AFA blasts kid's TV characters for 'We Are Family' video

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AFA blasts kid's TV characters for 'We Are Family' video

Post by dr. what »

Anybody have another link to this story?

Fundamentalist Christians are increasingly involved in the political process, organizing ambitious voter registration drives to institutionalize their gains, and threatening to take down Democratic Senators that attempt to block President Bush's conservative nominations to the Supreme Court. It's enough to make one nostalgic for those late twentieth-century days when the Rev. Jerry Falwell outed Tinky Winky.

Back in 1999, the Tinky Winky Affair became a major media story complete with late night talk show hosts having a blast at the Reverend's expense. The fact that the brouhaha became a Christian public relations disaster didn't stop fundamentalist organizations from their appointed rounds. Despite their grasp for political power, there's always room for another "culture war" battle.

And, where there's "culture war" smoke, you can count on the Reverend Donald Wildmon's Mississippi-based American Family Association to be there fanning the fire.

These days, the Rev. Donald Wildmon's organization's fangs are nipping at the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) an organization that recently put together a video remake of "We Are Family" -- a popular song recorded by the group Sister Sledge.

The video uses the voices and images of more than 100 characters from popular children's television programs including Arthur, Barney, Blue's Clues, Bob the Builder, The Book of Pooh, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Dora the Explorer, Jimmy Neutron, Kim Possible, Lilo & Stitch, Little Mermaid, Madeline, The Magic School Bus, The Muppet Show, Rugrats, Sesame Street and SpongeBob SquarePants.

The video, a collaboration of WAFF and the Anti-Defamation League, Crown Theatres, Disney Channel, FedEx, Nickelodeon, HIT Entertainment, Nile Rodgers/Sony Publishing/The Bernard Edwards Estate/Warner Chapel, Nelvana, PBS, Scholastic, Sesame Workshop, Toni Mendez Shapiro Estate, and WGBH, will be simultaneously telecast March 11, on Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and PBS. And, according to a WAFF press release, a PSA will also air in Crown Theatres across the nation.

"Cooperation and unity are the most important values we can teach children. We believe that this is the essential first step to loving thy neighbor," says Nile Rodgers, co-writer of the song "We Are Family" and founder of WAFF. "And the fun and exciting format makes it a lesson that's easy for children to learn."

So what's not to like about a video promoting diversity and tolerance, true family values? A lot says Ed Vitagliano, the news editor of AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association, who sees the devil -- also known as the homosexual agenda -- at work: The effort by WAFF, he writes in the January issue of AFA Journal, "is as unprecedented as it is cunning, using all the right words and happiest faces in an attempt to speak directly to the nation's children about 'tolerance and diversity'." For Vitagliano, the whole project smacks of "homosexual advocacy."

In addition, writes Vitagliano, "the DVD of the song will be distributed to 61,000 public and private elementary schools across the country" in March, "accompanied by a teacher's guide, designed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a group that, among other things, promotes the normalization of homosexuality."

Lurking beneath an attempt to celebrate diversity amongst young children, Vitagliano has spotted something nefarious: "A short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences being celebrated is homosexuality," he writes.

"The [WAFF] website is filled with pro-homosexual materials," Vitagliano charges. "A 'Tolerance Pledge,' for example, created by Tolerance.org, part of the leftist Southern Poverty Law Center, encourages signees to pledge respect for homosexuals and work against 'ignorance, insensitivity and bigotry.'"

"Most Christians are now aware of what those code words mean," said AFA's chairman Don Wildmon. "If you are a person who accepts the homosexual lifestyle, then you are tolerant," he said. "If you don't, then you are a bigot who is motivated by ignorance and hate."

The Rev. Wildmon's organization has been in the forefront of "culture war" campaigns for twenty years. Recently on its Web site, it celebrated a successful effort making sure that Kid Rock -- the Republican-leaning rock-rapper -- will not be performing at one of President Bush's inaugural balls. Another high-profile AFA target is Procter & Gamble because it made a $5,163 donation of P&G stock "to help the homosexual community repeal a law in Cincinnati that prohibited giving special rights to homosexuals."

