If you don't mind being a bit shocked, take a look at these pictures from the Folsom Street Fair. (Warning: they are graphic.) This is an annual event in San Francisco, held again on Sunday, September 30, in which some of the city's outstanding citizens turned out to display their style and have a little fun. I wonder what the Islamic radicals would make of these picturesque displays. What a great recruiting tool this would be for them! Here is what they term the decadence of the West on full display.
I don't think this is typical of America, and even many Americans would find such scenes revolting. I am quite sure that even the liberal Democratic presidential candidates wouldn't be seen in a place like this. But I also recognize that when you have freedom there is going to be some excess. Even so, freedom does not excuse anyone from moral and social accountability. To criticize the abuses of freedom is not "censorship"; rather, is to exercise one's own freedom to dissent.
So take a look at this advertisement for the Folsom Street Fair. It shows gay activists in a mock reenactment of Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles at the Last Supper. To me this ad reflects anti-Christian bigotry pure and simple. Yet when the Catholic League protested the ad, Miller Brewing Company took its name off the poster but refused to withdraw its sponsorship of the fair. This, I suppose, reflects the growing financial clout of the gay community.
But imagine if a city fair mocked the sensitivities of blacks or Jews or, yes, gays in this way. There would be a national outcry! There would be front page articles. You would have heard about it on the evening news. Miller Brewing Company would run in the opposite direction and issue a strong condemnation. Is this the first you're hearing about the Folsom Street Fair's bigotry against Christians? That's because the slogans of "tolerance" and "sensitivity" don't seem to apply to religious believers.
Outraged? Go ahead and comment, and I'll forward all the reaction to the public relations office at Miller Brewing Company.
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 12)
61. I am utterly livid at the brashness of the gay community and others, who consider material sacred to the Christian community, fair game for their obtuse satire!
I for one consider "gay" a violation of natural law. For centuries most of the world has held that view and now these "felons" have the audacity to denegrate what I and others hold sacred.
Our society has become most apathetic to this community of homosexuals. Lets cut to the chase and called a spade a spade.
I am not advocating violence or discrimination against any particular group, but I want everyone to know that we must respect our fellow humans and they must have the same respect for us.
That is how we can stay a "civilized" society.
Debaschis at 1:26PM on Oct 1st 2007
62. Oh you want to put the rights of women up against those of a muslim country? The US isn't any bastion of women's rights in the world either. Look the at how many women are still afraid to report a rape. Consider the most dangerous time for a woman is during pregnancy, not from complications, but that it's when she is most likely to be murdered. You want to talk about the civil rights of women, examine the rate of domestic violence against them in the US. I have religious freaks banging on my governments door telling them that I'm incapable of making decisions about even birth control and that I shouldn't be allowed to use what your God doesn't think I should use. What about the God I believe in? Does that matter to you?
Do you want to talk about the fact that the poorest and most unsupported segment of our country is single mothers? We spend more time condemning them for making the choices they did and needing the help they need than we do the fathers who walk away. No one goes on daily in the news about how they should keep their pants on.
And your a teacher? How embarassing that you know so little about your own country, or worse decide to ignore the state of affairs while noticing some one elses. I've always said that one gets what they pay for. When we fail to pay a decent salary for teachers, we get teachers like you.
Kacey at 1:35PM on Oct 1st 2007
63. Debaschis #57.
And while you're busy callin spades, spades, why not call christo-fasscists, christo-fascists?
"Religious" people are all lying to themselves. Take a lesson from the recent revelations regarding, "MOTHER" Theresa.
What's more... Christianity has lost all "moral authority." The rules of Christianity only apply if one agrees to play the game.
Captain Negative at 1:38PM on Oct 1st 2007
64. Hey Debaschis. All I have seen Christians do is percecute gay people.You just said and I quote: "these gay people are a violation of natural law." Now you wonder why they tell you and people like you to go stick your religion where the sun don't shine.
Larry at 1:43PM on Oct 1st 2007
65. DD;
Great stuff, not the pistures I wouldn't
even look because I know how big of idiots
the gays are.
To come against men like Charleton Heston
they rsorted to spitting on him, untill he
quit saying anything against them. Their
filth and the word is correct when it says
God gave them up, to dishonor themselves
and become reprobate.
The extreme left liberals love these people
only because they want their vote.
Hillary and O Bama should be proud to be on
their side but why did Hillary vehemently
deny being a lesbian?
William Ehlert at 1:45PM on Oct 1st 2007
66. Ok - Gays are a little weird - but I suspect that if they were to march in their "usual" clothing - us hetrosexuals would be really freaked out that we couldn't tell who they were - and that there were so many of them!
Robert E. Quillen at 1:55PM on Oct 1st 2007
67. Gays spit on Charlton Heston, elston? (#61 above) Are you sure he just wasn't into that type of thing????
Dennis at 2:02PM on Oct 1st 2007
68. Dinesh,
Let us not forget that Islamists believe that those who criticize or lampoon their prophet or are "decadent" DESERVE to be killed.
Whereas, (most) Christians boycott and peacefully express their offense.
BIG DIFFERENCE!!!
Also, again let us not forget that Islamists think EVERY SINGLE NON-MUSLIM should forcibly submit or convert to Islam or BE KILLED. Let me say that again: EVERY SINGLE NON-MUSLIM!! That includes gays and straights, decadent and pious, atheist and Christian.
So, the fact that the "decadence" of these pictures is irrelevant. Islamists hate all of Western values, from the outrageous to the mundane. They hate Western values of freedom and equality, and justice based on laws.
