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.

[DaveDCMetro]

Well, there's this one:

http://www.afa.net/homosexual_agenda/childrend.asp

It is a very leading article suggesting that children are in danger of being molested by homosexuals. Its arguments consist of things like, and I paraphrase, "because we know that homosexuality and pedophilia are both perversions, it may be reasonable to assume that where one perversion exists, there will be another."

I was disgusted when I read that. First of all, I didn't know "perversion" was a scientific term. Secondly, this is just another example of classic propaganda. Manipulating the uninformed using information that has the appearance of a basis in science and playing on innate human fears (e.g., harm to offspring) in order to bring out emotions that will cloud judgment and create antagonism toward a certain group. We're talking Propaganda 101 --- very basic stuff.

[k2blader]

You might have heard of the Golden Rule, "Love your neighbor as yourself", which is a fundamental belief of all Christians. A death penalty for homosexuality does not fit in with that.

[F16Fighter]

"To arms, to arms, to arms..."

Lol, as soon as I saw the ping list personel, I knew it could only be: The 'Road Kill' brigade!

Now this particular rant is a beauty. LC, this is truly a tangent destined for another planet:

"These 'crusades' against such nonsensical things as Spongebob Squarepants, Kid Roc at the Inaugural, 'indecency' on TV and in radio, inevitably brand the Right as unthinking buffoons, and render its message about serious economic and legal issues moot and 'guilty by association'. They make people question our sanity."

After reading this post, the word "sanity" certainly does NOT come to mind. Go listen to a bit o' Kid Rock and chill.

[nicmarlo]

Have you ever taken courses in the Teacher's Education Programs at every teacher's college? Have you ever sat down and read the Curriculum Books (3 inches in thickness, at least) for a particular class being taught in school? (They are usually located at the school district library). And although they must allow the public and parents to read them upon request, it makes the Administration extremely nervous when it occurs.

[Thumper1960]

Sexuality is the province of the individual. Teaching right from wrong is the duty of the family/parents and their spiritual teachers.

[Long Cut]

"...you appear..."

I'm not. I'm saying that members of the Right wing should be at least politically savvy, and mature enough to know that they are doing damage instead of good.

BTW, I did not answer your earlier question regarding my own religious preferences because it was a rude one.

The validity of my opinions on this matter are wholly disconnected from my religious leanings. If you are one of those who automatically attaches signifigance to someone's opinions if they claim some religious mantle, I pity your bank account.

[Thumper1960]

Do unto others are ye would have done with you.

Yes, yes....all well known.

And Christ came not to rend the Old Testament, but to fulfill it.

[nopardons]

The whole thing is moronic!

Did it ake Bugs Bunny a transvestite,when he was shown in lipstick and a dress? Was he a queer,because he kissed Elmer Fudd?

Does SpongBob engage in homosexual acts?

[k2blader]

Today's cartoons stink.They're mindless,worthless twaddle.

*LOL* I tend to agree, nopardons. Altho' I confess I am developing something of an affection for "King of the Hill".

And as long as you know where Dr. Dobson's coming from... :-)

[Zechariah11]

Christians also don't advocate a return to the dietary laws and levitical sacrifices of a previous dispensation.

[Long Cut]

It's another controversy that won't die. Regardless of what Dobson said, it was he that created this controversy by bringing it up, in the full knowledge of how it would play out.

It also is another example of the Right being off on a wild goose chase. Which, BTW, it will continue to be so long as segments of it listen to charlatans, and follow their commands to action.

[Shortstop7]

Has it occurred to you that the only folks who type such words are folks like you and the left?

Thank you! Well said!

[Thumper1960]

Nope. Never had the desire.

But, I will say that there is no conspiracy and the desire for respect is a desire all humans possess.

[k2blader]

I'm sorry if you thought it was a rude question. I didn't intend it to be so; rather it was just an honest question. Christians and non-Christians think differently because they are coming from different world views.

[Thumper1960]

Hmmmm.....why not?

Christ kept the Sabbath and kept the Law.

[Zechariah11]

If you read ANYTHING at all from either side, you would know that it is not about the cartoon series!!!

[k2blader]

And Christ came not to rend the Old Testament, but to fulfill it.

The Law, yes, but that would be an entirely different discussion! :-)

[Zechariah11]

It seems like you could use a good commentary on the NT epistles, especially the Book of Hebrews. It will help supplement your other readings.

[k2blader]

Christians also don't advocate a return to the dietary laws and levitical sacrifices of a previous dispensation.

Yes, thank God! :-)

[nicmarlo]

If you read the thread, you will have you questions answered, especially as concerns the differences between the Loony Tunes cartoons (based on absurdity, therefore, funny) and how SpongeBob and other characters are being USED to PROMOTE accept of that which is unacceptable.

The promotion of this is not occuring at home on the t.v. set, per se.

If you read the thread, you would have understood that a video has been made, circulated to 61,000 schools, complete with curriculum for the teachers to use to promote homosexuality as normal/acceptable.

For parents who are upset about that which is contrary to their religious beliefs and values is not "moronic." To voice their objections is also not "moronic." Indeed, they would actually be morons to be upset and still allow such undermining of their teachings because they're afraid it would hurt someone's feelings.