http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read.html?id=2726
US conservatives upset at 'Buster' bunny, 'Sponge Bob' cartoons'
pro-gay use
WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (AFP) -
Two US children's animated characters, "Buster" the rabbit and
"SpongeBob," have whipped up a storm, with conservative Christians and
the new US education secretary scrutinizing pro-gay associations in
viewing for young children.
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings denounced an episode of
children's TV series "Postcards from Buster" in which its rabbit star
Buster Baxter is shown visiting a lesbian couple and their children.
"Many parents would not want their young children exposed to the
lifestyles portrayed in this episode," Spellings wrote to the
president of PBS, shortly after her appointment.
The secretary was previously an adviser to the White House.
The episode, filmed in Vermont, the northeast US state that authorizes
gay civil unions, was due for release February 2.
However, television channel PBS, which received public funding to make
the episode, opted not to broadcast it.
Instead of returning monies used as suggested, it will film a new
episode.
A channel in Boston, Massachusetts, meanwhile, that was involved in
making the program chose to broadcast the episode, saying it teaches
tolerance towards family differences.
A number of Christian conservatives expressed appreciation for the
government's position.
One such was "Focus on the Family" director James Dobson, who also
caused a stir recently when he raised concerns about a video, due for
release March 11 to children in 61,000 elementary schools, to
celebrate the proposed 'National We Are Family Day.'
Dobson claims the video's sponsors, The We Are Family Foundation, has
a pro-homosexual agenda, using a host of cartoon characters, such as
SpongeBob SquarePants, Big Bird and Winnie The Pooh, to infiltrate
schools with their message.
Dobson said on his internet site that comments he made about the video
at a 2005 Presidential Inaugural dinner were "about the way in which
those childhood symbols are apparently being hijacked to promote an
agenda that involves teaching homosexual propaganda to children."
The We Are Family Foundation said on its website that more than 100
"beloved children's characters, have united to re-record the smash hit
'We Are Family' (1979) in an unprecedented music video to promote
tolerance and diversity to America's children."
AFP watching the video saw no reference to sexuality issues.
Another conservative organization, "American Family Association", said
in a release:
"While the video itself does not overtly promote homosexuality, it
serves as a hook to entice children and teachers to use the web site
and the materials there such as teacher lesson plans, which explicitly
promote the homosexual lifestyle."
A letter from the foundation accompanying the video gives
question-answer advice relating to questions possibly raised by
children on different family situations.
The New York Times quoted Mark Barondess, lawyer for The We Are Family
Foundation, as saying that anyone who sees harm in the video "needs
medication."
---
Stop Elmer Fudd web site: http://www.ElmerFudd.US/
Covert text file server: http://www.notserver.com/
Scientology crooks: http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/otiii-gif.html
FRice Antiwar: http://www.skeptictank.org/antiwar.htm
FRice Tree Sit: http://www.skeptictank.org/treesit/treesit.htm
"The basis of your cockeyed political beliefs is some sort of damage to
your ability to remember anything but Clinton's *****." -- Carlos
.
|
