Putting the fundament in fundamentalism
Monday, December 05, 2005

WARNING: Fun being had by someone on Planet Earth

Well, consider my goat well and truly got. Sainsburys and Woolworths have withdrawn Jerry Springer: The Opera on DVD from sale after complaints from a "a tiny fringe Christian group". (via Bloggerheads). MediaWatchWatch are pointing the finger at everyone's favourite bigots, Christian Voice. Sounds about right. There's no smoke without fire from book burners after all.

Remember those heady days after July 7 and the stoicism showed by this Bulldog Nation (or whatever shorthand the papers coined for ease of consumption)? I thought we weren't in the business of letting fundamentalists dictate how we live our lives and what we read and watch in our own homes, theatres, and cinemas. I thought we weren't going to give in to threats and blackmail. It would seem we are after all.

Along with other people, I sent a statement of intent of my own to Sainsburys and Woolworths:

Dear Sir

In view of your craven bending to the whims fundamentalists and banning the sale of the "Jerry Springer: The Opera" DVD in your stores, I shall be taking my custom elsewhere from now on and urging my friends and family to do the same.

Yours faithfully

I wonder if Lord Sainsbury is as malleable on other issues. Apparently his supermarket empire only needed ten complaints from the Fun Police in order to censor the products it sells. It would seem that if you can provide (or threaten to provide) a PR disaster, the world is your oyster.

Maybe 25 (say) complaints or so from other "pressure groups" and Lord Sainsbury might have a word with the Prime Minister about banning extraordinary renditions or ID cards. Or Jamie Oliver.

So who's going to bring Stephen Green and his grotty little fundamentalist band to heel? Should it be down to the Christian community just as the Muslim community have been urged to rein in their own fundamentalists? Regardless of whether they're involved or even care? If you're in the club don't you bear some reponsibility for the conduct of the other members?

Shouldn't we get Prince Charles to announce that "every true Christian" should root out the extremists and declare that "some may think this cause is Christianity. It is anything but. It is a perversion of traditional Christianity"? Or are such exhortations addressed beyond the pale?

I don't mean to equate Stephen Green and his fundamentalists with Muslim terrorists. Oh, hang on, I do. Green and his ilk have taken the message of Christianity, twisted it, and are now attempting to force their own morality and values on the rest of us by use of threats and blackmail. And with every little victory they'll swell a little more and look for another challenge. Once this battle's won, there'll be another, and their cry go up, "Remember Jerry Springer!"

UPDATE: A reply from Woolworths:

Dear Justin,

Thank you for your e-mail.

Woolworths is not a censor and does not wish to act as one. Like any other retailer, it is guided by government legislation with regard to film certification.

However, we also listen to our customers and their feedback. On this occasion we have received numerous complaints and it is clear to us that our customers would prefer us not to stock this product.

As a result it has been removed from sale.

Regards

xxxxxxxx
Customer Support Advisor

Which seems to be remarkably similar, nay identical, to replies that other people have received. It's like I said, cut'n'pasting if fair enough if you're not a prole.

Now, how to frame the reply...?

Woolworths is not a censor and does not wish to act as one.

Why did you then?

[I]t is clear to us that our customers would prefer us not to stock this product

Unless they've canvassed every single Woolworths customer, that would appear to be untrue. I'm a Woolworths customer and I would prefer them to stock this product. It would have surely been more accurate to state:

[I]t is clear to us that our Christian fundamentalist customers would prefer us not to stock this product.

It would be very interesting to see what form these "complaints" took. Were they really just complaints or were there threats of picketing and demonstrations? Something just doesn't add up here. Why would two large companies grab their ankles like this unless their PR (and by extension profits) were at stake? It now seems likely Woolworths have received at least as many email complaining about the ban and yet they are still sending out the stock response.

Blogging really is the wrong game. I think it's time to form a vicious, small-minded pressure group of my own and get what I want that way. The "I know what's best for you and I'm going to make damn sure you get it" lobby is on the march...

UPDATE 6/12: The Smoking Gun:

Stephen Green, the organisation's national director, said the group had recently managed to stop Sainsbury's from stocking videos of the opera.

