Warning Will Robinson — CNN says dangerous Christians approaching
By
Teresa Tomeo
Do you remember that hokey but very popular TV show that aired eons ago
called “Lost in Space?” My favorite scenes always included
the robot warning young Will Robinson about the aliens who were sure to
be lurking around the corner. I can still see and hear it now: “Warning,
warning, Will Robinson. Danger approaching.”
Honestly, this is what popped into my head when I was watching the ridiculous
“God’s Warriors” series with CNN’s Christiane
Amanpour which aired three nights last week in prime time.
That is indeed the message Amanpour made sure her viewers walked away
with. Especially last Thursday, as she pulled out every editorial and
technical trick in the book in order to make Christians look like people
who are bizarre and out of touch — a group that needs to be feared.
In interviews to promote the series, Amanpour claimed she wanted to show
how some leaders in the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths see themselves
as warriors and what that actually means. The only problem is that, unbeknownst
to Christiane, there is a big difference between what we Christians mean
by the term “warriors” or what we see as “spiritual
warfare” and the “warfare” in which religious terrorists
kill innocent people in the name of their faith.
We would point to those beautiful verses in chapter six of St. Paul’s
Letter to the Ephesians, where he tells us to “put on the armor
of God.” While we are busy buckling the belt of truth around our
waists, fastening on the breastplate of righteousness, and receiving our
readiness from the Gospel of “peace,” the other so-called
“God warriors” are busy blowing up buildings.
We are prayer warriors. St. Padre Pio referred to the rosary as his greatest
weapon against the devil. We wage “spiritual” battles by witnessing
and using legal and non-violent means such as voting, petitions, e-mail
campaigns, or opinion pieces in magazines and newspapers to raise awareness
and express our views.
But according to CNN’s “God’s Warriors,” any Christian
voicing his or her concerns in the public square at all is an intolerant
hate-monger.
Let’s start by lumping every group into the same category and, presto,
it’s the famous “guilt by association” routine. So,
just the fact that conservative Christians were even featured with violent
terrorists in the same series speaks volumes as to the type of picture
the network wanted to paint.
Another trick CNN performed, this one in the segment on Christians, was
to pull out old footage of the bombing of an abortion mill. Never mind
that the incident shown happened years ago, and was condemned by countless
pro-life leaders. Never mind that those accused of the rare, albeit very
wrong, bombing were acting on their own and not affiliated with a legitimate
pro-life organization.
Just show blood and violence and scare the viewers at home into thinking
that this is what a Christian “God warrior” is all about.
Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
The next move CNN pulled out of its magic bag was the over-the-top use
of special editing techniques and effects. For example, video of Christian
leaders addressing their congregations about abortion and same-sex marriage
was rolled in slow motion and combined with dramatic music, making the
pastors look and sound like another Hitler or Stalin poised to try and
take over the world.
As Robert Knight with the Culture and Media Institute wrote in his critique
of the series: “One of these days CNN will have to dispense with
the ominous music it uses for Christian documentaries and go for the full
effect using the ‘Jaws’ soundtrack.”
Inquiring minds want to know why Amanpour was allowed to sneer or come
close to laughter during interviews of homeschooled teens and Christian
leaders, and practically drool over former Presidents Jimmy Carter and
Bill Clinton. Both men, by the way, were portrayed as the more moderate,
yes, moderate, or sensible Christians. They’re much more tolerant,
of course, because they’ve broken away from the Southern Baptist
Convention. You know, one of those wacko groups that fight against Planned
Parenthood and the homosexual agenda and are “too divisive.”
Can anyone say “unfair and unbalanced?”
I could go on, but if you didn’t see “God’s Warriors,”
especially the final installment on Christians, count it as one of God’s
many blessings.
For those who did see this latest example of media bias and manipulation,
as I say in my book “Noise,” go make some noise.
In a Christ-like manner, fire back with an e-mail and express your concerns.
Or contact the sponsors and let them know how disappointed you are with
their support of such shoddy journalism.
We still have the peaceful and powerful weapons of our dollars, our voices,
and of course, our remotes.
Real God warriors are not afraid to use them.
Teresa Tomeo is the author of “Noise — How our Media Saturated
Culture Dominates Lives and Dismantles Families" (Ascension Press)
and also hosts the national syndicated radio program “Catholic Connection”
heard daily at 9 a.m. on Holy Spirit Radio, WISP 1570 AM.
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