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Christians Groups Not Turning Other Cheek On Jesus Cartoon
Christian and conservative leaders have begun a campaign to persuade potential advertisers not to sponsor Comedy Central’s proposed cartoon series starring a modern day Jesus Christ. The project, titled JC, is still only in development but it has drawn media heat from groups like Citizens Against Religious Bigotry and Media Research Center.
The president of MSC, Brent Bozell, said, “We know that they’re jumping up and down with glee feeling that they’re getting all sorts of publicity because of our efforts. On the other hand, we’re not going to remain silent on this anymore.”
The Vancouver Sun is reporting:
Bozell said the coalition sent letters to 250 major television advertisers asking them not to run commercials on the show, should it ever air.
In a conference call with reporters, the coalition’s leaders noted that Comedy Central censored references to the Prophet Muhammad in a recent episode of South Park after a radical Muslim website suggested the show’s creators could be killed because of the depiction.
“You could say, ‘Well yes, they pulled back because of threats of violence,’” said syndicated radio host Michael Medved. “Does that indicate that Christians then get punished because they’re not crazy? They get punished because their religion doesn’t encourage people to commit acts of violence, that we’re only going to respond affirmatively to the concerns of religious groups that threaten the most appalling kinds of reactions?”
On the conference call, Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said an advertising boycott of the show was necessary to get through to the network.
“I don’t want to ever see the Christian population get to the point where they have to mimic some segments in the radical Muslim community,” he said. “And if they do, then I guess we’ll have to wonder, what is the root cause of that? I think we can do this through a peaceful nonviolent approach.”
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, warned that Comedy Central shouldn’t “confuse the civility of Christianity with weakness.”
“And I think if that’s the case, they may be shocked, because I do believe they’ve gone too far in this,” he added.
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On the one hand, the Christian right ought to feel that their Truth is so self-evident and all-embracing as to be able to withstand anything secularists, satirists, comedians, and whomever can bring to bear against them. On the other hand, if they’re worried that a little comedy or secular commentary might erode the ranks of their supporters, or diminish the power of their religion on this earthly plane–and bear in mind that this is a religion that won out over state-supported persecution by the Roman empire!–then maybe they NEED to have their perceptions shaken up a bit.
They should just wait one episode to see if it sucks or not. If it sucks they have nothing to worry about.
I have no love for the organized religions. However, I think it’s a little naive and whole lot insensitive to expect devout people to be able to suck it up without protest knowing that every week a TV show is on the air debasing (in their mind) something that is dear and cherished at least as much as the non-religious types tend to talk about the love of their mother/father/parents, even if what they have in mind is something I don’t believe ever existed in reality. The sanctity of their faith means more to them the chuckles of disposable entertainment. Yeah, for the very devout, their Jesus-love will stand the attacks of satire and comedy… but why should it have to? I know I’d be a little miffed if every week someone was producing cartoons depicting my mom in an unfavorable, possibly demeaning lights. My love for my mother would remain unwavering but it would anger me that someone would exploit that devotion for their own amusement.
But the rest of us have to live with them insulting us? Organized religion can have spent centuries disrespecting everyone who doesn’t agree with them and insist (correctly) that they have the right to do so, but then start whining whenever anyone expresses disagreement with them.
No more double standards: Free speech for everyone.
All right. No more censoring what people think about radical Islam and Jihads to kill all non-believers. No more respecting the “no pictures or cartoons depicting Muhammad” . No more not thinking that worshiping an idol of a overweight Buddha, who professed so great thoughts on personal control but was apparently unable to control his own appetites is silly, that its okay to take potshots. In fact, no more respect for anyone or anything that has a belief different from the individuals. Lets all be nasty to everyone all the time.
And right on this site just below is a story where Facebook bans the “Draw Muhammad” day because its considered offensive to Muslims. So… its okay to offend Christens but not Muslims… What’s the equivalent word for racist in religion? Religist?