(Via Tim)

In other news: New Orleans got what it deserved, say "Christians".


25 Comments:

On December 05, 2005 7:08 PM, Blogger Devil's Kitchen said...

Woolworths is not a censor and does not wish to act as one.

Is that in the same way that WHSmug wasn't a censor when it banned the Diana issue of Private Eye?

Twits. Can I join your pressure group now, please?

DK  


On December 05, 2005 7:29 PM, Blogger Justin said...

>> Can I join your pressure group now, please?

For the time taken to send a bunch of email, I think there's some fun to be had. We could get ten or more of us together and pretend to be The Leviticus Persuasion (for example). We bombard Sainsburys and Woolworths and complain about the sale of mixed fibre clothes or whatever (if we wanted to be really repugnant, Attitude magazine).

If they don't bow we cite the Jerry Springer precedent. If they do bow we go public with the sting: "Sainsburys give in to fundie lobbying. Again". Try and teach them that this Jerry Springer thing has the potential to be the thin end of a very large wedge.  


On December 05, 2005 7:47 PM, Anonymous Joe said...

One thing that might be worth considering is buying a few shares in both Woolies and Sainsburys then threatening to raise merry hell at the next shareholders' meeting about caving in to fundamentalist thugs.  


On December 05, 2005 10:35 PM, Blogger Rachel said...

You should definitely get them for opening on the Sabbath, and encouraging witchcraft and gambling.


Can you see if they have any videos on sale which mention magic or witchcraft?

Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty - in fact, any of the Disney ones should be good to kick off with...

or if they sell kid's magic kits - or halloween costumes...  


On December 06, 2005 6:04 AM, Anonymous The Bagged Bear said...

I would like to know a lot more about Christian Voice and its members. Have any web sites / newspapers looked in detail into this organisation, or its predecessor Repent UK?  


On December 06, 2005 7:38 AM, Blogger Justin said...

BB, I'm not sure any newspapers have a had a decent look at them. Stephen Green crops up regularly as a rentamouth on the Today programme and elsewhere and I think that so far, the policy towards him has been to give him enough rope.

Tim Ireland and MediaWatchWatch have been following him closely and it's worth trawling their archives.  


On December 06, 2005 1:35 PM, Blogger Peter Gasston said...

Funnily enough, direct action is exactly what I suggested.  


On December 06, 2005 2:48 PM, Anonymous Dean said...

http://www.pledgebank.com/JerrySpringer

And if anyone in the Brighton and Hove area wants to participate in a joint, personal delivery the more the merrier.

thedeanofwilson@gmail.com  


On December 07, 2005 11:43 AM, Anonymous Dave Hansell said...

An alternative approach would be to try to set a legal precedent which could be used in other areas.

It could be argued that the actions of both the so called "Christians" and the companies involved represent a restriction of free trade as legally determined by current WTO and other similar Trade agreements.

Indeed, attempts by National and Local Governments; NGO's; and individuals to place any kind of "restriction" on "Free Trade" - environmental; ethical investment; protection of local markets etc. are ruthlessly outlwaed as being against agreed WTO rules and agreements.

A case brought against this group and the Companies who have withdrawn this product, on the grounds of being in breach of WTO free trade rules may pose a dilemna between the idealogical fixation with unfettered "free trade" the need to placate the fundmentalist groups that underpin the neo-con right wing agenda.

Ideally, the case brought against them would need to fail in order to set a legal precedent which would allow other pressure groups - environmentalists, NGO's etc. - Local & National Governments, Local consumers and producers etc. to legally challenge the WTO rules in the future.  


On December 07, 2005 11:35 PM, Blogger Rachel said...

Posted on Christian Voice website:'I have wondered whether we should simply forgive those responsible for ‘Jerry Springer the Opera’. I realise we can and should forgive ‘those who trespass against us’ not least because only then will God ‘forgive us our trespasses.’ I dearly want my trespasses forgiven!'

Well then, dur. *Sheesh*  


On December 08, 2005 12:37 PM, Anonymous Matt said...

I sent this comment to both Woolies and Satansburies.

