade school and pre-school aged children across North America and beyond!!

Please pray that God would show you how you can respond in your own community. Also, please forward ALL THREE of these articles to as many people as you can so we can inform the public as to the true meaning behind this campaign!!

Blessings

--Alan Levering; Founder, NCXDS Ex-Gay Internet Christian Ministries

Web: < http://geocities.com/exgaylinks > |
Discussion Board: < http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exgaydiscussionboard > |
Spanish Language Discussion Board: < http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exgayenespa > |
"Wounded Heart" Abused Men's Group: < http://groups.yahoo.com/group/woundedheart > |
Chat: < http://groups.yahoo.com/group/exgaydiscussionboard/chat >

Feel free to link to these pages on your own website!!!



See also:

Reasearcher Says Children's Tolerance Video Promotes Homosexuality ( replies 40, 57, 59, 78 )

57 posted on 01/22/2005 3:54:46 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: DaveDCMetro
I'm sorry, but this whole topic is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. The idea that because gay men like SpongeBob, he becomes off limits?

I think you failed to actually read the article, for it purports the EXACT OPPOSITE of what you just said.

58 posted on 01/22/2005 3:55:23 PM PST by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: SweetCaroline
Bump


What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda


Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1)


Myth and Reality about Homosexuality--Sexual Orientation Section, Guide to Family Issues"

59 posted on 01/22/2005 3:56:37 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: EdReform

It's a cartoon. This is one of the silliest things I have ever read. I never saw anyone getting their knickers in a twist about a cross-dressing Bugs bunny.


60 posted on 01/22/2005 3:57:21 PM PST by annyokie (If the shoe fits, put 'em both on!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 421-429 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson