I’m sorry if this question sounds harsh, but there’s no other way to phrase it: What the hëll is wrong with the bulk of Christians in this country that if Jesus is depicted as loving and accepting, that portrayal is stoned into oblivion, but if he’s depicted as being beaten and tortured to death, THAT they come flocking to watch by the busload?
“The Book of Daniel” was an incredibly good program that was quick-fried by people who, for the most part, hadn’t seen it or refused to see it. Critics and commentators loved demonizing concepts such as that the titular minister “popped pills” without bothering to mention it wasn’t speed or uppers or downers but pain killers…an addiction he was wrestling with rather than being glorified. Or that his daughter “dealt drugs,” without bothering to mention that it was a stupid mistake she was busted for in the first five minutes of the show, and she quickly gave it up, and that she was doing it to raise money to publish her own manga comic since she was really an artist. Nor did anyone ever bring up the many scenes where the family was shown as a loving, caring group who never hesitated to display that love for one another.
But what really drew fire was the concept of Jesus as a patient sounding board for the frustrated Daniel. If they’d only bothered to actually WATCH the program, rather than allow blowhards to make up their minds for them, they’d have seen a depiction of their savior that’s probably the most heart warming and loving version of divinity since George Burns explained, “I didn’t create the universe in six days. Actually, I thought about it for five days and did it in one. I work best under pressure. But my days aren’t the same as yours, y’know. When I got up this morning, Sigmund Freud was in medical school.”
Sample the triumphant words of Donald Wildmon: “This shows the average American that he doesn’t have to simply sit back and take the trash being offered on TV, but he can get involved and fight back with his pocketbook.”
No. What it shows is that the average American is intolerant. So much so that he couldn’t JUST make the decision to try a program for himself and, if he didn’t like it, change the channel or even, God forbid, turn off the TV and read a book. No, the average American had to do everything possible to make sure that OTHER average Americans couldn’t judge for THEMselves by organizing and driving a series off the air. Of course, what most burned their biscuits was Jesus being depicted as being tolerant of sinners or even (gasp) gays. If Jesus had been shown as condemning all aspects of sin and assuring Daniel that his gay son was doomed to hëll, THAT they might well have supported.
But for Jesus to display tolerance of sinners…for Wildmon to display tolerance of other Americans rather than organize to drive quality shows off the air? Can’t have that, no, no. Because…well, because why, exactly? Aren’t Christians supposed to be charitable, tolerant, understanding? I was pretty much sure that was part of the teachings.
What is it about human beings that we constantly create codes of conduct for ourselves with lofty ideals–tolerance, love thy neighbor, judge not lest ye be judged, free expression–and then not only fail to live up to them, but TAKE PRIDE in that failure? It’s an interesting question, I think. Too bad shows such as “The Book of Daniel,” where such questions might be explored, are being canned.
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And now a current US administration as well.
Well, the state department actually. Not at all the same thing.
that said, it’s still shameful and, though I hate to say it, it won’t surprise me if the administration does make a statement every bit as misguidedly appeasing as what the State Department did.
http://www.michellemalkin.com/ has a number of photos from a protest in Britain today, including such signs as “Be prepared for the REAL holocaust” “Behead those who insult Islam”, “Butcher those who insult Islam”, “Slay those who insult Islam”, “Massacre those who insult Islam”, “Annihilate those who insult Islam”, “Exterminate those who insult Islam”, “Give SUCH a pinch to those who insult Islam” etc. ACtyually, looking at those signs closely it looks like they were all written by the same person but anyway…
I might have some small sympathy for those offended by the cartoons if they A- did not immediately CONFIRM the impression that Muslims are prone to violence by calling for the murder of the people who wrote them (as well as those who just happen to be from the same country) and B- did not live in countries that routinely portray Jews in a manner that would cause the editor of Der Stuermer to blanche.
F*** ’em if they can’t take a joke.
I might have some small sympathy for those offended by the cartoons if they:
a) did not immediately CONFIRM the impression that Muslims are prone to violence by calling for the murder of the people who wrote them (as well as those who just happen to be from the same country) and;
b) did not live in countries that routinely portray Jews in a manner that would cause the editor of Der Stuermer to blanche.
As tough as it is to say it, sometimes it’s RIGHT to say the other guy is wrong.
I can’t argue with a single thing Bill’s just said.
Mr. David, I am horrified by what you have done in this thread, because you have negated one of the major reasons that it is important for creators such as yourself and Priest to talk honestly with the fans: to eliminate the blame game when a project ends.
What creators like you and Priest have been saying is that fans should not start placing blame because they do not know a fraction of the real reasons why a project ended. It is in your self-interest because it is simply bad for creators if you become the target of the blame game and thus your careers take an undeserved hit for events that are mostly out of your control.
The ending of Book of Daniel doesn’t say anything about any group. There are plenty of United States network television shows that simply are not allocated the resources to have any realistic chance of breakout success, just as there are plenty of comic projects at Marvel and DC that are not given the resources to succeed relative to what the companies are pushing as the major event.
Just look at this thread. What kind of dialog has been achieved. Do you really want to spend your time talking with anyone on either side of the debates here. What exactly have you learned that is interesting or helpful. Come on, this is your own site. You don’t see ranting idiots being egged on to spew flames with Neil Gaiman on his web site.
John Phamlore,
What the hëll are you blathering about?
If you don’t want to have a discussio, the STFU and don;t post, but come here and tell people they can’t discuss something just because they haven’t probed the situation’s rectum and run CAT scans on it first.
A very good dialog has been achieved. If you don’t like, then don’t it.
John Phamlore,
What the hëll are you blathering about?
If you don’t want to have a discussio, the STFU and don;t post, but come here and tell people they can’t discuss something just because they haven’t probed the situation’s rectum and run CAT scans on it first.
A very good dialog has been achieved. If you don’t like, then don’t read it or bìŧçh about others talking about it.