EXACTLY @momtogkc ! Science has established that people are in the words of the great Ms Gaga “ born that way” and also that it is perfectly healthy way to be ( or at a minimum that trying to change this fact about a person is very very unhealthy) The argument that one can be made to “ believe in” being gay would be like saying that one can be made to “ believe in” being short or left handed.
This fact really makes it morally questionable to claim that being gay is a sin.
Given that the censorship of depictions of gay people in media goes back to the Hayes Code and earlier, I don’t think you can blame the modern social justice movement for this one.
@soozievt stated in post #41 that her daughter is married to a woman and she sounds supportive of that relationship. I think her words are being misinterpreted a bit.
I know @soozievt is more than capable of clarifying for herself, but in the interest of stopping further misunderstanding, I think there’s some misreading going on here.
The comment is perhaps open to reading two ways if you read quickly, but it’s actually using “believe in” as a synonym for “support,” and is talking specifically about gay marriage, not about being gay. Overall it’s a restatement of the same things you’re saying, @maya54 and @momtogkc - that there’s nothing dangerous about being exposed to different ideas, people, etc.
Please. College age kids across the country are demanding “protection” from reality at an alarming rate. Deplatforming, banning, safe spaces, trigger warnings and protests are the norm to avoid potentially upsettings ideas.
No, I don’t. Shrek is also PG, not G.
Regarding the Arthur episode, I do believe it is politically preachy, which makes it trash to me, but I don’t think it is that big of deal. I also don’t think Alabama PBS banning the episode is that big of deal. If kids’ only exposure to life is through TV, we’re doomed.
When kids are raised with compassion and empathy, they possess the tools to evaluate every situation they come across, enabling them to make their own decisions to accept/reject people, ideas, etc.
Me to my 18 year olds last night: Did you see that there was an episode of Arthur where Mr. Ratburn married another man (male rat?). Son: I thought there was a Mrs. Ratburn. Me: No, remember when he had to live with Arthur’s family because something happened to his house. He came alone. LOL Lacking extended cable tv – thus no Disney Channel or Nickleodean – my sons watched PBS extensively and Aruthur every single morning during breakfast for longer than they will admit. It was the motivation to get ready early enough to sit and eat breakfast. We also recall certain episodes with much fondness – the sock market, the one where Arthur cuts his leg on a can and won’t tell his parents and it gets infected (ie the episode that almost made my son throw up)… It’s hard to go back and be myself at a younger age, but I feel that had this episode aired 12 years ago it might have led to a brief discussion since we always had discussions when we watched tv. My kids weren’t much older when they used to watch the Amazing Race with me and there was a gay couple and they asked what that meant, we had a discussion (me noting that I have a cousin who’s gay) and that was that.
In my opinion, a child being raised in a house that would not allow them or want them to watch a children’s show that deals with gay marriage in a very simple way, they are not being raised with compassion/empathy.
^and gay children are growing up in those homes.
Sometimes you’re going to be offended - get over it.
The Shrek comment was meant to be sarcastic, OhiBro, because of course no one cares about straight people getting married. It’s everywhere. But if one cartoon has one character who is gay, oh nooooooo, that’s so terrible. It’s not enough to change the channel, we must remove immediately!
Who exactly is preachy, again?
ahh - I read it backwards - sorry @soozievt!
I, for one, am planning to watch “Mr. Ratburn and the Someone Special” when it airs on my local PBS station tomorrow morning.
When D20 came home from kindergarten, she asked why her new friend had two mommies. We just said that families are different and some families have two mommies. Her reply: “Two bad she has two mommies instead of two daddies. Daddies are much more fun.” Kids don’t over analyze these things. If you don’t want you kid to watch it, turn the channel. There are worse things on TV they’ll come across.
“Politically preachy”? I just watched the episode online. The actual wedding and reception is like 15 seconds long - and there is no discussion or comment about the fact that Mr. Ratburn is gay. Is THAT the problem - that gay marriage is treated as unremarkable?
Here’s the link to the episode: https://pbskids.org/video/arthur/3028697275
Personally, I find inter-species dating even more disturbing. Where’s the outrage that an aardvark is marrying a rat?!
To put things in perspective, the word ‘gay’ is not even uttered. The children are happy the chosen spouse is not the mean person they feared, but a kind chocolate maker. The end.
(Gender, religion, etc, don’t factor into the story at all. The key point is about choosing a kind person. Also, cake.)
Story from this weekend (as told by a friend whose boy is 7)
"-Mom, why did someone beat up Ethan?
“Arthur” Celebrates Mr. Ratburn’s Wedding is what you meant to say
Thanks @scout59. I’m watching it right now. I hate talking about something I haven’t watched.
This just made me spew iced tea all over my desk.
31% of Americans are opposed to same sex marriages. I’m sure that number is higher in Alabama. For those who think
sin is real, and whose faith defines and condemns sinful acts, banning this one show was probably approved by most there.
According to Pew Research such opinions are not moderating. There is reason not to be dismissive.