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02/27/2008
Video: Unfortunately for Mr. Shepard, truth is the essence of good comedy
We at G-A-Y are of course fans of lighthearted takes on this "culture war." However, we've perceived a weird phenomenon when it comes to using irreverence to discuss matters involving actual human lives and the acceptance thereof. That is: When our side tries to defuse the attacks that are waged against us by resisting them with our tongues in our cheeks rather than our fists in our gloves, the effect comes across as a refreshing way to deal with serious situations. But on the other hand, when those who are trying to foist their personal views regarding gays' supposed lack of morality onto society attempt to employ the same jocular tone, the whole thing usually comes across as more offensive than if they'd used a straightforward approach.
Here, watch this latest video from Focus on the Family's Stuart Shepard to see what we mean:
See? There's just something patently unfunny about a man who works day and night to foster faith-based discrimination for an entire tax-paying population sect. And the smug mockery of our lives and loves is a stance Mr. Shepard does not deserve to take. We use laughter as a "so as not to cry" defense mechanism. When the ones who are the ones bringing us to tears use it, it comes across as a mechanism of great offense!
We get it -- they want to seem likable and less stuffy. However, that's just not going to happen if their positions are thoroughly unlikable and untruthful. In comedy, you gotta have either observations that ring so true one can't help but laugh, a schtick so absurd that one can't help but be enchanted, or an act so outrageous that one is too shocked and mind-blown to not give a shocked, befuddled smile in response. But FOF? Well, they simply have harsh, discriminatory, human-hurting stances that they're trying to mask behind a more appealing veil. Those of us who see their act for what it is can't afford to offer them even a courtesy laugh.
And Tango Makes Activism [YouTube]
**More of Stuart's inappropriate comedy stylings:
Video: The part of unscrupulous fibber will be played by Stuart Shepard [G-A-Y]
Video: Substitute 'Black' or "Christian' for 'gay' victim and ask if they'd still be making light of this! [G-A-Y]
Your thoughts
God, what an asshole. The wild-eyed looks, the weird shoes, going apparently undercover at a gay rights forum ("you are the radar"), etc. This creep is an "ex-gay" himself, isn't he? All that repression, all that self-hatred.
Posted by: Matt | Feb 27, 2008 9:56:06 PM
[Full transcription]
Hi, I’m Stuart Shepard, this is Stoplight. It’s story time.
Here it is, the book that got a Virginia school official razzed by the ladies on the View.
It’s a story of two penguins who fall in love.
--
[In high falsetto voice]: Hi, I’m Silo.
[In deep manly voice]: I’m Roy.
Silo: You’re cute.
Roy: I look exactly like you.
Silo: Whatever, let’s fall in love.
Roy: OK.
--
Did I mention both penguins are boys?
--
[Makes car noises] Rumm num num num
Silo: Let’s go to Vermont for a civil union.
Roy: Ok.
[Makes more car noises] Rum num num num num
--
Together, they adopt an egg, and raise baby Tango.
The school official saw that the book was more about activism than flightless water fowl, and had the book removed from general circulation at the elementary school. You don’t need me to describe the outrage that followed.
--
Silo voice: Respect for all!
Roy voice: Censorship!
--
I went to a gay activist educator conference a few years ago, and one of the workshops dealt with how work gay themes into the regular curriculum, all the way down to kindergarten. “Under the radar” is how they described that…By the way, YOU are the radar.
They want to co opt the public schools to change how the kids in your life think about marriage and relationships. Because you’re obviously filling their heads with crazy thoughts like, ya know, marriage being between one man and one woman.
Two problems with this whole scenario. Number one, do we really want to take our moral cues from flightless waterfowl that order squid at the drive through? ‘Cause if we do, it’ll soon be illegal to wear anything except a tuxedo, you could be fined for setting your Jacuzzi higher than 32°, and we’d have to fly every pregnant woman to the south pole, to huddle together on the ice in the 40 below zero howling wind during the six months of darkness.
The other problem is that as penguins do, Roy and Silo broke up, and Silo fell in love with another penguin, a girl penguin. Yep, he’s an ex-gay penguin.
--
…Take 3: Here it is, the book that got a Virginia fool…fool official, yeah, I’ve known a few of those…Take 4...
[End transcription]
Posted by: Emproph | Feb 27, 2008 11:04:50 PM
Shepard is an asshole, plain and simple. He never posts my responses to his videos. Of course in the videos I generally tend to refer to him as an asshole and tell him I'd like to punch his lights out.
Posted by: Tony P | Feb 28, 2008 1:58:11 AM
to Matt - nah, I don't think he's an ex-gay. Like you said - "the weird shoes". He's definitely an asshole.
Posted by: Robguy | Feb 28, 2008 2:06:43 AM
"do we really want to take our moral cues from flightless waterfowl … ?"
-"Roy and Silo broke up"
-"Silo fell in love with ... a girl penguin."
-"he’s [now] an ex-gay penguin."
---
Oh I’m so with you Stu, with the whole falling in love with a girl-penguin thing, and the whole ex-gay thing on top, but do we really want to take our moral cues from flightless waterfowl?
---
Stuart Shepard everyone, not just another mocking bird, but a new species of foul.
Posted by: Emproph | Feb 28, 2008 9:36:46 AM
Anyone else notice this? The video segment is called "Stoplight" and ain't it the truth after all? He's doing his level best to stop the light (truth) from reaching anyone! Bet even HE didn't intend to be quite THAT tongue-in-cheek!
Posted by: JWSwift | Feb 28, 2008 8:00:27 PM
Tony P, the reason FotF is not posting your comments, I think would be obvious. Leave out the immature profanity (name-calling) and threats of violence (however mild and figurative they may be) next time, and your opposing view would have a much better chance of getting the respect you (and others here on this site) feel it deserves.
I noticed that while there are numerous childish, vitriolic comments calling Mr. Shepard obscene names and such like, none dealt with the issue at hand underlying FotF's humorous approach: namely the premature, unscientific evidence misappropriated to favor the presupposition that homosexuality is genetic and present within the animal kingdom. As for myself, I am appreciative of Focus on the Family and Stuart Shepard for providing an alternative, informative viewpoint contrary to those driving the majority of the mainstream news.
Thank you for allowing me to comment.
Posted by: OneWayJn146 | Aug 16, 2009 3:51:13 PM
"an alternative, informative viewpoint contrary to those driving the majority of the mainstream news."
Uh huh. In the same way that someone can say that 2+2 = 5 and call it an "alternative viewpoint." That is okay if you don't see a reason to place a premium on truth. But those of us who *do* value actuality realize that 2+2 always equals 4, no matter who presents the finding. And we also realize that homosexuality is and has always been a part of the animal kingdom, no matter who denies it.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Aug 16, 2009 8:55:03 PM
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