IN THEORY
Sponge Bob Square Pants' Sexuality
| Q: |
Some conservative Christian groups are criticizing a children's video featuring SpongeBob SquarePants and other cartoon characters because they believe it promotes acceptance of gay and lesbian families. The video's makers, however, say it is meant to promote tolerance and diversity.Peter Sprigg, senior director of policies of the Family Rsearch Council, said: "Much of what they have is coded language that is regularly used by the pro-homosexual movement such as 'tolerance' and 'diversity.' Do you think messages targeted toward children should be more specific when promoting themes of tolerance or are some of these critics over-reacting?
| A: |
Let’s begin with the obvious. He’s a sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. Equally obvious is that Sponge Bob has a voice that is heard by our children. Therefore, we believe, he should have some degree of responsibility in providing a decent message, forgetting that we parents, educators, clergy and anyone who works with children have a greater responsibility to address those messages.
The cartoon feature produced by We Are Family should be welcomed by all of us. To have Sponge Bob, Patrick and the folks at Bikini Bottom talking about diversity and tolerance should open the doors for parents to communicate, share and grow with their children. After all, if a cartoon can become a vehicle for parents to approach sensitive issues, then parents have a value-added on top of its baby sitting function.
Tolerance? Diversity? I can’t understand why some are fearful of these words just because they have been used by pro-homosexual movements? I can think of a movement that centered on these words 2000 years ago when its leader walked this planet. Christianity is the first religion of tolerance and diversity, so much so that Jesus Christ put us to the ultimate challenge of loving even our enemies. And the road to tolerance, he taught, started by removing the speck from one’s own eye, to clearly see the log in his brother’s eye.
The Christian Church has a clear mission – to continue spreading the message of love and hope. I truly wish that this Sponge Bob episode can serve us an opportunity to talk to our kids about the diversity among people in the world and even more, to discuss their similarities – that we all have a tremendous energy within us to love and to be loved. To tell them that that love is so powerful that it can overlook our flaws and make us approach one another with respect. To share with our kids that where there is love there is no inequality, no loneliness and no despair.
Fr. Vazken Movsesian
St. Peter Armenian Church & Youth Ministries’ Center
In His Shoes
No comments:
Post a Comment