Great. I haven't even been to work a half hour and I've already been upset by a rather un-American email message, one about Madonna, nonetheless. No stranger to controversy, Madonna has challenged her Catholic upbringing time and time again. Everyone knows by now about her "crucifixion" on the current Confessions Tour, as everyone from the Pope to the Russian Orthodox Church has condemned it. The ironic part about it is that people are calling it anti-Christian and a mockery of Christ when the purpose is
"to bring attention to the millions of children in Africa who are dying every day (or) are living without care, without medicine and without hope. I am asking people to open their hearts and minds to get involved in whatever way they can."That isn't anti-Christian, it's the definition of Christianity!
Yes, it's called a "mock" crucifixion because it is not real. That is what mock means; it is not "mocking" the crucifixion, and it sure as hell isn't mocking Christ! Every Easter, Catholics across the world perform "mock" crucifixions when they go through the stations of the cross. It's a simple imitation. Are you making fun of turtlenecks when you wear a "mock" turtleneck? This is a lack of understanding of the English language!
Since the summer, Clear Channel Communications, the company responsible for ruining radio and the owner of a majority of radio stations in this country, has not regularly played songs from her latest album Confessions on a Dance Floor, despite a demand for them, including an online petition that was delivered to the company. They claimed the music wasn't right for top 40, but Madonna had no problems getting her songs on the radio in the rest of the world.
Now, NBC is pondering pulling the broadcast of her concert special Live to Tell, recorded during the latest leg of her hugely popular and equally controversial Confessions tour, because some people WHO HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN IT are "offended." How do you know it's offensive if you haven't seen it? This isn't judging a book by it's cover; it's judging a book by hearing the title spoken!
Remember when people screamed "freedom of speech!" when Muslims were upset over the cartoon of Mohammed with a bomb on his head? (According to their religion, it is a grave sin to depict the Prophet at all.) Madonna may have no taste, but she is no bigot, and she is entitled to express herself. See, the great thing about America is that we have this thing called "freedom of speech."
To those who may sign the petition to NBC to get the show pulled: If you're offended, please don't watch it. It really is that simple. Don't take something from other people just because you don't like it. If you are worried about your children seeing it, maybe you need to have more control over them - don't let them watch so much television, or let them watch it and explain to them that she is pleading for help for African children who don't have enough to eat. Once you start taking away one person's right to speak, others will follow, and then one day, you may find yourself in a position where you no longer have a voice. Don't give your freedom to the corporations.
Please show your support for free speech - tell NBC not to cave into pressure from religious extremists and people who disrespect the United States Constitution. Sign my petition to NBC in support of broadcasting the show (even if you don't plan to watch it.)
cross-posted on Rox Politix
No comments:
Post a Comment