Posted on Friday, 21st March 2008 by Patrick Dorwin
The Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel chose Good Friday to start running an ad for a play called Puppetry of the Penis. Wikipedia describes this as: “The theatrical contortion of the male genitalia (penis, scrotum, and testicles) into various positions along with comedic narration”. So basically what it is, is two guys get on stage and play with themselves in front of an audience.
This weekend marks the most holy time of the year for Christians, but the paper finds it acceptable to allow this ad, for what they call “The Res-Erection Tour”… How clever, a pornographic pun on a word that holds so much meaning, especially this week, and the paper sees fit to do this on Good Friday, only two days before Easter! The show isn’t until mid-April, but they have to run the ad this weekend to get the full shock value for their perverted show.
Mark Belling spoke about this outrage today, he called and spoke to some vice president of advertising at the paper, he wouldn’t give a straight answer to anything.
Can you imagine what would happen if some group ran a “dirty joke” of a Muslim holy day? That would be called incredibly offensive, people would be fired, heck, Muslims around the world would be calling for people to be killed, but as long as it is only Christians that you offend, it is acceptable.
You can click the picture to see it full size.
Posted in Home | Comments (41)
41 Responses to “Journal Sentinel has no problem offending Christians over Easter Weekend”
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March 21st, 2008 at 8:43 pm
At first glance, I thought you were making a whole lot out of nothing…after all, this is apparently a hilarious play that has run in a variety of venues and seems to do pretty well.
BUT…as a Catholic who lets a lot of things go (mostly because I pick my battles and have learned to laugh at myself and my weaknesses, as well as those of my faith), I think the “Res-Erection” part of the ad was in INCREDIBLY poor taste.
So yeah, even this liberal is a little offended. But the JS offends me almost every day, so it’s not like I’m shocked.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I wonder if they’d run a play called HOMOHAMMED??
There would be some sort of explanation about how… THAT’S DIFFERENT.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Why are you blaming the JS? The JS did not book the show, did not hire the graphics people to make ads for the show, did not submit those ads to itself, and did not decide when to start running the ads. The promoter (who, full disclosure, I know) did all of those things, and the ad department just follows the customer’s directions. And, face it, the advertisers are more imprtant than the readers, since that’s where the money comes from.
And what happens if the ad department does start deciding what’s appropriate to run and what’s not (with obvious exceptions for libel, etc., that probably exist in a current written policy)? That’s a can of worms you probably don’t want to open.
And have you read the sports pages? It’s all strip clubs. Yes, even on Good Friday!
March 21st, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Sorry, but the Journal/Sentinel is a penis puppet.
The provide about as much “news” as do the Tele Tubbies.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I agree with Jay Bullock. Don’t blame the Urinal for accepting this type of filth.
Would the Urinal accept HOMOHAMMED the Rock Opera during Ramadan Jay??
Would the Urinal print characatures of MOHAMMED or even suggestions of “said” Mohammed getting “analized”?
Jay, you are so funny.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I hope they show the beating heart, the hamburger or the Eiffel Tower tomorrow for their ad.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Jay, the paper does have the discretion to refuse an ad that is offensive, but since it’s only Christians, who cares, right?
March 21st, 2008 at 9:49 pm
The consortium of the easily offended begins to weave its magic web of attack on those who are so weak and unenlightened they allow themselves to be offended by just about anything.
And so soon after Jay’s visit. Hmmmmmmm.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Patrick,
Obama did not pick the topics.
Obama did not say God Damn America 3 times.
Obama did not accuse America of creating AIDS to kill the black man.
Obama did not say AmeriKKKa,
Obama did not suggest, that America gave drugs to Blacks.
Obama did not agree that America created 3 STRIKES and YOU’RE out to keep blacks down.
Obama did not AGREE, that America was no different than AL QUAEDA with a different FLAG.
Obama did not SUGGEST that AMERICA had committed so many atrocities that the CHICKENS……were coming …..HOME…….to ROOOST. (emphasis added).
Obama did not say that …FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS ADULT LIFE, HE IS PROUD OF AMERICA!!
WHO SUGGESTED THAT??
March 21st, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Patrick?? Who are you to suggest that something is OFFENSIVE??
March 21st, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Ad departments everywhere have no problem choosing what ads they will and will not run on any given day.
There is nothing to stop them from saying an ad is inappropriate. I believe some newspapers did that with some pro-life ads a year or two ago. So your argument, Jay, is weak.
This is the holiest time of the year for Christians – the event on which our entire faith is based – above and beyond Christmas or any other feast days.
The title of this “show” is hurtful and tasteless. But I guess since I’m an out-of-touch Catholic I don’t have a right to be offended or have my sensibilities considered, huh?
March 21st, 2008 at 10:15 pm
So then I suppose you all think it’s just fine that three college newspapers refused an ad from Pro-Life Wisconsin? (Hint: Your peers would disagree.)
March 21st, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Ad departments everywhere have no problem choosing what ads they will and will not run on any given day.
I would bet that’s not actually true. Few ads, if any, get refused, and the ones that do are refused based on a written policy that the paper can provide to advertisers on request. Any paper that refuses ads based on, essentially, whim, does so at the risk of a lawsuit they can hardly afford to defend against, let alone lose. Sorry, but if you’re money’s green, it will buy you an ad, even an illegal one.
March 21st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Yep, typical…
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:48 am
Oh give me a break!
It’s not like the ad even mentions Easter (or Good Friday for that matter)?
The only relationship between the ad and Easter Weekend is temporal. Must everything in all the universe comply this weekend with what YOU consider holy? Is that how the world can keep from offending YOU?
