I recieved this ActionAlert last week. The Family Guy is a favorite program of mine, if I ever do watch TV (I usually can't stand TV). I admit that the show could be a bit offensive. I was offend by an early episode where a Willy Wonka-like character throws a handicapped man off of his property just for being in a wheelchair. But, that's the flavor of the show, I suppose. It's the shock value. So, I'm not suprized at all that Don Wildmon of the AFA would find something to whine about in that show. However, I caught a bit of irony in one sentence in this ActionAlert.
Dear Robert,Just in case you missed it, here's the sentence that made me laugh with bitter tears.
On March 8, Fox network aired Family Guy, a perverted and sickening program, into the homes of millions of Americans. This episode was rated TV-14 DLSV by FOX, meaning that in the network's opinion it was appropriate for 14-year olds. It aired during prime-time.
The content of this program was so explicit that I can't even begin to describe it here.
Click here to watch these scenes or read our detailed review. WARNING: These scenes taken from the Fox program Family Guy are highly offensive.
Even more offensive is Fox's view of Christianity. At a "straight" meeting, the speaker talks to gays about Jesus and tells them, "He [Jesus] hates many people, but none more than homosexuals." Incidentally, Pepsico helped sponsor this program (BoycottPepsico.com.
You really cannot get the full effect of the show's portrayal of Christianity without watching the video or reading our review. You will hear the tone and sarcasm very clearly.
The FCC has a duty to enforce the law and fine Fox for this sickening violation of broadcast decency standards. In addition, your local FOX network affiliate did not have to air this episode. Obviously, they do not care about your local community standards.
Take Action!
File an official complaint with the FCC against the Fox network and your local FOX affiliate station. It will only take a couple of minutes. Do it for your children and grandchildren.
Thank you for caring enough to get involved. If you feel our efforts are worthy of support, would you consider making a small tax-deductible contribution to help us continue?
Sincerely,
Donald E. Wildmon,
Founder and Chairman
American Family Association
At a "straight" meeting, the speaker talks to gays about Jesus and tells them, "He [Jesus] hates many people, but none more than homosexuals."
Don Wildmon doesn't like it because The Family Guy stated exactly what most christians actually believe. They didn't embellish it, they said it exactly as it appears. Don, if you don't like people saying that "Jesus hates homosexuals", stop preaching it!
28 comments:
Ever notice how quick they are to put links in, and tell people to go watch the "offending" material? I think it's them repressing too much and they do this so that they'll have an excuse to go look at all the vile, filthy things that they normally would feel too guilty to look at.
You're probably right, GCT. It's like their offense justfies it.
Robert would you want your niece and nephew to watch this?
GCT said...
Ever notice how quick they are to put links in, and tell people to go watch the "offending" material? I think it's them repressing too much and they do this so that they'll have an excuse to go look at all the vile, filthy things that they normally would feel too guilty to look at
Please provide evidence to support your claims.
Mark asked, "Robert would you want your niece and nephew to watch this?"
The teenagers? If they want to. The young ones? No. In my opinion, The Family Guy is an adult show. Pick the audience age apropriately.
However, that was not my point at all. I have problems with the show sometimes. My point was that Wildmon was offended because a minister character on the show said that Jesus hates people, homesexuals included. I know that you or Wildmon would never admit it, but that what I see being taught. Christians rarely if ever teach hate intentionally, but they do often subtly. It's the "Us and Them" attitude that I see everywhere. It's what I saw when I was growing up.
I feel that fundamentalist Christians are trying to hide the 800-pound gorilla by throwing a kitchen towel on its head.
Sex is out there and kids will hear about it regardless. The shows they criticize aren't that outrageous. But if they want to stop the kids from watching, they can just disconnect the cable.
Robert Madewell said...
Mark asked, "Robert would you want your niece and nephew to watch this?"
The teenagers? If they want to. The young ones? No. In my opinion, The Family Guy is an adult show. Pick the audience age apropriately.
I agree with you here. I let my kids pick their video games and shows they watch. I found they actually do a better job of turning off the garbage this way.
However, that was not my point at all. I have problems with the show sometimes. My point was that Wildmon was offended because a minister character on the show said that Jesus hates people, homesexuals included. I know that you or Wildmon would never admit it, but that what I see being taught. Christians rarely if ever teach hate intentionally, but they do often subtly. It's the "Us and Them" attitude that I see everywhere. It's what I saw when I was growing up.
