KY teacher sshows BBM clips to students

[pinku]

What about the fact that both the leads puff away to glory and drink like fish! That's ok with adults! But kids mustn't be subjected to such "splendours" so early in life! This movie is very very disturbing and adults like me don't how to deal with it - how can one expect children to do so!

[David]

Jon Stewart said it best a while back.  "The real cause of Homophobia is that to most straight guys, they are repulsed by the thought of two guys getting it on.  Banning gay marriage is the only way they can fight back.   Therefore, since the thought of our parents and grand parents having sex is also repulsive to most people, we should also ban heterosexuals from marrying if they are over 60!"   

[Impish]

What about the fact that both the leads puff away to glory and drink like fish! That's ok with adults! But kids mustn't be subjected to such "splendours" so early in life! This movie is very very disturbing and adults like me don't how to deal with it - how can one expect children to do so! Only drug addicts can say such things!

Well, Pinku, I want my nieces and nephew to see it, and I'm no drug addict.  I want them to see it so we they can gain some insight about the realities of homophobia and heterocentrism faced by their uncle.

Your absolute horror at the thought of children seeing BBM must be based on the belief that the love between Ennis and Jack was shameful.  I am not ashamed of who I am and who I love; instead, I'm horrified by the gay-bashers who killed Jack in the story and Matthew Shepherd in reality.  I'm horrified of their violence, hate, and ignorance. 

These are the things that horrify me, and I want the children in my life to be horrified by them also.   I also want them to see that I am NOT ashamed of the love -- both emotional and physical --between Ennis and Jack.

[pinku]

I refer to the erotic scenes not particularly scenes between the two men but other scenes like the one in which Lureen's breasts hang over Jake's chest! Do not advocate the fact that I am horrified of the love between the two men. The love between the two is purest form of love even seen on Screen! I don't think you can subject any kid to your choice of movies based on your sexual preferences. Kids should be exempted from being given any direction about a particular field of sexuality and that that they have the right to  decide after completing their studies to follow what path they like! Yes, but safe sex can be stressed  or usage of condoms albiet without referrering to a heterosexual nomenclature!

Thanks for naming Mathew Shepherd! I was looking for that guy's name and meant to ask someone! Poor dear! Such a nice looking kid too! At least the perpetrators are caught unlike in the case of our Hero Jack! Are gay-beatings common in USA? I am sure no such incidents occur in USA -  being such a open/moderate/educated society!

[vkm91941]

Well Pinku I am a 50 year old straight woman with 2 sons, 12 and 16.  I gave the 16 year old the story to read when he was 14.  He and I saw the film together in the theater twice and my 12 year old watched the DVD with me by his side to answer his questions.  Children are frequently more in touch with the world than we adults give then credit for.

My sons are blessed to have kindest most gentle man as their Godfather,  He loves them unconditionally and they adore him, he is also gay.  If a child is old enough to ask the questions then he is old enough to be told the truth.  I want my son's to grow up understanding that there are all kinds of love in the world and it is not their place to judge another because of whom and how they love.

[Lynne]

I want to add my sentiments here that I want the children in my life to watch Brokeback Mountain.

These are the reasons that are in my heart:

It is vital to have open dialogue with your kids about sexuality.  I want there to never be ANY question that they are loved no matter their sexual orientation.  And I want them to understand that there is nothing 'wrong' with any sexual orientation differing from their own.  If a movie can serve to easily open this sort of dialogue, then it's 100% appropriate in my book.

The rates of suicide for gay children and teenagers in the U.S. bear out that there must be better communication between children and their parents on this subject.  Not one more kid EVER should need to call a suicide-prevention hotline, contemplating ending his/her own life because he/she cannot bear talking to their own parents about their sexuality.

JMO...Lynne

[Aussie Chris]

My sons are blessed to have kindest most gentle man as their Godfather,  He loves them unconditionally and they adore him, he is also gay.  If a child is old enough to ask the questions then he is old enough to be told the truth.  I want my son's to grow up understanding that there are all kinds of love in the world and it is not their place to judge another because of whom and how they love.

Hey Vic & Lynne, I so want to applaud you both for these lovely sentiments.  I totally agree with you.  To have these issues explained in a loving and honest environment will always be the best way to go.  When you think of all the "lessons in life" that we learn in the school yard, which puts most us into therapy for most of our adult lives, how much more love will they have in their lives if they don't have to un-learn the lesson of homophobia?  Surely, this is the very reason why the school teacher got into trouble here: because the offended people in question arn't over their homophobia yet?

[pinku]

Vic,

That's a cute mail! Thank You!
In no way BBM is fit to be shown at schools. It is erotic, disturbing and very very unnerving! Can you dispute these facts? More than eroticism, the subject matter is extremely shocking, as I said before the author gifts to you a sense of total hopelessness in those mere words of hers. Ennis' trailor scene - both in the movie/book - is like watching Dafour (Sudan) unfolding in front of you! An Olympian tradegy! 

But as a mother you know the best and what you teach your children is only to be decided by you and nobody else.  Thanks, pinku

[ednbarby]

Jon Stewart said it best a while back.  "The real cause of Homophobia is that to most straight guys, they are repulsed by the thought of two guys getting it on.  Banning gay marriage is the only way they can fight back.   Therefore, since the thought of our parents and grand parents having sex is also repulsive to most people, we should also ban heterosexuals from marrying if they are over 60!"   

Good God, I love that man.

[ednbarby]

WKYT television reports that no sexual content was aired, but at least one parent was upset that any part of the movie would be shown in the classroom. School superintendent Howard K. Osborne would not say whether any action was being taken against the teacher, but he did confirm that Brokeback Mountain will not be shown again at the school.

"... And then he and that parent and others like him/her ran out back and had a good, old-fashioned book-burning party.  Among the titles being heaped onto the bonfire were Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird, and everything ever written by David Sedaris."