I’m sorry, but EVEN DURING THIS WEEKEND people will be doing plenty of things that you might not approve of.
Heck, some Christians don’t approve of eggs and bunnies because they consider these to be “Pagan”.
Just like everyone else, you’re free to have any kind of Easter Weekend you choose, BUT DON”T EXPECT THE REST OF THE WORLD TO CONFORM TO YOUR PERSONAL IDEAS ABOUT WHAT IS OR IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 am
The reason is that your average Christian shrugs off things like this and could care less…Some Muslims however react, irrationally, to defacing the image of Mohammad, because he is not suppose to be a viewable image, per the Koran…Christians don’t have such a rule, and more importantly, don’t react violently…It should be noted that Belling didn’t threaten to kill anyone at the MJS…THAT should say it all…
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:28 am
Oh my goodness, is that awful! Typical in-your-face move by the urinal. I swear they get some sick sort of pleasure out of doing stuff like this. The local paper here pulls that crap, too.
And folkbum…please, stop insulting our intelligence. Grief.
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 am
Yeah, Jay! How dare you present facts here?
Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:41 am
Can they run an offensive ad? Of course… And we can criticize them for doing it. Unlike the typical liberal reaction when they get offended, they look for a judge to silence the perceived offender. We aren’t claiming some civil right to not be offended, but we can and will point out to the morons at the paper, that what they did IS OFFENSIVE to millions of Christians that are consumers of their product.
Just because you have the right to do something, doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do.
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 am
What part of Res-Erection didn’t you understand?
Holy Cheese Curds says:
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 am
Journal-Sentinal = Shepherd Express + sports page
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:13 am
The simple answer is to post an ad with the Journal during Ramadan stating the fact that Mohammad was indeed a pedophile,(which is stated in the Koran) and see if they refuse to print it? I’ve got $10.00 I’m willing to put towards the experiment.
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
Holy Cheese Curds says:
We don’t demand you conform, would a little respect be to much to ask for? it’s not like we’re saying…
Click for full size view
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 am
But we are the extremists…
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 am
We’re just “typical white people”, Patrick. The question is what does that make those other guys?
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
Wow, I guess this thread proves my theory as to why people who don’t know each other very well shouldn’t talk about religion…
At least we live in a country where we have the right to do it in an open forum. We have the right to buy tasteless ads in the newspaper, but we also have the right to complain about it, too.
Those of you who celebrate it, have a safe and blessed Easter.
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 am
DONâ€T EXPECT THE REST OF THE WORLD TO CONFORM TO YOUR PERSONAL IDEAS ABOUT WHAT IS OR IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
I, and many others find Homosexuality to be offensive, but we are made to accept it, and we’re berated if we state our dissatisfaction with being “forced” to accept those who practice it, so don’t even try to make this comparison. Liberals have taken it upon themselves to determine what we are going to, or not going to accept. BS is BS no matter how you package it.
March 22nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Please explain to me, Scott, how you have been forced to accept homosexuality. As far as I am aware, you can still voice opinions, you can still say what you think. If others don’t like it, well, they’re merely exercising the same right you have to be offended.
March 22nd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
You think that’s bad. Check out what they are peddling at WalMart.mething to think about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMLdb5VdzNs
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Fine. If all else fails, open up your other holy text and turn to Rule 21: “You’re offended? So what? No, really. So what?”
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I don’t see any mention of an act where one of the penis puppets wear a turban. Strange, but in today’s world it seems that would be a natural.
I’m looking forward to Corbin’s critique of the performance.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Jay, are you crying?
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
The Koran does not state that “Mohammad was indeed a pedophile.” I hope little Scotty is not offended when I point out how hopelessly ill-informed he is about, well, everything. No wonder he only has $10 to put up.
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 pm
folkbum, that is my point exactly. If Liberals are offended, SO WHAT!!!
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Personally, I find it offensive no matter what day of the year…but then, I stopped subscribing to the JS years ago, so if I hadn’t seen it here I wouldn’t have known a thing about it- and wouldn’t have been offended.
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Jay, are you crying?
You guys have been a good laugh, but you didn’t quite bring me to tears.
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Us guys have been a good laugh Jay??
Are we as funny as Res-Erection??
You aren’t laughing Jay. Like most libs, you aren’t happy.
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 am
Couple of observations. First, it sounds like with this play, Pee Wee Herman might have found a new career. Second, I have to make sure I don\’t miss the next high holiday of the Religion of Piece (of Arm, of Leg, of Torso). I have all sorts of appropriate JPEGs to celebrate, whether it be Ramalamadingdong or whatever nutty holiday they celebrate.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:57 am
It is not a big deal for the JS to “censor” ads, they do it from time to time, and they usually segregate any entertainment ads of a risque/”adult”/sexual nature in the Sports section. It is entirely a matter of whose interests/identities/values get esteemed the most, and this is a pure consequence of how much clout you have. Assemble your crowds, raise your ruckus. The JS muckety-mucks live in desperate fear of displeasing suburban wallets, as does benchwarming Barrett eyeing every vote he’ll need when Herb Kohl retires or kicks it. JS editors and the Mayor’s office are probably the most religious Sykes listeners in the county.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:14 am
[...] of the Mark Belling show that discussed the ad for a play that was run in the paper that day called Puppetry of the Penis. We commented on how offensive it was to use that day, and that week, the most holy to Christians, [...]
April 28th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Puppetry of the Penis is hilarious. Lighten up and go see it. This kind of bogus “offense” is what keeps imbeciles in power and non-thinking people stuck in the world of non-thinking. Bravo to JS for running the ad, I hope they do it again and again!