Atten. Matt, Wisconsin Christians Took a Stand Against Play in Delafield Park
Editor's note: this blog is in response to Matthew Konkel's blog post regarding a Summer Stage production that was moved from Lapham Peak State Park after Christian groups objected to its message.
Matt, Vic Eliason was just the messenger, the media informant of important information.
It was the Christians of Wisconsin that protested this play. You really make a lot of VERY INFLATED statements in your article! DNR afraid for their safety? Really Matt? I think not! The majority of folks in this area & state of Wisconsin identify themselves as Christians. You would offend the majority to appease the few? You and your ilk would NEVER consider offending Muslims, Hindus or others. Most especially the Muslims!
The establishment clause regarding religion states that we have the freedom to exercise our religious beliefs and that the government cannot establish and implement a national denomination that we all must follow.
IT DOES NOT state that religious thought and world view can't be expressed in the public arena.
DontTreadOnMeEither
9:43 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Did the author of this blog, or any of his "ilk", even see this play? We know Mr. Eliason didn't. So-called "Christians" can be so easily offended when they show no signs of a sense of humor.
While I did not see the play either, I read several reviews that said it was good, lighthearted fun.
I'm guessing Jesus had no sense of humor either, as you never read in the bible about him telling any jokes or pulling gags on his disciples.
GearHead
10:06 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
But God DOES have a sense of humor. After all, he gave us you as a joke! The most easily offended of us are liberals who can't quite practice that whole "co-existy" thing.
Randy1949
11:15 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
"IT DOES NOT state that religious thought and world view can't be expressed in the public arena."
Which is why a public park should not have denied the staging of a play that offended the religious sensibilities of even a majority.
I'm interested to know just what portions of the play you personally found offensive?
Luke
5:23 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Randy,
The DNR merely enforced the law. The contract says that all performances must be "family-friendly" performances. The literature put out by the performance company clearly says that the performance is a PG13 performance. That is all that the DNR is acting upon. Those who are complaining about what the DNR did intentionally withheld this information with the intent to spin the issue to be about free speech and censorship.
Randy1949
9:26 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
So, any production in the park must be G-rated? PG allows for some mild 'cuss words' and adult innuendo. PG-13 was intended for a PG content with further frightening elements that might upset very young children. Frankly, the Bible itself is PG-13 in terms of the killing and the sexual situations in it.
Mara Hanson
12:14 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Again, you want to offend the many (Tax Payers) for the fun of the few (Tax payers).Guess the DNR must agree with the many. Why doesnt that acting company write a foolish & degrading play about the Koran,Allah and Mohamad :Lets see how far that takes them! P.S. Mr. Eliason did get first hand info. about contents of this play. Us so called Christians take God and His written word very seriously. This country is in enough trouble already with The Maker of Heaven & Earth .Dont think we need to offend Him any futher by showing Him that we believe His revealed Word is a BIg JoKe! Blessings Dear ones, Mara
Randy1949
11:34 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
First of all, Mara, the antics of the religious right have offended me for many a year. But thank you for showing me the light about respect for the Revealed Word. I now plan to pattern my life on Biblical role models. First on the agenda, impregnate the maid. Next, pas off the wife as a sister for personal safety and financial gain. And finally, take that long-postponed hunting trip with my son. I'm bringing my knife.
Bob McBride
6:10 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The play moved to a more appropriate venue in a more highly populated area and the publicity it received will probably assure more attendees and better box office receipts. The folks that wanted it out of the park and, apparently, out of Delafield altogether, got their way. I don't know of too many contentious situations where both sides benefit from the results but this appears to be one of them. If this is still represents a pressing issue for anyone at this point, then they should be thankful for the relatively problem free life they're living.
Randy1949
9:35 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
It's only an issue because the next time sectarian pressure forces a play out of any public venue it might not turn out to be such a benefit to the folks putting on the play. It's the principle of the thing.
I remember having to force my way through demonstrators waving pamphlets to get into the Oriental Theater to see Scorsese's Last Temptation of Christ, which was ultimately a very inspiring film for me. I remember the pressure that kept it from airing on HBO. This is nothing new.
Bob McBride
9:43 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
It's a play.
Randy1949
9:51 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Yes, it's a play. A play doesn't differ from a filmed movie that significantly. I think it's the sacrilegious nature of the content that's at issue. Some people are making it about the PG-13, but was there nudity or cursing? Were people retiring to the wings to 'go in unto'? I recall a lot of that in some serious and reverent Biblical movies.
Bob McBride
10:11 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Once, again, everyone came out ahead of the game. A barely known theater company got to move to a better venue to put on a play one might suggest was possibley cherry picked from amongst others by the same authors for its "controversial" nature (not an unknown tact used by small groups trying to generate pub for themselves). A radio personality got some publicity and probably a small bump in ratings for leading a campaign to oust the play from the park (again, not an unknown tact utilized by radio jocks). Some true believers on both sides got to express some gas and the net result is a win/win for all.
Everything should turn out this well for all involved. Particularly since we're talking about something that, had it not had the controversy attached to it, would have come and gone without much notice.