THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 12, 1996 TAG: 9607120051
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER DZIURA
LENGTH: 104 lines
YOU KNOW that Mickey Mouse cap you bought at Disney World? The one with the big plastic ears stapled onto a black felt dome? Don't deny it - it's in your closet, the ears slightly crushed, the beanie slightly crumpled, but still emanating rays of Disney.
That hat, unfortunately, is threatening your soul.
This June, after a ``Gay Day'' was held at Disney World, the Southern Baptist Convention accused the Disney Corp. of seemingly promoting homosexuality and lacking family values. They voted to boycott Disney if the company fails to meet the convention's demands. These demands included cutting off health benefits to the companions of gay employees and ceasing to produce ``adult'' movies and shows.
Those observing the boycott would cut off their children from Disney cartoons, toys and theme parks. I just hope their daughters don't cry too much when their Pocahontas dolls are confiscated.
The first question I wish to pose is, ``What, exactly, does depriving people of health care have to do with `family values'?'' It's not exactly a good lesson in any type of values (much less loving one's enemies) to advocate that people die because you disagree with them.
I do recognize that the boycotters believe that extending health benefits to gay partners somehow says, ``Hey, homosexuality is the Disney way!''
But if the benefits of working at Disney include health insurance for two, then does it really matter who that second person is? It would be quite reasonable to allow the employee to insure anyone she likes, be that person a partner, a live-in parent, or a child.
Next, look at the ``Gay Day'' controversy. Fifteen thousand gay men and women visited the park on the June 1 event. This really bothered the boycotters - after all, they might have to sit next to someone who was different from them on ``It's a Small World.'' The irony is overwhelming.
A spokesman from the park also pointed out that no other tourist destination in the world is expected to deny admission to huge groups of people for political or religious reasons. After all, what exactly do the boycotters want Disney to do? Have a witch hunt at the entrance turnstiles?
Finally, look at the complaint about Disney's producing programs with ``adult themes,'' such as ``NYPD Blue'' which is produced by Disney subsidiary, ABC.
Shows like ``NYPD Blue'' say, in bold print, written in English, ``ADULT!'' As in ``not for children!'' Which is exactly why there's no cartoon mouse dancing around in the credits.
Disney doesn't intend for anyone's children to watch its adult programming. That is why ``NYPD Blue'' doesn't play on the Disney Channel after the ``Mouseketeers'' reruns. And, in regard to entertaining adults, is there anything wrong with Disney not breaking into song every 10 minutes?
In the end, cutting off kids from Disney is just a wee bit of an overreaction. To use a Disney metaphor, it looks as though some people have been living up in Quasimodo's tower and have no idea what the world is really like. Perhaps it's time to come down.
Y OU KNOW that Mickey Mouse cap you bought at Disney World? The one with the big plastic ears stapled onto a black felt dome? Don't deny it - it's in your closet, the ears slightly crushed, the beanie slightly crumpled, but still emanating rays of Disney.
That hat, unfortunately, is threatening your soul.
This June, after a ``Gay Day'' was held at Disney World, the Southern Baptist Convention accused the Disney Corp. of seemingly promoting homosexuality and lacking family values. They voted to boycott Disney if the company fails to meet the convention's demands. These demands included cutting off health benefits to the companions of gay employees and ceasing to produce ``adult'' movies and shows.
Those observing the boycott would cut off their children from Disney cartoons, toys and theme parks. I just hope their daughters don't cry too much when their Pocahontas dolls are confiscated.
The first question I wish to pose is, ``What, exactly, does depriving people of health care have to do with `family values'?'' It's not exactly a good lesson in any type of values (much less loving one's enemies) to advocate that people die because you disagree with them.
I do recognize that the boycotters believe that extending health benefits to gay partners somehow says, ``Hey, homosexuality is the Disney way!''
But if the benefits of working at Disney include health insurance for two, then does it really matter who that second person is? It would be quite reasonable to allow the employee to insure anyone she likes, be that person a partner, a live-in parent, or a child.
Next, look at the ``Gay Day'' controversy. Fifteen thousand gay men and women visited the park on the June 1 event. This really bothered the boycotters - after all, they might have to sit next to someone who was different from them on ``It's a Small World.'' The irony is overwhelming.
A spokesman from the park also pointed out that no other tourist destination in the world is expected to deny admission to huge groups of people for political or religious reasons. After all, what exactly do the boycotters want Disney to do? Have a witch hunt at the entrance turnstiles?
Finally, look at the complaint about Disney's producing programs with ``adult themes,'' such as ``NYPD Blue'' which is produced by Disney subsidiary, ABC.
Shows like ``NYPD Blue'' say, in bold print, written in English, ``ADULT!'' As in ``not for children!'' Which is exactly why there's no cartoon mouse dancing around in the credits.
Disney doesn't intend for anyone's children to watch its adult programming. That is why ``NYPD Blue'' doesn't play on the Disney Channel after the ``Mouseketeers'' reruns. And, in regard to entertaining adults, is there anything wrong with Disney not breaking into song every 10 minutes?
In the end, cutting off kids from Disney is just a wee bit of an overreaction. To use a Disney metaphor, it looks as though some people have been living up in Quasimodo's tower and have no idea what the world is really like. Perhaps it's time to come down. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Jennifer Dziura by CNB