An O-pun Letter to Ms. Christy Lemire, AP Film Critic

Posted by C.J.

Dear Ms. Lemire:

In your short review of Hotel for Dogs last week, you included the following:

“It’s not that director Thor Freudenthal’s film sits up on its hind legs and shamelessly begs for approval; on the contrary, it performs a few tricks, then rolls over on its back and plays dead. (Sorry, had to go there, the metaphor was irresistible.)”

Always remember and never feghoot, there’s no reason to apologize, Ms. Lemire. There’s no shame in puns or humorous metaphors, and don’t let your friends and family try to tell you otherwise. In spite of their groans and protests, deep down they know they are just jealous of your ability to dance among homonyms and identify with idioms.

Be brave. Stand strong. The pun is mightier than the word.

Sincerely,

C.J.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something’s Awry With Those Fish

Posted by C.J.

Right off, let me say that I am not a Jesus-fisher. I would never put a Jesus fish or any other Jesus-people bumper sticker on my car, mainly because I occasionally speed (honest), roll through a stop sign (truly), or stick my head out my sunroof to yell maniacally at the guy who’s driving 45 mph in the passing lane (no, only joking). Why would I give someone the opportunity to say something like, “Hey, look at that jackass rolling through a stop sign.  Oh it figures, it’s one of those Jesus-fish freaks”?

That said, I can’t quite get my arms around why politically-correct, multi-culturally minded, let’s-all-get-along-ish people think it’s perfectly okay to mock the Jesus fish. Folks that would never think of making fun of the Star of David or the star and crescent of Islam don’t think twice about tacking a Darwin fish on their car.

Why is that? It doesn’t stop there, though. Bumper stickers like

have become commonplace and broadly accepted as well.

Keep in mind that I don’t have a martyr complex and I’m not feeling discriminated against. (I’m a well-educated, white male in America, for goodness sakes.) I just don’t understand how folks can decorate their vehicles with mocking and hateful stickers, chock it up to humor, and everyone seems to be okay with it. Something’s not quite right.

Am I wrong?

Atheist Bus Ads? What Do You Think?

Posted by C.J.

I’d like to hear your thoughts on this article.

An Unfortunate Marriage

Posted by C.J.

On a recent visit to the Family Christian Store, I began to wonder why Christians allow themselves to be swept up into popular culture and embrace mediocrity. How is it that the rich tradition of a faith that inspired

 and

 and

 could be reduced to

 and

 and

 !?!

For crying out loud, taking pop culture playthings and folding in bible characters or praise music does not make them holy any more than wearing a tie with a bible verse on it makes you a better Christian. Why try to reduce the divine to mediocrity? It only invites the caricaturization of Christians. (Incidentally, do you ever get the feeling that Family Christian Stores and its suppliers don’t give a rip about Christianity, but view Evangelicals as an easy mark? Doesn’t it feel a bit like putting Miley Cyrus on junky toys and clothes because tweens and their parents will buy anything, even junk, as long as it has her image?)

Here’s my thought: there are things in our world that are holy; treat them as such. Intermarrying the divine with the things of this world only makes a mockery of your faith.