From the February 18, 2004 CitizenLink Update:
Defend Dr. Dobson, Mel Gibson and "The Passion of the Christ"
The mainstream media have not only reported, but done their best to stir up, controversy over Mel Gibson's soon-to-be-released "The Passion of the Christ." By far the nastiest of these critics has been New York Times columnist Frank Rich -- a fact well-documented by Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson.
"In one particularly nasty diatribe," Dobson wrote to Focus constituents this month, "Rich characterized Gibson as a 'Jew-baiter' and endeavored to malign the actor's elderly father, who has absolutely no connection to the movie whatsoever. Mr. Rich suggested that Gibson was 'sowing religious conflict' by not inviting a sufficient number of Jews to attend preview screenings of the movie."
These are just the latest examples of Rich's invective writings. He has, in the past, referred to Dobson as "The Godzilla of the Right" and compared him to Ku Klux Klan member David Duke.
"Rich is rabidly anti-Christian," Dobson said, "in almost every context."
If you'd like to let Rich know what you think about his efforts to denigrate Gibson and Dobson, you can find contact information for him -- including an easy-to-use e-mail form -- by clicking [Here].
I have no idea as to whether Mel Gibson's movie is any good, but I do know James Dobson is a decent man and that Frank Rich is really, really annoying. Dr. Dobson's televison and radio endeavors have 200 million viewers/listeners worldwide. A few million e-mails almost certainly will not change any of Rich's views, but at least those views will not go unchallenged. Faced with a massive response, the Times might even feel a responsibility to publish a couple of these rebuttals. It's worth a shot.
(If you find this site useful and would like to help make political devotions a mass movement, please tell others about PoliticalDevotions.com or place a link to it on your website. Then when you've done so, be sure to e-mail me so I can thank you personally! - Tim.)
