So I thought I’d check my email between workshops (I’m at a Pet Sitter’s Convention; yes there are pet sitters and they do have a convention), and as I got onto the Yahoo site, I saw this:
 
Scarlett Johansson named “Sexiest Woman Alive”
The 21-year-old actress is lauded for her hourglass figure, but she asks, “What about my brain?”
 
Indeed, what about her brain?  Yet, even as I appreciate her concern about all things deeper, I can’t help but wonder what damage the classification of a wealthy, young, “flawless” Caucasian woman does to people of other ethnic backgrounds.  When I saw the article, the first thing that came to mind was how cultural the concept of beauty is.  In a community in Africa, for example, a skinny hourglass figure would have no value.  In fact, such a figure would probably have little value to many non-western cultures.  All opinions of beauty aside, the title of “Sexiest Woman Alive” is really audacious.  It says that a magazine has the right to declare who will have that honor.  But even if you don’t care about such ridiculous titles, or don’t take them seriously, perhaps you should.  Because such honors devalue people, and they suggest that there cannot be more than one standard of beauty (or at the very least they suggest that beauty other than that as defined by Western ideas does not count).  Such titles ignore that inherent beauty that is present in diversity, individuality, and internally.  It ignores sprit, passion, knowledge, and talent.  It ignores the beauty that God gave each of us.
 
On another web-related note, my uncle sent me an email about an incident at NBC.  Apparently, some Bible verses were cut from a recent episode of the Veggie Tales.  Now, I should preface my comment by saying that I neither support the movement to protest NBC’s decision (to cut the verses) nor do I support an attempt (if there is one) to make Veggie Tales good but free from specific religious reference. So, about my comment—let me just say it is my understanding that Veggie Tales is a Christian-based cartoon, and in all fairness, to require them to water down their content seems silly.  As I see it, NBC should view Veggie Tales as a niche program, just as they would game shows, crime dramas, and any other program.  To worry that the public, or rather, a segment of it, might be offended by the avert Bible references is pointless.  If folks don’t want their kids watching a program of any bent, the simple solution is to simply prohibit their viewing it.  My parents were horrified by the program Married With Children, and to my own horror, they refused to let me watch it.  Of course, I watch it now (many years later) and laugh at the “offensiveness” of it—compared to what’s available now, I think my folks may have been a little too harsh about it.  Anyway, don’t like the religious content?  Don’t watch it.  Problem solved. I should point out that the if-you-don’t-like-it-then-get-the-hell-out attitude is not one I generally take, but in this case I think it’s okay.
 
Now for the second part of my comment on this issue, which is more of a question—why are people looking to secular network television to teach Biblical values?  I think NBC can edit what they want, and show whatever they want.  They are a publicly traded company whose foundations, I assume, are not in Christian values.  This is not a slam—it’s simply a recognition of what they are and are not.  Now, I realize some folks will say that Veggie Tales is a ministry.  Perhaps.  But TV alone will not guide a child in how to live, nor will it bring a child to God (my thoughts on children and “saving” are best left for another rant session).  The point is, NBC should not be where we look for values-based education and entertainment.  That is best left to the real world—our families, communities, schools, and religious institutions.

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