Media Continue Anti-Religious Attacks on Tebow
Wherever devout Christian quarterback Tim Tebow goes, he is dogged by the hatred of those who cannot stand him or his faith. Tebow was traded from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets amid much media fanfare, and some sportswriters naturally used the occasion to engage in personal attacks on Tebow, his religion, and his fans.
MSNBC invited Nation sports editor Dave Zirin to give his opinion on Tebow’s move to New York. Zirin bizarrely argued that “there are a lot of LGBT people that live in New York City who are also football fans”and that “the new, possibly, starting quarterback for the New York Jets wants them to move backwards 30 or 40 years.”(The Denver Broncos refused to participate in anti-heterosexual Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better Project” when Tebow was still on the Broncos, drawing the ire of the gay community and the left-wing media.)
Other writers also used the occasion to launch biting attacks on Tebow and his fans. CBSChicago.com writer Dan Bernstein called Tebow fans “lunatic-fringe cultists,” and pronounced Tebow to be “little more than an affable simpleton.” The Atlantic put out a piece with the mocking headline “New York City Sports, Now with Even More Jesus.”
But Tebow bashing is not new, by any stretch. Loathing of Tebow and his fans has at times reached disturbing proportions – even in the media. Rabbi Joshua Hammerman claimed in December that if Tebow won the Super Bowl, his followers could run riot, declaring: “If Tebow wins the Super Bowl, against all odds, it will buoy his faithful, and emboldened faithful can do insane things, like burning mosques, bashing gays and indiscriminately banishing immigrants.” MSN.com mocked Tebow’s reading ability when Tebow participated in Pizza Hut’s “BOOK IT!” children’s reading program during the offseason. (Both Hammerman and MSN.com were forced to apologize by outraged fans.)
There is no reason – other than Tebow’s faith, of course – for writers to get so worked up about a quarterback, who by all accounts has consistently acted in an upstanding and even exemplary manner. Even NFL analysts have acknowledged an anti-religious strain in the rampant hatred of Tebow.
There is legitimate controversy over whether or not Tim Tebow is a viable NFL quarterback. But there is clearly an irrational loathing of Tebow which many engage in, in large part, because of his outspoken faith.
And some in the media are willing to join in those attacks.
- Paul Wilson's blog
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Comments
We should all offer our prayers...
Submitted by DumbCanuck on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 7:59am.
...and for those who are not following the faith, at least offer support of Tim Tebow.
Good is bad, Bad is good, sayeth the Liberal monolith.
"There... Are... Four... Lights!"
Agreed
Submitted by misterbee241 on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 9:28am.
Agreed.
"Polarizing" is neutral.
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 8:19am.
We have to stop thinking of "polarizing" as a bad thing.
Tim's just being who he is. That causes other people to "polarize," that is, take sides. So what's he supposed to do, change his character to keep everyone happy?
If some guy wants to publicly thank his father, or his dear sainted mother, -or his high school coach!- after every game (win or lose) they wouldn't care. Why do the words "my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" disgust them so?
You know, call it "corny" if you want to; you don't have to run it down, or him.
My Catholic heroine, The Anchoress, has a calm, reasoned look at the situation:
Tebow, New York, and Deacon Greg
She humorously says:
If you can make it there, and all that. If he plays well — and I bet he will — then he shuts up all his critics.
Of course, this being New York, if he plays poorly, he’ll hear about it from everyone; the fans at the stadium; the guy in the toll booth; the meter maids, the cab drivers and possibly the children.
And that's the way it's always been, and should be, in sports.
She even links to a funny parody phone call between Tebow and Coach Ryan at The Onion.
Once again, the Christians are taking things in stride and the anti-Christians are the ones frothing at the mouth and lapsing into hysteria.
Why do the words "my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" disgust them
Submitted by misterbee241 on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 9:27am.
Here's why, MB:
1 Corinthians 1:18
[ Christ the Power and Wisdom of God ] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
it the power of God that terrifies the scoffer, so he has to ridicule it. We used to call that whistling past the graveyard.
Exactly. You also notice that
Submitted by Bettendor on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 10:42am.
Exactly. You also notice that you never hear other religious figures' names being used in vain. As a campus evangelist I know has said on more than one occasion, you'll never hear someone say, "Oh Buddha!" or "Oh Mohammed!" like they use Jesus' name in vain.
"You just don't get it." - Pa Grape
http://disciplebeacon.blogspot.com
OK MB
Submitted by Seashell on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 10:44am.
The Onion phone call between Ryan and Tebow put me on the floor! I'm still giggling about it!
I agree, Seashell! Even as
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 12:13pm.
I agree, Seashell!
Even as devout a Catholic as The Anchoress thought it funny.
So who are the "intolerant" ones?
Sad~
Submitted by GG_NB on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 8:43am.
It's unbelievably sad that our culture has come to this. Tebow is being himself and not hurting anyone (possibly inspiring young people)...except that if a certain group of people feel threatened, annoyed or blindly incensed by his faith, he will be ridiculed/persecuted for it.
It's all spelled out in The Book. But still, it's heartbreaking to see it played out more and more in America.
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
The constant
Submitted by misterbee241 on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 9:21am.
grumbling of the media Orcs continues.
What in the world has Tim
Submitted by JohnK on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 9:40am.
What in the world has Tim Tebow ever done to harm any of the people who speak harshly about him?
And has he ever harmed anyone, in any way?
It takes an especially small-minded, or perhaps truly evil, person to attack someone as blameless as Tim Tebow.
The Nation
Submitted by Wineguy13 on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 9:45am.
Has a SPORTS EDITOR??? No other comment, just really can't believe that.
Wineguy~
Submitted by GG_NB on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 10:44am.
And he sounds like such an open, reasonable, well-grounded "I know what's important in life and what to let go" type of person, huh?
[^_^]
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
This is actually confirmation of a passage in the Bible ...
Submitted by Jayke on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 10:46am.
2 Timothy 3:12-13
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
I know I will be persecuted for posting this. BRING IT ON !!!
Compare the apoplectic rage of the NYC Left over Tebow . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 10:55am.
. . . to their universal acceptance of a mosque to be built within blocks of Ground Zero.
Back then, their message was about tolerance. They reminded us that America is about religious freedom and the First Amendment (And it is).
Now, it's pure hate for a young man who's only "offense" is that he openly professes his Christian faith.
The parallel between the MSM reactions to Palin and Tebow is very strong. I believe that they are targets of hate for the same reason: They are happy, well-adjusted, and comfortable in their own skins and their enemies are not. Their ability to resist relentless attacks on their character and even their families just makes their MSM enemies angrier.
Beautiful people
Submitted by Seashell on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 11:21am.
I think that one factor that is not talked about regarding why the media and others say Tim is so "polarizing" is this: He is a very good-looking Christian. (Come on ladies, you know he is, and guys-those of you secure in your masculinity do too!) I'm not saying it's the only reason, but it is part of equation. If he were unattractive he would not be SO attractive for them to pick on, and I bet they would give him a bit of a break. I'm not sure, but I think it is a factor.
Take for example Sara Palin. She is a beautiful woman as well. Do you think she would have been so viciously and ruthlessly attacked if she were old and ugly? I may be off-base, but I still say it is a factor.
pervert
Submitted by angelann1 on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 1:45pm.
who cares what the perverts say or think!!