I am writing to express my disgust at your decision to not stock the Jerry Springer Opera DVD. Whilst you are well within your rights not to stock any item, acting as a censur on behalf of a few complaints from minority groups is very worrying.

If I was get several people to complain about stocking Man Utd DVD's because they offend me (and Man Utd do offend me, believe me), would you bow to that pressure? No, I'm sure you wouldn't and you would, quite rightly, take my request to be absurd. Your decision to ban Jerry Springer is also based on an absurd request from an equally absurd religious group.

Based on this, I shall not be shopping at your store again as I don't believe you can be trusted to act in an ethical and responsible manner in regards to your customers.

Thank you.

I don't expect anything but the usual cut and paste nonesense.  


On December 08, 2005 12:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My suggestion is to email all the remaining stores that are still selling the DVD and tell them how pleased we are with our purchase of the DVD and that we remain loyal customers.

If they have hundreds of letters and emails of praise, then it would be far harder for Stephen Green's dozen of so complaints to have any effect on our liberties to buy a DVD.  


On December 08, 2005 1:07 PM, Blogger Doormouse said...

Hi Chicken yoghurt! Yup, my fellow Christians have once again got their knickers in a knot about something that had been going on for years. Frankly, the tv programme was worse. (The stage show aint to my tastes, but the musics good at least!) To Rachel - yeah, I know...

like your blog! Just started my own, and I'm a bit of luddite - how do I get one of those 'stop id card' signs for my blog?

love and light, doormouse. (llittleview.blogspot.com)  


On December 08, 2005 2:11 PM, Anonymous Mark said...

Hi

Thought this was good.

This action by retailers is outrageous.

Thought you might be interested in my little protest on Pledgebank. If 10-20 letters can prompt Sainsburys to remove Jerry Springer from sale then why can't 10-20 letters get Disney DVDs removed from sale ?

I'm sure there must be 10-20 people in the country who think Disney is offensive.

Mark  


On December 08, 2005 2:29 PM, Anonymous Bill said...

It is the legitimacy offered to Christian Voice because they are a religious group that offends me. It appears that anyone with religious beliefs can inflict their bigotry with impunity. We effectively live in a secular society and religious belief should always be a matter for personal conscience not public verification. Until we accept an absolute distinction between state and church (or the like) we will continually have these vindictive little groups attempting to impose their dogma. The new religious discrimination laws will only further their small-minded zealotry.

Perhaps we are missing the target; we should cut this off at the root and turn or attacks on Christian Voice (and their ilk from all religions). Investigate, reveal and vilify. Demonstrate to the wider public that they have no legitimacy.  


On December 08, 2005 2:38 PM, Blogger Justin said...

Rachel: Heh. That reminds me of the Bill Hicks bit:

I did that joke in Alabama, in Fife, and these three rednecks met me after the show. "Hey, buddy! C'mere! Mr. Funny-man, c'mere! Hey, buddy, we're Christians, and we don't like what you said." "So then forgive me." Later, when I was hanging from the tree.

Doormouse: Try here for your NO2ID buttons. Public service blogging!

Mark: The thing is Mark, the Jerry Springer DVD is produced my a small company and targeted at a small audience. Disney on the other hand are an enormo-corporation selling products that every child in the country would sell their Granny for.

Sainsburys and Woolworths banning Jerry Springer DVDs isn't going to cost them much and to their mind avoids bad PR. Banning Disney DVDs two weeks before Christmas? Sorry, mate.

At the simplest I'd say phone your local Sainsburys and ask if they have the JS DVD. When/if they say they haven't got it ask if you can order it. If they say no, ask why not and then ask for the manager. Take five minutes.

Bill: "Investigate, reveal and vilify." I couldn't agree more. Pass this on.  


On December 08, 2005 2:49 PM, Anonymous Mark said...

Justin,

Quite... I didn't suggest that my idea was the only thing to do. And I don't actually expect to succeed in getting Disney DVDs removed from sale.

But if the CEO of Sainsbury's received enough letters it might make them think.

Personally, having been involved with major PLCs, I think buying shares and asking questions at the AGM is one of the most effective ways of raising the case.

