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Opinion

SpongeBob won't soak up criticism

Justin Vann

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? A scheming proponent of the homosexual agenda, that's who.

In November, the nonprofit We are Family Foundation produced a DVD to be distributed to 61,000 elementary schools, both public and private, on March 11. WAFF is currently attempting to make that day "National We are Family Day." The DVD features more than 100 well known cartoon characters singing "We are Family," and accompanying supplemental material in an effort to promote appreciation of tolerance and diversity. 

However, James C. Dobson, founder of the more religiously oriented group Focus on the Family, felt something was amiss. Dobson raised issue with the video at a black-tie, post inaugural dinner in Washington, D.C. Specifically, he expressed his concern that the video was being used as a vehicle for promoting homosexuality. Somehow, the media interpreted Dobson's speech as specifically fingering one specific cartoon character, SpongeBob Squarepants, as the offending character.

It's actually not so hard to see how they could've made the mistake. As far back as 2002, the SpongeBob Squarepants cartoon had allegedly become a hit in the gay community for what the show's creator, Stephen Hillenburg described at the time as "a tolerant attitude." Hillenburg claimed then and now that SpongeBob is asexual. Apparently, the best evidence people had for SpongeBob's orientation was the fact that he is often seen holding hands with his starfish friend, Patrick. Thus, I'm inclined to believe the gay SpongeBob theory too.

Regardless of whether or not SpongeBob is gay, some of the supplemental material supplied with the DVD and on the WAFF Web site deals frankly with issues of homosexuality and homophobia -- a fact Dobson rightfully pointed out when he was accused of hating on SpongeBob. 

"How awesome!" I thought to myself upon first hearing this. "Two family advocacy groups engaged in a dialogue about tolerance towards homosexuality? I can't wait!"

That dialogue never happened.

Nile Rodgers, the founder of WAFF, went on The Today Show on Jan. 21, denying any promotion of homosexuality by his organization. Two days later, the links to gay rights/advocacy groups had vanished from their Web site. The classroom handouts discussing homophobia that were available on the Web site were nowhere to be found. 

I can barely describe the anger and sadness I felt upon discovering this. To add insult to injury, the way I found that WAFF had withdrawn the "pro-homosexual" materials was not through some internet muckraking or investigative blogger, but through Dobson's own Web site, family.org. 

Go there and look at the material that had coincidentally disappeared from the WAFF website. It's amazing stuff. And despite what the good doctor Dobson says, it is not "pro-homosexual." It specifically advocates tolerance of homosexuality. For lack of enough conclusive scientific research to back it up, the supplements do make a potentially disputable claim by saying homosexuality is an innate, not chosen, characteristic.

I think that while certainly inappropriate, a truly pro-homosexual statement would be hilarious: "Confused? Give gay a try!"

Where does Dobson draw "promotion" from "tolerance?" Or a better question to ask is this: if we shouldn't discuss homophobia or tolerate homosexuality, what should we do instead? Shrug our shoulders at the person who held a sign reading "Your son is in hell," at Matthew Shepard's funeral? What's your suggestion, Dobson? Oh right, scripture (fun fact: Leviticus 25:44 allows possession of slaves).

Dobson can only upset me so much for saying what he's always been saying. But Rodgers went back on the message he should have been sending. He was in an ideal position to stand up to the likes of Dobson. Instead, he decided to avoid controversy. He chose the refreshingly neutral flavor of diet tolerance.

Nile Rodgers and SpongeBob Squarepants may not want to end up on some wacky, religious-right blacklist, but I'd be honored by it. If they won't say it, I will: I support treating homosexuals like the normal citizens they are, in every way possible. I think they should be included in our definition of the word "tolerance."
 

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