Jeb, Jesus, a new movie, a book, Fla schoolkids, and a big GOP donor

[Bozita]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/local_news/epaper/2005/10/12/s1b_bino_1012.html

'Lion, Witch and Wardrobe' blitz serves up message with Florida's blessing

By Frank Cerabino
Palm Beach Post Columnist

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Now, this is what I call "intelligent design."

When you can combine the forces of Disney, the McDonald's Happy Meal and Gov. Jeb Bush in one tidy package — all of them working together to cram thinly veiled Christian theology down the gullets of Florida's schoolchildren — you've got yourself a hell of a plan.

This December, just in time for Christmas, the movie version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will be in theaters everywhere, much to the delight of Christian evangelicals, who see the children's tale as it was intended — a way to subtly introduce the Christ story to young people.

The C.S. Lewis allegory will also be in Florida classrooms everywhere, in book form, thanks to Gov. Bush, as part of Just Read, Florida!

Yes, of all the books the state might encourage children to read, Bush just so happened to pick the book that coincides with the Disney movie, which just so happens to be co-produced by Walden Media, which just so happens to be owned by a Colorado billionaire, who through his family and foundation has donated nearly $100,000 to the Republican party. But that's just the icing on the cake.

This is about the biggest Christian media event since The Passion of the Christ.

more...

[musette_sf]

1. since when did these fvcks ever do anything subtle? n/t

[tanyev]

2. Ah, the happy synchronicity of corporate theocracy.

:eyes:

[MADem]

3. Of course, if our children ain't learnin'

They could well completely misinterpret the message, and come out favoring animal rights, Wicca, and closets full of FABULOUS outfits!!!!

[flordehinojos]

4. the bushes are so hypocritical about so many things, including their claim

to be the most perfect CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ever to step on earth.

their great-grandfather George Herbert Walker hated religion. He had been sent to a Catholic Seminary to study for the priesthood by his parents. He left the seminary against his parents wishes and eventually married an episcopalian lady.

He hated religion...and whatever claim by the bushes to their christianity, is, i believe, a weapon in their arsenal of spin and lies to make the american people believe that they are, what they are not.

Old man Walker's contempt for religion, I am sure,is alive and well in the Bush family.

[HockeyMom]

6. Spent 12 years in Catholic School myself

which is why I sent my daughters to public school. Talk about cruel and unusual punishment. After all this, Bush and his ilk want to bring "religion" to public schools? Excuse me, been there, done that, which is why I choose PUBLIC SCHOOL for my own kids.

[MADem]

5. A Brit is calling the books racist and misogynistic!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4347226.stm

Pullman said the Narnia books contained "a peevish blend of racist, misogynistic and reactionary prejudice" and "not a trace" of Christian charity.

"It's not the presence of Christian doctrine I object to so much as the absence of Christian virtue," he added.

"The highest virtue - we have on the authority of the New Testament itself - is love, and yet you find not a trace of that in the books."

Pullman's acclaimed His Dark Materials trilogy tells of a battle against the church and a fight to overthrow God.

........
I haven't read the things, so I cannot comment from a point of knowledge about them, but they do seem to be getting peoples' drawers in a knot.

[mzteris]

7. I started trying to read it

and had to quit - I thought they were very creepy!