Normally the MTV awards would have passed me by if it were not for the huge number of phone calls from the press/media this week asking for my thoughts on the comments Russell Brand made about the Jonas brothers.
I have, over the years had many opportunities to speak to the media because of other positions I have held other than a Youth Pastor for Kings Church. Once they have you phone number they always call and I enjoy explaining a biblical Christian perspective to them and presenting the gospel wherever possible – So may these opportunities continue.
So, Russel Brand has really upset many people over his so called “comedy” which simply seems to rest on poking fun at other people and trying to make them look small, insignificant and stupid. It would seem however that the media has not liked this at all and are looking to “fight back”.
During the MTV awards 2008 he had a go at the President of America which did not go down well and also ridiculed the Jonas brothers. It was this that caused the media to contact me because of my former involvement with the Silver Ring Thing and because I am a Christian Minister to young people (as they like to call me).
BBC 5 Live contacted me and the Radio host was not best pleased with Mr Brand as he felt that if young men wanted to present and live a “clean cut” life and Image that they should be encouraged, not ridiculed. I must confess, that radio interview was not very hard to do as the presenter was in agreement with me that we should be assisting young people who choose to live a sexually pure lifestyle, not ridicule them and put pressure on them to live a different way.
What is incredible is the level of prejudice that is tolerated because of ones so called celebrity status. If, as an example, similar prejudice was focused on the colour of someones skin then there would be no tolerance at all, and rightly so. It is inconceivable therefore that when discrimination is shown to an individual, or in this case a group of people, based totally on someones personal, uneducated and extremely biased, point of view that it is remotely tolerated at all!
I am delighted with the amount of column inches and minutes of airtime that have been given to highlight this here in the UK. An independent TV company has approach the Silver Ring Thing in the UK to film another documentary simply because of the outrage that Russel Brand caused at the 2008 MTV Awards. This is not cause for celebration however, we have nothing to thank Mr Brand for as his behaviour set an example to young people that prejudice and ridicule are acceptable with no remorse. There are several hundred Silver Ring Thing wearers in the UK and thousands more who have made promises to stay sexually abstinent until they get married and they should be encouraged if that is what they believe is the right way to live, not give others fuel for opposition.
Lets be honest the UK Statistics for abortions, single mothers & STIs are far from praise worthy. The governments message of “Safe Sex” of the least 30 years clearly does not work as their own statistics and missed targets demonstrate. I am not naive enough to believe that a message of “No Sex for Everyone Before Marriage” will be welcomed by everyone. Individuals must make up their own minds based on ALL the facts and according to their own convictions and consciences. If for some a pledge of abstinence is what they believe will allow them to enjoy life without the risks associated with sex outside of marriage then why are we wrong to support them. I simply can not understand why anyone feels the need to attack them, privately or publicly, in order to justify their own so called convictions. If Mr Brand believes that his “sexual choices” are his to make, and I dont think anyone is arguing with him, then why try to justify himself by ridiculing others with a different point of view. This is just discrimination & prejudice of the highest order!
Comedy – Yea right!
