It's been a long time since I've broken up with someone. Paul and I will be married 18 years this coming New Year's Day. I didn't even break up with the guy before him - that jerk dumped me. But I recently broke up with a TV show -- Glee.
If you've never watched the show I can give you a rough synopsis: It's about a glee club in a high school. Now, if you were ever a Band Geek, a Choir Nerd or a member of the Chess Club you can probably relate to the characters who join this glee club. They are the misfits, the quirky ones, the ones who don't seem to fit in anywhere else. The first season was all about the kids, the teachers, the combative and eternally unhappy cheerleading coach and the trials and tribulations they experienced. It was full of great music, funny one-liners and ohhhh, the angst.
Even my redneck husband developed a love for the show.
It generated a huge following right off the bat. People all over America, dare I venture the world, loved them some Glee. We all were proud to call ourselves "Gleeks". We all sang songs a capella even if we were really bad at it. A TV show, "The Sing Off" was spawned because of Glee, for cryin' out loud.
I think I can safely say Glee was doing something big and doing something right as far as TV shows go. Right here and now I will admit that there were a few episodes that had a few themes that walked close to the edge, but I censored where I felt I needed to (Oh, how I love my DVR) and we discussed with the kids some of the themes as needed.
But from the very beginning of Season 2 just last month something has been.... off.
Oh Glee, why did you feel like you had to start trying so hard? You had us from the very first "bom bom bom". You captured our hearts with the football player who can't dance worth a lick and looks like he's constipated when he sings. You made us cry when the character Kurt came out. You even made us like the bossy, obnoxious diva who has grand dreams of Broadway the whole time she pushed and shoved her way to the top of the nerderarchy. (Yes, I just made up a word. Hush.) I bawled when the cheerleader, fallen from the top of the popularity pyramid and straight into stirrups, had her baby - and I bawled harder when she gave that baby up for adoption. Honestly, Glee, you sang your way into our houses and our hearts .... but now it's time to say good-bye.
The relationship has gotten toxic. It's unhealthy, it's gone beyond fun and entertaining to uncomfortable and well, frankly you made me angry.
You forced the breakup when you blasphemed my God.
I am not an idiot - I know that life is hard for teenagers these days. I know that drug use, alcohol abuse, sexuality, homosexuality and bullying is sometimes a part of daily life for kids in high school today. My own daughter has experienced bullying by a herd of "mean girls". A close friend of mine has a 14 year old family member who is experiementing with the "popular" teenage drugs. And as they have for years, there are babies having babies in high schools all over the world. I rebelled as a teenager. Most kids do. They experiment, they test, they try to see how far they can go without getting caught. Sometimes we do it as adults.
Please know I am not judging. If you know me personally in any way I hope beyond hope that you know I make a very concerted effort to not judge others. I do not have to agree with you, you do not have to agree with me, but I will not judge you. We all make our own decisions, we all make mistakes, we thrive, we fail, we live, we learn. I have made my mistakes and I have asked for forgiveness, made my peace and moved on. I am not judging anyone. I will receive the only judgment that matters when I stand before God, as will you. It is not my place to judge you here on this earth, nor is it your place to judge me.
But I will not stand for a show that blasphemes God the way Glee is. God will not be mocked. The "Grilled Cheesus" episode of Glee was absolutely more than I could handle. I was so convicted during the entire 60 minutes I was sick to my stomach. Yes, I am serious. God is not "Santa Claus for adults", as one of the characters in the episode stated. He is my Creator, my Most High. He has loved me and forgiven me when I felt unloveable and unforgiveable. What kind of a child of His would I be if I watched a show that belittled and made fun of Him? I wouldn't let someone talk bad about my momma. I won't tolerate someone talking bad about my God either.
We have had a serious spiritual renewal in our household. We are trying as hard as we can to live our lives according to God's will. We are kinder, gentler, more patient, more giving, more loving. We laugh more. We see more. We share more. We pray more. We have eliminated virtually all secular music from our home - not because all secular music is bad, but because we feel more positivity and have a far more uplifted attitude when we are in a near continual state of worship through the music we listen to. It's not for everyone. I won't judge you if you listen to country music. Okay, let me rephrase: I won't judge you for listening to secular music. I don't know how anyone listens to country. (That was a joke. Seriously. I just don't like country music.) As a kid I heard the phrase "Garbage in, garbage out" so many times I can't count and now my husband, my kids and I are trying to live that kind of lifestyle the best way we can. It is spilling over into every aspect of our lives - from the way we dress, to the way we eat, the way we talk, the way we interact with others, the music we listen to and yes, the television programs we watch. And it's not just Glee we have stopped watching. There are others. But Glee went where no one should go. No one.