Within two weeks of 9/11, the We Are Family Project was launched by songwriter/producer Nile Rodgers and Tommy Boy Music president, Tom Silverman who brought some 200 celebrities together to re-record Nile's hit song "We Are Family" as a step towards the healing process. WAFF, as a not for profit 501(c)3 corporation, "was formed in July 2002 to continue the work of promoting our common humanity and the vision of a global family through the use of a simple song and message -- We Are Family."

The We Are Family Foundation is issuing a special package with lots of "We Are Family" bells and whistles. Each package includes a DVD of the music video and a booklet containing educational lesson plans developed in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League's Miller Early Childhood Initiative of A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute. According to WAFF, "The lessons aim to put the video's themes of respect, understanding and appreciation of diversity into practice and are designed for pre-K through first grade audiences with additional teaching guidelines for grades two to six."

On the face of it, "We Are Family" might be an ideal theme song for a group with the name American Family Association. Now, however, given the song's association with diversity and tolerance, it's doubtful that the Rev. Wildmon, Ed Vitagliano or other AFA staffers will be humming the tune anytime soon at the organization's Mississippi headquarters.

All teaching guides will be available to be downloaded from the Web sites of both the Anti-Defamation League and WAFF. You can catch a preview of the children's video at the WAFF Web site.

Reprinted from Working For Change:
http://www.workingforchange.com/article ... emid=18386
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Post by LadyTevar »

Anyone wanna slashdot the AFA?
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Post by White Haven »

I'm thinking more lase with a TAG module or something similarly fatal. Slashdotting's too good for these fucks.
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Post by Admiral Valdemar »

It's funny because it's not happening here.

Seriously, what's with the US and the whole standing for freedom thing being said whilst pressure groups try to restrict them ever more behind the scenes?
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Post by dr. what »

I was really hoping that this was just an exaggeration but I actually made a foray into the AFA journal website--it's splashed all over the first page. Wanna see their justifications in all their glory?

It is as unprecedented as it is cunning, using all the right words and happiest faces in an attempt to speak directly to the nation’s children about "tolerance and diversity." Once again, of course, those ideas include homosexual advocacy.

On November 10, a video remake of the song, "We Are Family," was created using the voices and images of over 100 beloved children’s TV characters. On March 11, 2005, the video performance will air simultaneously on the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and PBS. A similar video aired on those networks in 2002.

The nation’s children will be all too familiar with the characters on the video, incuding those from Arthur, Barney, Blue’s Clues, Bob the Builder, The Book of Pooh, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Dora the Explorer, Jimmy Neutron, Kim Possible, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Little Mermaid, Madeline, The Magic School Bus, The Muppet Show, Rugrats, Sesame Street and SpongeBob Squarepants.

Also in March, the DVD of the song will be distributed to 61,000 public and private elementary schools across the country. It will be accompanied by a teacher’s guide, designed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL, www.adl.org), a group that, among other things, promotes the normalization of homosexuality.

Driving the project is the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF, www.wearefamilyfoundation.org), which states on its Web site that the song was remixed "to speak the message of diversity and tolerance to elementary school children nationwide."

On the surface, the project may appear to be a worthwhile attempt to foster greater understanding of cultural differences among all Americans. However, a short step beneath the surface reveals that one of the differences being celebrated is homosexuality.

WAFF was founded as a non-profit organization in 2002 by Nile Rodgers, who wrote the song "We Are Family" with his late music partner, Bernard Edwards. The WAFF site says that the group "celebrates our common humanity and the vision of a global family …."

The Web site is filled with pro-homosexual materials. A "Tolerance Pledge," for example, created by Tolerance.org, part of the leftist Southern Poverty Law Center, encourages signees to pledge respect for homosexuals and work against "ignorance, insensitivity and bigotry."

Most Christians are now aware of what those code words mean, said AFA Chairman Don Wildmon. "If you are a person who accepts the homosexual lifestyle, then you are tolerant," he said. "If you don’t, then you are a bigot who is motivated by ignorance and hate."