BTW I've emailed Christian Voice asking why they are concentrating on JS. Why aren't they campaigning against Sainsbury opening on Sundays or what about other DVDs such as The Last Temptation of Christ and/or The Omen, etc ?  


On December 08, 2005 2:58 PM, Blogger Justin said...

Why aren't they campaigning against Sainsbury opening on Sundays or what about other DVDs such as The Last Temptation of Christ and/or The Omen, etc ?

It's like when they threatened the cancer charity. Do hyenas attack the strongest, strapping wildebeest or do they pick of the smaller, weaker ones?

Christian Voice pick their targets and only act when they're sure of a kill. Like Tim Ireland says: they've got the taste for blood now.  


On December 08, 2005 4:32 PM, Anonymous Joe said...

I find the behaviour of groups such as Christian Voice to be disgusting and their small minded fundamentalist nonsense is not something I want to have anything to do with, especially not during my Christmas shopping in Woolworths so I have written to Woolworths and told them what I think, I am going to continue writing to them until I got a proper response.  


On December 08, 2005 11:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry, but I have to agree with Christian Voice on this one...
.. for one reason only...nothing else to do with their thoughts.

Both my wife and I are Christians and are fed up with all other religions complaining about something and getting "their way" to the detriment to our religion.

In this society, if we want to follow the stupid practice of "politically correct" then we need to all follow the same rules..

If a Muslim, or a Hindu (or other) finds something offensive, and that product or publication gets canned, then EXACTLY the same thing should happen when Christians complain about something that offends them, anything else is actually discriminatory and therefore ILLEGAL.

Therefore, as offended Christians, my wife and I will be going to Woolworths and Sainsbury's BECAUSE they decided not to sell this offensive material..  


On December 09, 2005 12:49 AM, Blogger Rachel said...

Oh for goodness sake anonymous, I should have thought that of all the things going on in the world thatare likely to offend Jesus, a DVD of some swearing opera singers and an actor in a nappy are the least of His worries...


and can you really NOT see the irony here?

'Both my wife and I are Christians and are fed up with all other religions complaining about something and getting "their way" to the detriment to our religion.'

Oh ho ho. *headdesk*  


On December 09, 2005 8:19 AM, Blogger Justin said...

Well, Anonymous, thanks for putting me straight. There's me thinking that apathy, cynicism and sexual abuse scandals were killing Christianity when it was the dusky hordes of the unrighteous after all.

Can you please point me towards examples of products or publications (other than the one recent example of the play in Birmingham) getting "canned" at the behests of Muslims, Hindus "(or other)". If you can show any, please explain how these instances of others gettting "there way" were to the "detriment" of Christianity. Thanks.

Anyway. Good see you "offended Christians" living by the tenets of Jesus Christ. And you all so without sin as well. Congratulations.

If only you could get good and steamed up about something that really matters. If only Stephen Green could find the time between excoriating queers to complain about torture, climate change, spousal abuse, poverty, war, famine, disease...  


On December 09, 2005 10:04 AM, Anonymous Checkers said...

Could we not try start a campaign to stop Sainsbury’s and Woolworth’s selling 'the lion the witch and the wardrobe' (the book). After all the whole Chronicles of Narnia series is riddled with racism and sexism, and I find the whole idea of brain washing kids into believing in Christianity with fairy tales pretty offensive.

If Sainsbury’s receive 10 complaints about this surely they will have to ban them?.... Ok, maybe not be it will at least serve to highlight the hypocrisy of both companies.  


On December 09, 2005 10:11 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm amazed... i would leave it at that, but i feel the need for a little rant!
Did JS or Woolies consider how many peple had actually bought the DVD before removing it?
i always wonder wether writing to them to commend (rather than complain) about their products would be good sometimes. But there arent many people who have *that much* time on their hands
meh!  


On December 09, 2005 7:04 PM, Blogger Rachel said...

As a vicar's daughter, I suddenly feel the need to froth with indignation about this filth, that is contained in a book widely available in stores. Ban! Burn! Bin! Etc!


Mr Green should be told. Off to the pickets, men and women!

http://www.biblesexstories.com/  


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