I think the folks at Fox messed up big with Glee. They had us at the opening of the first season and could've had us for the long haul, but for a lot of people, it's just too much to take now. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord and are choosing to elmininate Glee from the lineup.
You reap what you sow. (Galatians 6:7)
11 comments:
So very hard to find ANY show on TV that won't let you down in this area any more. Sooner or later it seems they all pull out the blaspheme God card. But cheers to you for making choices true to your convictions and for posting a voice for those offended by such disrespect of the Almighty.
My own family is own a journey to a closer relationship with Him, living more for Him at this time as well: my spouse and daughter just accepted Christ as Savior about a month ago! You and yours will be in my prayers.
Good for you!! I started tuning out secular music, and most tv years ago, and am better for it. I've started letting bits in, again, and am starting to regret it. As Christians, we're trying so hard NOT to be obnoxious, or trying to make up for the weirdo right wing "fundies", that we've allowed others to think those things are ok. We need to let them know it's not ok, we don't agree, and we won't support it. I'm glad, now, that I don't watch tv, and especially Glee. Except that I'd like their ratings to fall dramatically because of this.
I'm so very proud of y'all and the walk you've chosen.
So proud.
Love y'all.
Amen, sister. You made me cry, just beautiful words about our Lord. Thank you.
I am right there with you! I have loved Glee from the beginning,but the last few episodes are just not sitting right. It started with the Brittany Spears episode and then the Grilled Cheesus and last weeks was that last straw.
I took it off my Tivo list and am breaking up too.
It's not like they weren't getting good ratings, wonder why they're trying so hard to be edgy?
And now those photos in GQ Magazine? That is too much. I understand that they are in their 20s playing teenagers, but if they are rolemodels for kids, then was that spread appropriate? I am not a prude or anything, but the word inappropriate keeps coming to my mind.
I see your point and I respect it. I watched the episode and I was uncomfortable too, but for a different reason. You see, I'm an atheist (short version is that I was raised in a Christian cult and left at age 21; I have never felt anything like "faith" in a higher power). I was really uncomfortable when there was what I felt like was a big emphasis placed on trying to bring Kurt to believe in something he simply could not feel.
I feel like I could not take away your faith (and I wouldn't want to), but I am also sure that you couldn't give or teach me yours.
Anyway, my point is not to disparage at all. It is just to gently show that the discomfort exists on both sides of the aisle, as it were, and maybe Glee was trying to acknowledge that there are some deep schisms between believers and non-believers, but the point is that we all should talk to each other and keep trying. If we shut down or shut each other out, humanity as a whole loses. And I think we all can learn from one another, regardless of our belief system.
Anyway, long comment, but in essence I think you should be proud of your faith, but try not to shut down. ((HUGS))
I love you, and I love this post. I was just about ready to jump on the Glee train and then I read this post. My daughter has been asking me if she was old enough to watch it. I told her I'd have to watch it myself first and then decide. I never got around to watching it last season but was ready to give it a try. You are awesome. Your kids have a great mom.
Also - when are you gonna write a book?
Way to go, K! Loved this post.
I haven't gotten on the Glee bandwagon like everyone else did. I just don't care for musicals. Maybe it's because I like country music?!?! Bwaahahahaha!!!
It is so sad to see where television has gone in the past 15-20 years. What happend to watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom on Sunday nights?! =)
I completely agree with you in every way. I stopped watching Glee this season and was even a little iffy toward the end of last season but I have completely lost interest. I didn't see the episode you were talking about but it doesn't surprise me.
I have been really disgusted with some shows I use to favor but now are just plain making me sick.
There comes a time when we have to take a stand. "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything". I am a Christian too. We are more careful in this century about what we say or do that might offend other religions except for Christianity. Every other religion is accepted and respected more than Christianity. If Glee or any other program was making fun of any other Deities those followers would expect some kind of apology or would ban the show. Tolerance is a two-way street unless you control the road.
Really well written! I too, LOVED Glee for the first season, but gave it up a couple months ago. The Jewish kid having his herbal essence moment in the stands was my personal last straw, so I missed the Jesus episode and am glad I did. I used to read your blog all the time, but have wandered away for the last year (not you, me!) and am happy to find ya again!
Melyssa from thedazeofus.blogspot.com
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