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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Pass notes No 3,186: One Million Moms | Pass notes No 3,186: One Million Moms |
| (4 months later) | |
| Age: Hard to say. Around about three years. | Age: Hard to say. Around about three years. |
| Appearance: An army of mostly imaginary Sarah Palin clones. | Appearance: An army of mostly imaginary Sarah Palin clones. |
| Who are they? An internet-based religious campaign group known for their opposition to South Park, Ellen DeGeneres and anything that acknowledges that some men love each other. | Who are they? An internet-based religious campaign group known for their opposition to South Park, Ellen DeGeneres and anything that acknowledges that some men love each other. |
| Oh dear. They sound dreadful. What are they campaigning against at the moment? Fictional gay people with superpowers. | Oh dear. They sound dreadful. What are they campaigning against at the moment? Fictional gay people with superpowers. |
| Are there a lot of those about? Not a huge number, no, but there are two in the news at the moment, and that's two too many, apparently. The latest issue of Marvel's Astonishing X-Men features superhuman mutant Northstar marrying his long-term boyfriend Kyle, and DC Comics has plans to "out" one of its characters later this month. | Are there a lot of those about? Not a huge number, no, but there are two in the news at the moment, and that's two too many, apparently. The latest issue of Marvel's Astonishing X-Men features superhuman mutant Northstar marrying his long-term boyfriend Kyle, and DC Comics has plans to "out" one of its characters later this month. |
| And this has One Million Moms riled? It has them absolutely livid. So livid, they have organised an e-mail campaign urging the comic book publishers to reverse their decisions. | And this has One Million Moms riled? It has them absolutely livid. So livid, they have organised an e-mail campaign urging the comic book publishers to reverse their decisions. |
| Because? They think children who read those comics might go on to make fundamental decisions about their sexual identity based on them. In their words: "Can you imagine little boys saying, 'I want a boyfriend or husband like X-Men?'" | Because? They think children who read those comics might go on to make fundamental decisions about their sexual identity based on them. In their words: "Can you imagine little boys saying, 'I want a boyfriend or husband like X-Men?'" |
| Oh, I see. That would be poor grammar. It's not the grammar that bothers them. | Oh, I see. That would be poor grammar. It's not the grammar that bothers them. |
| They think kids will grow up to become gay? Yep. | They think kids will grow up to become gay? Yep. |
| Are they also worried their kids might become, say, unstoppable green rage monsters? No, that's cool with them. The Bible's pretty neutral about yelling "Hulk Smash!" | Are they also worried their kids might become, say, unstoppable green rage monsters? No, that's cool with them. The Bible's pretty neutral about yelling "Hulk Smash!" |
| So who are these one million moms? Well, they're not actually moms, for one. The site is run by anti-gay group the American Family Association, whose 11-strong board contains exactly zero women. | So who are these one million moms? Well, they're not actually moms, for one. The site is run by anti-gay group the American Family Association, whose 11-strong board contains exactly zero women. |
| And for two? There's a lot less than a million of them: the AFA claims to have only 500,000 supporters, while OMM has around 40,000. On Facebook. | And for two? There's a lot less than a million of them: the AFA claims to have only 500,000 supporters, while OMM has around 40,000. On Facebook. |
| So the comic book companies aren't worried? If anything, they're delighted. Last time OMM decided to campaign against a comic they just succeeded in ensuring it sold out. | So the comic book companies aren't worried? If anything, they're delighted. Last time OMM decided to campaign against a comic they just succeeded in ensuring it sold out. |
| Do say: "Think of the children! Will somebody please think of the children?!" | Do say: "Think of the children! Will somebody please think of the children?!" |
| Don't say: "If they're so into representing society, how come none of their superheroes are bigoted idiots?" | Don't say: "If they're so into representing society, how come none of their superheroes are bigoted idiots?" |
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