Not since Tinkywinky have we seen such a menace to society... I know Barney is evil for being obnoxious, but Donald Wildmon's American Family Association says he's now promoting the homosexual agenda as well.
The We are Family Foundation has produced a DVD with several popular characters from popular children's programming that promotes tolerance. The AFA wants no part of this "bait and switch."
Agape Press, "news" organ of the loony religious wingnuts, homo-bashing
American Family Association, says that this children's video on tolerance is "opening the door" to discussing homosexuality. Participating in this debauchery, they say, are:
SpongeBob SquarePants, Barney the Dinosaur, Arthur, Dora the Explorer, JoJo, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Big Bird, and Bob the Builder.
...those and many others are among the characters starring in a music video remake of the 1970s song "We Are Family" that is designed to promote diversity and tolerance in the classroom. A special DVD version will be distributed to 61,000 public and private elementary schools nationwide, along with lesson plans for teachers. Distribution of the DVD is being donated by FedEx.
Ed Vitagliano, a researcher for the American Family Association, questions the motives behind the project. The problem, he says, is that it is an "open door" to a secondary discussion of homosexuality.
"When you go to the We Are Family Foundation website, there is a 'tolerance pledge' that children and others are encouraged to sign, which includes sexual orientation," he explains. That, he says, is the crux of the problem. "While we want everyone to respect other people's beliefs, we do not consider it appropriate for children's television to be used in an effort to indoctrinate children to accept homosexuality."
SpongeBob and Clifford, are also helping out the gay cabal, according to the AFA.
And then Ed Vitagliano becomes even more unhinged...
The pro-family researcher sees an age-old tactic being employed by those behind the project. "This is a bait-and-switch approach. It's been used for years," he says, "
and homosexuals are now using well-known and beloved children's television characters in an effort to use [them] as bait and switch."
Vitagliano says the objective behind the video is to get children to the Foundation's website -- "and there they're given the full pitch about homosexuality," he adds. In addition, the researcher says he has been told by numerous homosexual activists that teaching tolerance for all people while excluding discussion of homosexuality is not an appropriate approach.
The new video, recorded in November 2004, is scheduled to air simultaneously on Nickelodeon, PBS, and the Disney Channel in March 2005.
BTW, the feedback form for the AFA is
here.
Talking about screwed priorities. With all the poverty, domestic abuse, divorce, crime, homelessness and that an organization/ministry like this could spend its time on, it is wasting, energy, money and bandwidth on this.
UPDATE:
I decided to visit the Freepers, and they are dribbling and oozing over this as well...
Actual Freeper Quotes™
"Oak Hay, so I'm very disturbed and continually puzzled about how a small bunch of contrary to nature freaks can destroy our entire civilization. . . BUT DAMMIT, THEY'RE DOING IT !!! These unsavory and unclean sub-human creatures delight in ramming their urine exhaust pipes into the rectal relief tubes of young boys (and of each other) !!! They brag and crow loudly about their filthy behavior !!! They demand access to our young and innocent children... so they can commit sodomy and oral sex acts upon them!!! Then they scream and holler..."Homophobe"... when we seek to save our children from their filthy and immoral activities!!! WHY IS THIS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE IN THIS ONCE-FREE REPUBLIC ??? DO WE NOT HAVE THE RIGHT AND MORAL DUTY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM SLIME LIKE THIS ???"
"Well said and shouted--we must fight these idiots every chance in every venue--and it ain't happening yet! When will a truly rights group take center stage? Lawsuits, boycotts, protests, shunning, and physical violence when prompted--is the only things that'll work. I'm ready."
"SpongeBob rules, these guys should be shot for defaming him so."
"I don't know about Barney but a gay acquaintance of mine really likes Sponge Bob a lot."
"Barney, the lisping, lavender, light-in-his-loafers dinosaur is gay-friendly? Gee, go figure."
[And one sane Freeper -- shhhh - don't let them know -- Pam
"Another Not this S### again moment. People will see in these cartoons what they want to see. The arguments against these, just like those against the Telltubies (sp?) or Bert and Ernie, are a real stretch. Some people are just obsessed with anything that could be considered gay. I am waiting for the same crowd to now complain about purple cars and want to boycot GM.!"
[...who then gets slapped down by a genuine Freep -- Pam]
"Maybe before you open your trap you should check out the teacher guide that goes along with this propoganda crap that they are pushing. People are sick and tired of the liberals forcing their agenda on us and especially our children. Liberals take small steps to change the culture do you need to see examples or are you really that stupid?"
Pam's House Blend