In recent years, the American entertainment industry has pursued a cultural sensitivity strategy, generally avoiding behavior and language that could be perceived as offensive to various groups.
Yet, one large group has not only been overlooked, it seems to have been brought into the crosshairs. "Hollywood" has unabashedly continued to insult and offend American Christians.
A recent Pew Forum survey revealed that nearly 80% of Americans refer to themselves as Christians. We, the undersigned, wish to communicate that American Christians do not appreciate the use of the name "Jesus Christ," whom we view as our Lord and Savior, as an expletive or epithet, particularly when other common "swear" words are thrown in to further exacerbate the issue.
So we, the undersigned, wish to formally request the producers, writers, and performers of the American entertainment industry to refrain from such inflammatory and offensive speech.
A recent Pew Forum survey revealed that nearly 80% of Americans refer to themselves as Christians. We, the undersigned, wish to communicate that American Christians do not appreciate the use of the name "Jesus Christ," whom we view as our Lord and Savior, as an expletive or epithet, particularly when other common "swear" words are thrown in to further exacerbate the issue.
Christian- and family-focused movie and television review sites are not waning in popularity. More and more people are becoming frustrated with "Hollywood's" apparent lack of cultural and religious sensitivity when it comes to Christians and families.
People continue to choose to avoid films and programs that flaunt anti-Christian sentiment, or that promote values contrary to those of the traditional family. This group of people who choose to avoid entertainment choices that conflict with the way they choose to live their lives and raise their families is not going away.
We simply ask "why?" Why is it necessary to have characters use the name of Jesus Christ as an epithet? Why is it necessary to throw an expletive right in the middle of that name? Simply put, there is no good reason.
So, why do it?
So we, the undersigned, wish to formally request the producers, writers, and performers of the American entertainment industry to refrain from such inflammatory and offensive speech.
It cannot hurt the bottom line to choose other means of self-expression than hate speech, but it certainly can help it.
Please stop taking the Lord's name in vain.
