This week both President Obama and Vice President Biden have
come out in defense of gay marriage, which we all knew was going to happen
before their first term ended. This blog is not about whether or not
homosexuals should be allowed to get married, because I have written about that here and here.
Instead, I want to focus on who got the credit for the “shift”
in their stance. Joe Biden credits the 1998-2006 sitcom Will and Grace for doing “more
to educate the American public than almost anything anybody’s ever done so far.[i]”
If you aren’t
familiar with that show, it featured a straight woman who lived with her gay
male best friend; there was another homosexual man on the cast as well.
And in case you
aren’t familiar with the word sitcom, it means situation comedy, not to be
confused with documentary. It’s not as if Mr. Biden is crediting some
documentary about a gay couple, or some reality show about two men trying to
raise a family. He cited a comedy—with a team of writers—for educating America
and shaping domestic policy.
That would be like
passing legislation to make paper companies more efficient in the Northeast
after watching The Office.
Don’t get hung up
in the politics here (like, Do we really
want an administration ruling the country based on Comedy Central?); instead,
think about this from a Christian perspective. The vice president of the United
States has admitted what I have been criticized for saying for years, and that
is the media we watch shapes us.
As often as I
mention how shows like Family Guy, Two and a Half Men and Modern Family are ruining this country,
I get comments from defensive people saying, “It doesn’t bother me.” I am also
reminded that I shouldn’t “judge.”
Media has an agenda
that goes beyond their paycheck. Consider how Modern Family added a gay kiss to appease GLAAD. Do you not think
the agenda behind Will and Grace was
to do exactly what Mr. Biden said they did—to change America’s perception of
homosexuality? This is a show with a team of writers carefully analyzing every
word, gesture, and setting, to make the show exactly what it was.
This same process
shapes every TV show and movie that we watch. We constantly remind our children
“Oh be careful little eyes what you see.” That same advice, if it is good for
our young ones, should be good for us older ones.
The Prince of the
Power of the Air controls the airwaves, but he doesn’t have to control your
remote.
[i] http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/05/07/joe-biden-says-will-and-grace-helped-change-public-opinion-on-gay-rights/?mod=google_news_blog
Comments
Also, I don't cower away from being labled as "antihomosexual." I am also anti adultery. I am anti promting any sin, whether hetero or homosexual.
Christians should be applauded, not condemned, for standing up for what they believe in. We always hear that if Christians in the past had stood up then we could still have prayer in public schools, and abortion could be illegal, so I am not backing down now.
Great post, I always enjoy your blog! :)
You're anonymous link was not all all "peaceful" as your link suggest Christians should be. You, as well, are trying to make a statement as Tommy has done. Are you being peaceful? Is the article bashing evangelical Christians? Hypocrisy?
It seems your type, and yes, I am stereotyping you, seems to be all about loving and accepting everyone as they are EXCEPT Christians with standards and who pursue righteousness as stated we should in the Bible. Your type calls people like this legalists, Pharisees, judgmental hypocrites and self-righteous so called Christians whose eternity will be spent in hell because we never learned how to love (even though you personally have no idea how much we do for the gays, homeless, poor, etc.) This may not be you particularly, but many like your type. Just a general statement of my opinion.
Are you judging me right now in your mind for being totally against what your article says? Are you being loving and peaceful in your cowardly anonymous comment? Just a thought. We should all be careful how we handle this so called "culture war" that your article suggests we are in.
I can't stand arguing on blogs, but this must be said because I am tired of petty anonymous comments from readers who only paste someone else's thoughts instead of their own.
@Tommy
Great blog and we should definitely be careful what we let into our minds which leads to the heart. Though we will never be perfect here on earth, we should not completely ignore Scripture when it comes to sanctification, holiness, etc. This might mean not accepting a way of life that is sinful. Notice I did not say not loving the person who is in sin, but I said not accepting.
Alicia, thank you, and I feel your frustration. People feel so passionate and yet hide behind anonymous comments. I have read too many hate-filled comments that tell me to be more loving.