I won't trade that for anything.
David at 2:59PM on Oct 1st 2007
69. Seems to me Christians are the only group of people left in America that are "open season" to all the hatefullness in peoples hearts. Our Christian faith has kept this nation great and strong...it is being desecrated and you dont care? The muslim fanatics must be thrilled with you... No small wonder why we seem to be going to hell in a hand basket! Dont you dare say anything about muslims or alah! You may get your head cut off! Dont say anything about the perverse lives of lesbians or gays because you will be called a bigot, dont say anything about filthy gangsta rap music because you'll be called a racist, dont question the global warming debacle because you'll be called a truth denier, dont talk about the ponafication of our culture because you will be called a fudy dudy...but hey its ok to take a picture of the Last Supper of our Lord and Saviour and turn it into porn and thats considered progressive thinking...just a joke...and you call yourselves fair and tolerant?...seems you are, to everyone and everything except the Christians of the world and their reverance of God. Reminds me of what Jesus said while hanging from the cross after being crusified..., "Forgive them Father, they know not what they do." No truer words were ever spoken.
Mary at 3:23PM on Oct 1st 2007
70. IS NOTHING OFF BOUNDS THESE DAYS? ARE WE SO OUT OF TOUCH THAT WE WOULD ALLOW THIS KIND OF SMUT TO BE ACCEPTABLE? IF WE ARE SUPPOST TO BE A PROGRESSIVE SOCIETY AND THIS IS WHAT WE GET FOR THAT, THEN I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE GOOD OLE DAYS OF FAITH, FAMILY, AND COUNTRY! WHEN WE WERE STRONG AND PROUD AND WE BELIEVED.... WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US?
SUE at 3:32PM on Oct 1st 2007
71. DD, thanks for the post. That's one of the funnier parodies of the Last Supper I've seen in a while.
But decadent? Hardly. You want decadence?
How about spending something like 2 BILLION DOLLARS PER WEEK for the last 4 years on an imperial war that has caused the death of hundreds of thousands of civilians, and for which there is no end in sight? While 17% of the population in the USA can't afford any kind of health insurance!
Now there's some decadence for you!
Joe Bob at 3:36PM on Oct 1st 2007
72. I live in San Francisco and practice tolerance all day long for all kinds of freedom. I am Catholic. I am a mother. My aunt is a nun and my cousin is a priest. They've given their lives for others. Not only is the depiction of sex toys on the table a desecration of my family's sacrifice and service to others, it also shows deep ignorance of the Catholic faith. Catholicism steadfastly preaches against the sexual obectification of men and women, the reduction of the richness of man's humanity in mind, body and spirit to a simple sexual identity. Shame on Miller Brewing Company for lacking the courage to call this outrageous and offensive ad what it is, and for its silence in the face of this Catholic bashing.
Alicia Hodge
alicia hodge at 3:40PM on Oct 1st 2007
73. Clud:
I agree that there is a line between mockery and bigotry.
Part of the point I was making in my prior comment was that no one would dare to mock other religious symbols and traditions. And if someone dared to do so, there would be an outcry.
Rudy Giuliani was practically crucified for trying to take away the public funding for the gallery that featured the portrait of the Virgin Mary smeared with elephant dung. It played out in the press that Catholic Rudy was offended so Catholic Rudy wanted to strip the funding from them.
Imagine, for a moment, that elephant dung were smeared across a painting of the Star of David and hung in the gallery as "art." Wouldn't Giuliani have been FORCED to take the actions he did back then??? ABSOLUTELY!!
Why are Christian symbols and traditions fodder for mockery and ridicule?? If it's retaliatory because of the beliefs of the religious right (let's call them radical Christians), then shouldn't we retaliate against all Muslims for the beliefs of radical Islamists?
The religious right is a SMALL segment of the Christian population. If you doubt that, then look at the results of the last presidential election. If radical Christians made up such a large segment of the Christian population, then surely John Kerry would not have been defeated by such a narrow margin (and four years prior, Al Gore would not have won the popular vote).
Yet, in the name of hatred for these radical Christian bigots (and they do deserve our disrespect), people justify attacking Christian symbols. It is not right to do so. Direct mocking comments and images at the true offenders.
Frank at 4:21PM on Oct 1st 2007
74. There really was no need for the last supper depiction. It is very insulting to Catholics because it touches the very core of our belief. But as I have been remined ad nauseum in these posts, freedom of speech does exist and the organizers of this event have the right to express themselves. Fair enough. Also Christians have not always treated homosexuals fairly in the past. Once again true enough. However two wrongs do not make a right (unless it is a gay activist per[retating the second wrong). Still this depiction of the last supper is just plain insulting and a slap in the face AND there was really no need for it other than to insult. Freedom of speech though..fair enough.
Just imagine though, if God & Jesus really do exist....ooops.
And finally who cares because in the end they are nothing but a bunch of stupid faggots and not worth the gum on the soles of my shoes...remember freedom of speech.
Vince at 4:38PM on Oct 1st 2007
75. There is no requisite in our country for anyone to respect religion. I would think that those photos depict the downside of our freedom of expression, but those people are minding their own business, and not out obnoxiously proselytsing their lifestyle, as religionists do.
When are religious people going to wake up and realize that religion is just a fairy tale, and should warrant no special treatement in the USA except that the ignorant and stupid are free to practice it. Take off your blinders and face facts.
Teuthis at 4:53PM on Oct 1st 2007