Hands Off SpongeBob!(Reuters more accurate than the NYTIMES)

Toonzone via Instapundit. ^ | 01/21/05 | Maxie Zeus

[Pikamax]

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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.

People 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.

[Pikamax]

Family.org

Why is Dr. Dobson objecting to a video featuring characters such as SpongeBob?

Question Why is Dr. Dobson objecting to the distribution of a video featuring such popular children's characters as SpongeBob SquarePants?

Answer From the outset, let's be clear that this issue is not about objections to any specific cartoon characters. Instead, Dr. Dobson is concerned that these popular animated personalities are being exploited by an organization that's determined to promote the acceptance of homosexuality among our nation's youth.

We applaud the ideal of championing to children the value and dignity of every human life as well as respect for our differences. What we vehemently object to is using these beloved characters to help advance an agenda that's beyond the comprehension of 6 and 7 year-old children, not to mention morally offensive to millions of moms and dads.

The video in question is slated to be distributed to 61,000 public and private elementary schools throughout the United States. Where it is shown, schoolchildren will be left with the impression that their teachers are offering their endorsement of the values and agenda associated with the video's sponsor. While some of the goals associated with this organization are noble in nature, their inclusion of the reference to "sexual identity" within their "tolerance pledge" is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral line.

We believe that it is the privilege of parents to decide how, when and where it is appropriate to introduce their children to these types of sensitive issues. The distribution of this video trumps the authority of mothers and fathers and leaves it in the hands of strangers whose standards may very well be different than the children they teach.

By calling it to light this video and its affiliation with this larger organization, we are attempting to do for parents what their busy lives often prevent them from doing themselves--connecting the dots.

[martin_fierro]

Plankton needs to get in touch with his feminine side.

[NonValueAdded]

NTY bias bump

[gradient_salient]

Just give Dr. Dobson a Krabby Patty, for cryin' out loud.

[KateatRFM]

Having had my kids come home from school (before the days of private school) talking about a Ninja Turtles video promoting recycling and incidentally mocking people who don't recycle as evil, I can see the point of calling these cartoon brainwashing sessions to the attention of parents; and now that there's a "dancing condoms" cartoon video out there too, it's not a bad idea to keep an eye out. But trust the New York Times to try to make the whole idea of knowing what your children are being told behind your back into a slam at Christianity!

[An American In Dairyland]

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...

Yeah right.

[annyokie]

[Always Right]

Spongebob is kind of a cult hero in the gay community for whatever reason. I think it is because he is often running around in his underwear and showing off his butt and other juvenile humor.

[spinestein]

[The video in question is slated to be distributed to 61,000 public and private elementary schools throughout the United States.]...[their inclusion of the reference to "sexual identity" within their "tolerance pledge" is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral line.]

Elementary school children will be shown videos and asked/encouraged(?) to make a "sexual identity" "tolerance pledge"?

Is this what is happening?

[isthisnickcool]

SpongeBob is not gay. Patrick Starfish is gay.

[nmh]

When I read and heard that gay males LOVE Sponge Bob that was enough for us to make Sponge Bob off limits. Before we found that out, I did watch part of his show. I found it too silly to be funny. I guess you could call it dumbed down humor. At some point silliness isn't funny so all in all Sponge Bob isn't part of our entertainment. I'm also not surprised they are using him to promote homosexuality.

[spinestein]

[Spongebob is kind of a cult hero in the gay community for whatever reason.]

I've never heard that but it kind of makes sense.

Actually, I love Spongebob cartoons, myself. My 11 year old daughter watched them all of the time and got me hooked, so I bought the DVD's of past episodes as they became available, and I've probably seen every episode several times.

[spinestein]

[When I read and heard that gay males LOVE Sponge Bob that was enough for us to make Sponge Bob off limits.]

Talk about silly...

[longtermmemmory]

So cartoon characters are being used to promote a SEXUAL BEHAVIOR to children.

Why is anyone promoting SEX ACTS to children!!!??


I remember years and years ago a pedophile prosecution court case where one of the tricks the pedophile used to "seduce" the children was a pornographic cartoon specifically made for that purpose.

No need to buy that material, you can just tape it off of Nickolodeon now. Nickolodeon (Rosi Odonuts "girlfriend" works there BTW) is now a pedophiles best friend.

[Old Professer]

Public schooling is, by definition, indoctrination to ideas; if one doesn't like the ideas then one must avoid public schooling.

The history of ideas shows that they follow a bell-shaped curve much like the learning curve made all too famous in this last century; our best hope is that not all sheep are attracted to the scent.

[eyespysomething]

Since my kids attend public school, I'm keeping them home on March 11, the supposed showing date.

Its more the brainwashing in general, than the opinion of the video. Its hard enough to overcome the typical PS washing of their brains. Luckily, we have smart kids.

I love Sponge Bob also.

[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.

[annyokie]

Oh, nonsense. My children go to excellent Public Schools. Indeed, their schools are vastly superior to the private parochial schools they went to in the past.

[joesnuffy]

Right up there with Rem and Stimpy....

Get the minds when they are young and most pliable...perversion light is easily manipulated down the road a few years from now into great 'tolerance'...

Even if as adults they arent going to be participants...they will at least be trained to not lift a hand to stop it...or even think about stopping it...

Creating perverts and/or consumate PC adults...is their goal...

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

It's the curriculum that tags along with the video that's the real offense. Why didn't Dobson mention that? Oh well. The pledge is bad enough. When 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys have been molested by the time they turn 18, I do not think we need to hve elementary school children pledging to tolerate everyone's sexual identity. That's just stupid. They are victimized enough.