Robert, It should be more of a "it's us trying to help them" attitude. I can't speak for other Christians only myself. I don't hate anyone. I don't ever remember hating anyone, this includes the time before I became a Christian. I think people want to group hate with punishment. Jesus never taught hate but He did point to judgement. I know it's a fine line but there is a difference.
thanks for your time!
Mark Morrison
Lorena said...
I feel that fundamentalist Christians are trying to hide the 800-pound gorilla by throwing a kitchen towel on its head.
Sex is out there and kids will hear about it regardless. The shows they criticize aren't that outrageous. But if they want to stop the kids from watching, they can just disconnect the cable.
Sex is out there but don't you think it should be the parents telling their kids about it? Do you really want your kids to learn their values from a tv show?
Mark Morrison
Robert I never noticed before is that your dad on the pod cast link?
Mark,
"Please provide evidence to support your claims. "
I was half-joking...only half though. You've never noticed that these groups tend to put in copious links with recommendations to check out the links and see the horror for yourself? Really? Maybe that's why there's so much porn bought in Utah and other red states. (Note: I'm not actually providing evidence, but I am saying "lighten up.")
"I think people want to group hate with punishment. Jesus never taught hate but He did point to judgement. I know it's a fine line but there is a difference."
There isn't a difference when it comes to "punishing" people for things they have no control over and telling them they are wrong for being the way they are. Should we punish black people for being black? Then, why punish gays for being gay?
You'll probably fall back on the "They don't have to act on it" defense, but I hardly find that a convincing apologetic. Expressing sexuality is part of what makes us human. Telling a whole swath of other humans that they can't do that is attempting to deny gays their humanity, and all because they express their sexuality in a way that you (and your god) don't like. This is hateful - almost as hateful as the doctrine that states we are all sinners worthy of hell.
Mark asked, "Robert I never noticed before is that your dad on the pod cast link?"
Yes, he sure is. I thought you knew that my father is a fundamentalist minister. I post his sermon audios to be a bit ironic. Also, he is my dad and I'm proud of him. He has 80 sermons on sermonaudio.com.
Also, for some reason, some people don't believe that I was once a christian. That link proves my background.
I think you'd like him. He's not a wiseacre like Banana Man Comfort, but he's very fundytastic, just like you.
I have no idea what The Church of the Gate is. The guy that posts my dad's sermons calls his site that. My dad's church is called Trace Ridge Bible Church. It's a member of IFCA.
Thanks for asking.
GCT said,
There isn't a difference when it comes to "punishing" people for things they have no control over and telling them they are wrong for being the way they are. Should we punish black people for being black? Then, why punish gays for being gay?
Bad comparison. One doesn't choose to "be" black they are or they aren't. As for the gay lifestyle that is a choice people make. Before you start defending your position think about it this way. We are all born with the capacity to be gay,straight,thieves,liars so on and so on. The choice you make is what you become not the other way around.
You'll probably fall back on the "They don't have to act on it" defense, but I hardly find that a convincing apologetic. Expressing sexuality is part of what makes us human.
Sounds like you want to give the green light to any one who wants to have sex with dead animals,dead people,little kids,etc ok because they are "just" expressing their sexuality.
Telling a whole swath of other humans that they can't do that is attempting to deny gays their humanity, and all because they express their sexuality in a way that you (and your god) don't like. This is hateful - almost as hateful as the doctrine that states we are all sinners worthy of hell.
Deny them their humanity? To be human is to be condemed. Don't believe me,how many people you know personally that have lived 200 years? None. Death shows that there is a penalty for our sin.
Robert Madewell said...
Mark asked, "Robert I never noticed before is that your dad on the pod cast link?"
Yes, he sure is. I thought you knew that my father is a fundamentalist minister. I post his sermon audios to be a bit ironic. Also, he is my dad and I'm proud of him. He has 80 sermons on sermonaudio.com.
Also, for some reason, some people don't believe that I was once a christian. That link proves my background.
I think you'd like him. He's not a wiseacre like Banana Man Comfort, but he's very fundytastic, just like you.
I have no idea what The Church of the Gate is. The guy that posts my dad's sermons calls his site that. My dad's church is called Trace Ridge Bible Church. It's a member of IFCA.
