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01/21/2005 Archived Entry: "Christians issue gay warning on SpongeBob video"

Posted by steve @ 12:01 PM EST [Link]

MEMO TO RELIGIOUS RIGHT: CHILL OUT: It's news stories like these that make the religious right -- which has a lot to offer in the political debate -- a joke to many. Several conservative Christian groups have issued a warning that SpongeBob SquarePants is being used to market homosexuality to children.

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.

"A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences being celebrated is homosexuality," wrote Ed Vitagliano in an article for the American Family Association.

The video is a remake of the 1979 hit song "We Are Family" using the voices and images of SpongeBob, Barney, Winnie the Pooh, Bob the Builder, the Rugrats and other TV cartoon characters. It was made by a foundation set up by songwriter Nile Rodgers after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in an effort to promote healing.

Christian groups however have taken exception to the tolerance pledge on the foundation's Web site, which asks people to respect the sexual identity of others along with their abilities, beliefs, culture and race.

Trust me on this one, today's schools don't need SpongeBob to indoctrinate children into believing whatever PC line they're selling at the moment. They've been doing it for years. And besides that, the video itself doesn't make any children take a pledge (I thought those were bad!).

Of course, since I take care of a three and a half year old every day, perhaps my mind has been turned into mush. Alex has several SpongeBob DVDs and believe me, I know them all by heart.