Weekend Question 3: Why Can Madonna Crucify Christianity, But Positive Biblical Themes and Mockery of Other Religions Cannot Air?
Don Wildmon makes some good points.
I am personally offended by Madonna’s latest crucifixion-mocking escapade, but would not want to prevent it from being performed in concert, or even aired. By the same token, if someone decides that they should withhold support from a network that airs it, or the program’s sponsors, it’s a free country. If enough people decide this, it hurts business.
Thus it should be noted that, according to an American Family Association e-mail, over 740,000 people have e-mailed NBC “asking NBC to show Christians the same respect they show other religions.” Apparently NBC is unmoved, which is of course their right.
But, as Wildmon has pointed out in that same e-mail:
Such was not the case when NBC refused to show Danish newspaper cartoons depicting Muhammad in a negative light. NBC’s message? Show respect for Muslims, but it is ok to bash Christians.
Given that its news division has forfeited the right to claim objectivity in its treatment of various religions, and the entertainment division’s outrageous watering down of Biblical references in “Veggie Tales” (scrubbing that the network will not be applying to Madonna), NBC should spare us excessive sanctimony about the “right to free expression” in the Madonna situation, and should recognize that there is economic risk they are voluntarily assuming in the hypocritical positions they are taking. The network should also note that the idea of threatening broadcast licenses, though brought up in different circumstances a month ago (and in my opinion, very improperly), is unfortunately in the arena of ideas these days.