One of the teacher’s guides available online at the WAFF Web site is called "Writing for Change: Raising Awareness of Difference, Power, & Discrimination." Full of politically correct lessons on feminism, it is also a primer for teachers who want to indoctrinate children regarding sexual orientation issues.

Lessons include such topics as "Talking About Being ‘Out’" and "Uncovering Attitudes About Sexual Orientation." In these lesson plans, teachers are taught how to introduce students to "the concepts of homophobia and compulsory heterosexuality."

According to the teacher’s guide, children should be taught to reject the idea "that women are ‘naturally’ or innately drawn sexually and emotionally toward men, and men toward women," or that heterosexuality is normal and should be the only model for marriage.

Students are expected to be influenced by the lesson plans. One of the follow-up questions asks the kids: "How will understanding these definitions change your thinking about compulsory heterosexuality and homophobia?"

The ADL has partnered with WAFF on the "We Are Family" project in other ways. The WAFF site includes the ADL’s pamphlet, "Close the Book on Hate," a diversity tome that normalizes homosexuality. It also contains a reading list for children and adults that includes such homosexual favorites as Daddy’s Roommate, Growing Up Gay, Heather Has Two Mommies, Is It a Choice?, Two Teenagers in Twenty, and What If Someone I Know Is Gay?

Wildmon said it is difficult taking a stand against such projects. "Nobody I know has a problem with teaching children to be respectful and tolerant. It is wrong, however, to use such concepts to open the door to a secondary discussion about a controversial subject like homosexuality," he said.

For those people who find it difficult to understand AFA’s objection, Wildmon said they should imagine a scenario in which the shoe is on the other foot. "What if these television characters were singing about personality, but then when children went to the Web site, or when the teacher opened up the accompanying lesson plan, the topic was Christianity?" He said. "A lot of people would be angry with that kind of approach. And that’s why many Christians will be upset with the strategy taken by the We Are Family Foundation."

While the March launch of the school project was still a few months away, Wildmon advised parents to be on the lookout to see if the DVD, teacher’s guide, and other WAFF materials find their way into their local schools.
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Post by darthdavid »

Admiral Valdemar wrote:It's funny because it's not happening here.

Seriously, what's with the US and the whole standing for freedom thing being said whilst pressure groups try to restrict them ever more behind the scenes?
The united states moves towards the liberal end of the spectrum in a 2 steps forward one back manner. It goes foreward alot on the civil rights front, useless twats get "morally outraged" and push the country back then we move forward again when they're not looking. :D
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Forgot to add: So right now we're in a backwards stride and as such there's alot of bullshit flying.
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Post by Rye »

Admiral Valdemar wrote:It's funny because it's not happening here.

Seriously, what's with the US and the whole standing for freedom thing being said whilst pressure groups try to restrict them ever more behind the scenes?
That "liberal" concept was dangerous and counterproductive. So the neocons, with their perception of the "moral decline" of the US came up with the good/evil divide in politics, be a patriot and be right wing and be good, by a society destroying leftist and be evil. They joined forces with the vast untapped voting force of the christian fundamentalists by convincing some influential preachers and now they're amalgamating into a big "anti moral decay" force that believe their own propaganda.

The US is crazy, in short, due to lack of British rule.
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Post by DPDarkPrimus »

"Most Christians are now aware of what those code words mean," said AFA's chairman Don Wildmon. "If you are a person who accepts the homosexual lifestyle, then you are tolerant," he said. "If you don't, then you are a bigot who is motivated by ignorance and hate."
Tells it as it is. :P
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"Most Christians are now aware of what those code words mean," said AFA's chairman Don Wildmon. "If you are a person who accepts the homosexual lifestyle, then you are tolerant," he said. "If you don't, then you are a bigot who is motivated by ignorance and hate."
Well gee, it must be obvious day at camp stupid.
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Post by Vympel »

:lol: I was just gonna say something like that ...