Thanks for asking.
Thanks for the insight. I didn't know about your Dad. I just had a feeling about you, I don't know it's almost like you've been hurt in the past. Maybe I'm mistaken but that is the vibe that I get from you.
Thanks to both you and GCT for your time.
Mark Morrison
Mark, don't assume that "I've been hurt before". You don't know enough about me to make that assumption. I'm not an atheist because somebody hurt me. I'm an atheist because I don't believe anymore. There's so many things that happened to get me to the conclusion that God is not real, that to dismiss it all by saying that "I must have been hurt" is a bit offensive.
Mark, comparing gay people to people having sex with dead animals, dead people, and little kids? This is extremely hateful and ignorant. What saddens me is you actually believe it and preach it.
Maybe you don't understand the "Fred Phelps Effect" and what it does to potential members (and their potential revenue to your coffers).
I was talking to a friend tonight about how modern christianity in the hands of lower/middle class people like Mark resembles paganism more than the creedal beliefs of so-called philosophical christians (or even orthodox christians).
It's actually somewhat startling when you think about it. Giant statues of jesus with his six-pack abs, "in jesus name" said after every prayer, beads, iconography, chanting in service. What is debatably a philosophy on treating other people with respect (though I'd prefer not to debate this now; I'm not religious) becomes a system of ritual actions and ritual beliefs that could rival the ancient greeks.
Well, when I say "modern" christianity, I mean pretty much all christians since the council of nicaea.
Yes, Fox is really failing in its duty as a broadcaster. If Family Guy hadn't recently shown Brian coming out as an atheist, then millions of vulnerable children might have been saved from ever learning that such an evil thing as atheism exists.
Or something.
Sex is out there but don't you think it should be the parents telling their kids about it? Do you really want your kids to learn their values from a tv show?
So, tell them before they hear about it on TV. Or better yet, don't let your children watch TV. That's a choice you have, and it isn't a bad one at all.
Mark,
I agree with ethinethin, comparing gays and gay sex to rape, bestiality, necrophilia, etc. is certainly not realistic or loving.
"Bad comparison. One doesn't choose to "be" black they are or they aren't."
One doesn't choose to be gay either.
"We are all born with the capacity to be gay,straight,thieves,liars so on and so on."
No, that is incorrect. Gay people are born gay, just as you were presumably born straight.
"Sounds like you want to give the green light to any one who wants to have sex with dead animals,dead people,little kids,etc ok because they are "just" expressing their sexuality."
I wasn't aware that animals could give consent (dead or otherwise), etc. A gay couple, having consensual sex is nowhere near those other things. This is hateful rhetoric, and only serves to strengthen Robert's point.
"Deny them their humanity? To be human is to be condemed."
Yes, deny them their humanity. Is anyone telling you that you can't have consensual sex with the partner of your choice? If you are gay, then that is what is happening. Again, part of being human is our sexuality, and you would (in the guise of love) tell people to not express their sexuality, simply because you and your god don't like it?
"Don't believe me,how many people you know personally that have lived 200 years? None. Death shows that there is a penalty for our sin."
I'm sorry that you feel that way; that you follow such hateful ideologies. I'm also sorry that you feel that two people loving each other is somehow wrong and deserving of condemnation. It's no wonder that I find Xianity to be anti-human.
Robert Madewell said...
Mark, don't assume that "I've been hurt before". You don't know enough about me to make that assumption. I'm not an atheist because somebody hurt me. I'm an atheist because I don't believe anymore. There's so many things that happened to get me to the conclusion that God is not real, that to dismiss it all by saying that "I must have been hurt" is a bit offensive.
Your right Robert I do apologize.
Mark Morrison
ethinethin said...
Mark, comparing gay people to people having sex with dead animals, dead people, and little kids? This is extremely hateful and ignorant. What saddens me is you actually believe it and preach it.
Calm down I was using it as an example like GCT did with his Black anaolgy. My point was and is sin is sin. Stealing,telling a lie,lust,or even murder all these things are wrong aren't they? People choose who them become, we ALL have the capacity to do these things. Yes that includes being gay. But what you don't understand is that is normal. Why is it normal you ask, because we are born into sin. Sin is natural. It's only when you come out of it do you realize it's wrong. I don't condem someone for being gay. Because they like EVERYONE else before they Know God are condemed already.
