Solomons Words Throws Fuel on the 'Library Movie' Fire
Editorial
Everyone in town is now talking about the movie ‘Out In The Silence’, that will be publicly screened tomorrow evening at the Coudersport public library.
The movie addresses Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender lifestyles and the difficulties that such people face in society.
Solomons Words For The Wise, a blog ran by Jim Jones of Roulette, which has been the topic of much controversy and which many say allows ‘anonymous character assassinations’, has exaggerated and perhaps even entirely manipulated the point of view expressed by those that oppose the showing of the movie at a public library. There is no doubt that such manipulative and inciteful headlines boost the number of hits the blog receives, but such news reporting is hardly objective.
I am publishing this article to clarify the facts surrounding the ‘protest’ against the showing of the movie at a public institution.
First, Solomons Words accused the Tea Party and several area churches of ‘attacking’ and ‘threatening’ the library. This is hardly fact. Both the Tea Party and the Free Methodist Church in Coudersport asked their constituents to peacefully, respectfully, and kindly in a ‘Christian-like manner’ call the library and voice their opposition.
At no time that we are aware of did any Church or Tea Party representatives advocate anything other than peaceful expressions of opinion, or any type of physical or threatening protests.
The article’s published on Solomon’s Words however lead one to believe that a full blown demostration is being orchestrated, and that those who oppose the movie are hateful, racist, and bigots. Once again this is not true.
Those that I spoke to said they do not hate homosexuals, bisexuals, and lesbians. They said they simply do not agree with their lifestyle, and do not wish to have such a belief pressed upon them via a public venue that their tax dollars paid for.
I spoke with Pastor Tremblay from the Free Methodist Church. Pastor Tremblay said they do not object to the film, they only object to the filmmakers using a publicly funded institution to promote a one-side political agenda. Pastor Tremblay believes that public tax dollars should not be used to promote a private film with a political agenda.
Pastor Tremblay also said that he and other Pastors will be screening the film in a private location, but that such a film should not be shown in coercion with political activists at a publicly paid for institution.
Leaders of the Tea Party say they do not hate anyone, or wish to cast anyone out, however they do oppose a public institution airing a private film based upon a one-sided political agenda.
George Brown from the Potter County Tea Party said, “The group supporting this event should pay for a private location as we are expected to do in promotion of our agendas. Churches would not be allowed to show a “Pro-Jesus” and “Gospel” message in the Library because of supposed “separation of church and state”. Yet we can be attacked for our beliefs at a public library we support with our tax money. This is wrong and cannot be tolerated.”
The library has not been ‘threatened’, as Solomons Words puts it. The Tea Party did say that if such a public institution continues to promote political agendas, then they should no longer be publicly funded.
Also distressing in this entire situation is that it seems you cannot take a middle ground stance on the topic. You must either be for, or against the showing of the movie and the issues that it is based upon.
Personally I am saddened that Solomons Words has taken such an approach to reporting on this story. The articles are misrepresentative and inciteful, and probably have done more to stir up controversy than the film or it’s opposition has.