This is truly astounding. Anyone ever wonder what these whackjobs see when they watch Tele-tubbies? Do you think maybe they have visions that noone else can perceive?
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Post by White Haven »

Yes, they do. Hallucinogens are a wonderful thing. Placebo hallucinogens are called 'religious fundamentalism.'
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Re: AFA blasts kid's TV characters for 'We Are Family' video

Post by Utsanomiko »

Using cartoons to indoctrinate children into not hating homosexuality?

I bet it'll tell kids to be nice to them colored folks, too...
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Post by HemlockGrey »

Oh my God, that's great. They literally came right out and attacked the concepts of tolerance and diversity. That's like...that's like mustache-twirling villain, right there. They're now on the level of the Disney villain who rants about how much he hates love and justice.
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Post by Executor32 »

What's next? Are they going to start tieing lesbians to railroad tracks, then twirl their collective mustache and laugh while they wait for gay Dudley Do-Right types to foil their insidious plot? :roll:
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Post by fgalkin »

Executor32 wrote:What's next? Are they going to start tieing lesbians to railroad tracks, then twirl their collective mustache and laugh while they wait for gay Dudley Do-Right types to foil their insidious plot? :roll:
Nah, they'll probably burn them at the stake instead.

Have a very nice day.
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Post by Spanky The Dolphin »

Isn't the AFA the same group that hate the Kinsey Institute and spread rumours that they conducted sexual abuse on children as part of their research?
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Post by dragon »

HemlockGrey wrote:Oh my God, that's great. They literally came right out and attacked the concepts of tolerance and diversity. That's like...that's like mustache-twirling villain, right there. They're now on the level of the Disney villain who rants about how much he hates love and justice.
Ok I am not up to date on my religion but what does the region itself say of tolerence and diversity
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Post by Gandalf »

These guys should see some anime. :P
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Post by fgalkin »

Gandalf wrote:These guys should see some anime. :P
no they shouldn't. You don't want a massive campaign to ban the import amnd sale of anime in the US, do you?

Have a very nice day.
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Post by Lord Poe »

Admiral Valdemar wrote:It's funny because it's not happening here.
Keep watching your rear-view mirror:

http://www.christian.org.uk/html-public ... rights.htm
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Post by Ace Pace »

Is this wrong if I found those articles incredibly funny? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Everytime I see those sites who claim homosexuality tolerance sites have lesson plans for indoctrinating kids in homosexuality, I just think its a satire on the fundies... some of them are, but this is too funny, and too true. :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Post by sketerpot »

dragon wrote:
HemlockGrey wrote:Oh my God, that's great. They literally came right out and attacked the concepts of tolerance and diversity. That's like...that's like mustache-twirling villain, right there. They're now on the level of the Disney villain who rants about how much he hates love and justice.
Ok I am not up to date on my religion but what does the region itself say of tolerence and diversity
That depends on what you want to believe. The Bible doesn't give any moral guidance; it's a mirror that reflects your beliefs. Fundamentalist bigots may look in Leviticus and see condemnation of gay people because they want God's stamp of approval on their bigotry, but they'll overlook the parts that support treating women as property and committing terrible war crimes (and not interacting with women during their periods, but I can understand that :wink:). A liberal Christian will look at the Bible and see the more loving, happy parts, like a lot of the stuff in the New Testament, but overlook the disgusting parts of the Old Testament and Paul's ultra-sexism (which is one of the parts that sexist fundamentalists will see). Various different denominations emphasize different things, and about the only thing they seem to agree on is that the Bible supports their views.

I could point you to parts of the Bible that are rascist, xenophobic, sexist, intolerant, et cetera (there are lots of them), but it wouldn't make any difference. What do you want to believe?
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Post by Admiral Valdemar »

Lord Poe wrote: Keep watching your rear-view mirror:

http://www.christian.org.uk/html-public ... rights.htm
There's no way they're going to pull this sort of shit off without a fight. I have a pitchfork somewhere and I'm not afraid to use it.
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