Mark Morrison
FrodoSaves said...
Yes, Fox is really failing in its duty as a broadcaster. If Family Guy hadn't recently shown Brian coming out as an atheist, then millions of vulnerable children might have been saved from ever learning that such an evil thing as atheism exists.
Or something.
Just a question, would you try to stop your kids from "Beliving" in God?
GCT said...
Mark,
I agree with ethinethin, comparing gays and gay sex to rape, bestiality, necrophilia, etc. is certainly not realistic or loving.
"Bad comparison. One doesn't choose to "be" black they are or they aren't."
One doesn't choose to be gay either.
"We are all born with the capacity to be gay,straight,thieves,liars so on and so on."
No, that is incorrect. Gay people are born gay, just as you were presumably born straight.
Sorry but your wrong here. It is a choice a person makes.
"Sounds like you want to give the green light to any one who wants to have sex with dead animals,dead people,little kids,etc ok because they are "just" expressing their sexuality."
I wasn't aware that animals could give consent (dead or otherwise), etc. A gay couple, having consensual sex is nowhere near those other things. This is hateful rhetoric, and only serves to strengthen Robert's point.
If you were offended then I apologize. My point was and is a what point do you stop? If some one finds it acceptable to do these horrible things what's to stop them from being put on tv?
Mark Morrison
Christians whine about a show being outrages? When they believe in a book written by man, that reads like it, and believe it?
Christians want conformity to their belief no matter the method.
And what is their responce to those that dissagree? Everything and anything.
ibex
Mark said, "Sorry but your wrong here. It is a choice a person makes."
There's several responses I could make. Here's two off the top of my head.
1) Mark's favorite response. "Please provide evidence to support your claims."
Just saying, "Shut up, I'm right" doesn't make you right.
2) Why does it matter if it's a choice or not? Gay sex between consensual adults does not harm you, Mark. Whether or not it's a choice doesn't (to me) make any difference. It's still none of your business. Even if it's a sin, the two guys banging asses are not making you sin by doing something in the privacy of their own lives. To make them conform to your narrow view of family values is the same as imposing your religious beliefs on others.
Robert Madewell said...
Mark said, "Sorry but your wrong here. It is a choice a person makes."
There's several responses I could make. Here's two off the top of my head.
1) Mark's favorite response. "Please provide evidence to support your claims."
Just saying, "Shut up, I'm right" doesn't make you right.
2) Why does it matter if it's a choice or not? Gay sex between consensual adults does not harm you, Mark. Whether or not it's a choice doesn't (to me) make any difference. It's still none of your business. Even if it's a sin, the two guys banging asses are not making you sin by doing something in the privacy of their own lives.
Robert the key to this post was a show on tv correct? GCT opened the door to people not having a choice to be "gay". I don't attack people because they choose to lead a gay lifestyle.I said that their isn't a difference in the "sin". One is as bad as another.
Mark Morrison
Mark,
Just a question, would you try to stop your kids from "Beliving" in God?
Am I missing some extra meaning imbued via capitalization and quotation marks? I don't have kids, but I wouldn't stop them from believing whatever they decide once I've equipped them with the tools to analyze the facts and reach their own conclusions. The fact remains that many parents want to co-opt broadcasters into helping them censor the media their children are exposed to, rather than shouldering the burden of parenting themselves.
No Mark, I wasn't accusing you of attacking anyone. Criticism is not attacking.
I was accusing you of making a "Because, I say so" argument. Which is what most theological arguments boil down to anyways.
Mark,
"Sorry but your wrong here. It is a choice a person makes. "
And, I suppose you chose to be straight?
The most recent scientific findings are pointing to homosexuality not being a choice. It's a matter of development while in the womb (no, not a gay gene). Deriding gays for their "choice" is like deriding blacks for choosing to be black.
"If you were offended then I apologize."
I'm not offended, just appalled. Why do you think those things are comparable?
"My point was and is a what point do you stop?"
When it interferes with the rights of people or animals. As I pointed out, in the case of bestiality, animals can not give informed consent, so it's morally wrong, and we have a stance to say so, for instance.
"If some one finds it acceptable to do these horrible things what's to stop them from being put on tv?"
What horrible things? Being gay?
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