Red-State Phenomenon

Published on December 3, 2004 By iamheather In Politics

So, yesterday, I was perusing the latest edition of Time magazine. For some reason, I always start at the last page and go backwards...call me crazy. The last article in Time magazine is always an op-ed piece that usually irriates me but rarely surprises me.

While reading last week's aggravating piece entitled "The Battle is Over, but the War Goes On" by Michelle Cottie, I came across this paragraph:

"Democrats found this election discombobulating because no matter how often they hear about a divided America, most blue staters-especially coastal elite types-still don't quite grasp that their world view is not shared by everyone. Day to day, liberals have the luxury of ignoring conservative America. Only occasionally does some red-state phenomenon like The Passion of the Christ intrude on our consciousness, and even then it's usually because of some outrage it sparks among a particular interest group on the left."

Excuse me? "The Passion of the Christ" was a red-state phenomenon? Really? No one in a "blue-state" went to see this movie? Did some one from a "red-state" direct this movie or produce it?

Michelle Cottie completely showed the ignorance of the Democratic party. This kind of thinking is exactly why the Democrats are seen as out of touch with the American public. I know Democrats, Republicans, Christians, Jews, red-staters, and blue-staters that not only went to see this movie, but actually liked it.

So tell me my friends, from both sides of the political spectrum, do you also view "The Passion of the Christ" as a red-state phenomenon?

Comments (Page 1)

Danny Bassette

on Dec 03, 2004

I think this whole red/blue state thing is silly. It seems like a way to make americans hate each other for no good reason. Like we need more hate in this world. As for the question on the movie, er, I never saw it, but I'd say it was a phenomenon of it's director/cast, whoever they happened to be.

Dr Guy

on Dec 03, 2004

Never thought of it that way, but the way the entrenched in Hollywood made it out, I guess you could call it that. I found it profoundly moving and vivid. And thought provoking. The latter would make it a red state film since the Blue states can't think without being told what to think.

iamheather

on Dec 03, 2004

it was a phenomenon of it's director/cast, whoever they happened to be.

It was a phenomenon alright. How often does a religous documentary receive such publicity? How often does this genre of movie reach mainstream theaters?

I found it profoundly moving and vivid. And thought provoking.

As did I. Even for non-believers and other faiths, it was a profoundly artistic and moving piece. Suspend all "reality," and the effect was still amazing.

Gideon MacLeish

on Dec 03, 2004

I think it's patently absurd to view conservative Christianity as a "red state" phenomenon. I know many conservative Christians who vote consistently for Democrat or Socialist candidates because of their feeling that the social gospel CLEARLY espoused by Christ in the book of Luke outweighs the peripheral issues such as abortion, gay marriages, etc. I know this because I was one such conservative Christian for many years, and I socialized among a not small number of likeminded individuals.

It is a mistake to put everyone into a box based on superficial similarities, a mistake which may have cost John Kerry the election.

messybuu

on Dec 03, 2004

What's funny is that some of the "Blue States" have actually have a significant number of conservatives and even Christians! For example, in California, although the cities around the coast are blue, the ones in the toward the middle aren't!

iamheather

on Dec 03, 2004

Gideon

It is a mistake to put everyone into a box based on superficial similarities, a mistake which may have cost John Kerry the election

think it's patently absurd to view conservative Christianity as a "red state" phenomenon.

Great points! I agree. I think this statement in the article is but a symptom of a larger problem.

messybuu

What's funny is that some of the "Blue States" have actually have a significant number of conservatives and even Christians!

Absolutely. I have friends in NYC that are Christians. It is terribly sad to be categorized by an enjoyment of a particular movie.

Myrrander

on Dec 03, 2004

Well, with all the merchandising that came after, I view it as a "getting rich off religion" phenomenon, not a political one.

But then again, I haven't seen the movie (I read the book instead).

historyishere

on Dec 03, 2004

The most bizarre analogy I've heard about this "phenomenon" was that the Passion of the Christ was to the Red States what Fahrenheit 9/11 was to the Blue States... something to rally behind.

Which I think is an AWFUL comparison.

iamheather

on Dec 03, 2004

Well, with all the merchandising that came after, I view it as a "getting rich off religion" phenomenon, not a political one.

So cynical, Myrr.

But then again, I haven't seen the movie (I read the book instead).

I did both.

The most bizarre analogy I've heard about this "phenomenon" was that the Passion of the Christ was to the Red States what Fahrenheit 9/11 was to the Blue States... something to rally behind.

I didn't rally behind either. I agree it is an awful comparison.

Daniel Ruoss

on Dec 03, 2004

This is one Red State Republican that didn't really like the 'Passion'. I thought it was just a little too much. While visually stirring and well done cinematically it just didn't floor me over like it did to some others. Maybe to me there was just too much hype about the whole thing. Seeing it was rather anti-climatic and a let down.

I think this whole red/blue state thing is silly.

It may be. The Red State/Blue State thing though is just another way to say Liberals v. Conservatives. It just adds the element of fixed geographical borders. Anyone who has followed politics for more than a day knows that the Northeast and the West Coast is Liberal territory whereas the South and the Midwest are Conservaitive. Generally speaking anyway.

iamheather

on Dec 03, 2004

So, Daniel, at least regardless of your personal standing and views, you do not regard the movie as a "red-state" only phenomenon. The movie was artistic and stunning, no matter where you live. Thank you for your perspective.

Daniel Ruoss

on Dec 03, 2004

No of course not. The movie wouldn't have made the money it did if only "Red Staters" (these terms get more absurd everytime I use them) bought tickets. Same for Fahrenheit 9/11 in regards to that just being a "Blue State" thing. Each state has a significant portion of the other. I can speak for that in FL. We went for Bush but F.9/11 was real big here in South Florida. Must've been in the paper for 3 weeks straight as I recall. Pro stories, anti-stories. Everybody was caught up in it.

Alex Gottschalk

on Dec 03, 2004

Jews

Tell me a Jew who liked it? I'm Jewish. No, I didn't see it, but i heard it was very anti-Semitic. I liked some of Gibson's flims (Patriot, Signs) but this is out-of-controll. Many Christian friends and most of many friends are Christians wholly agree with me, it being Anti-Semitic and that many things were exaggerated.

Dr Guy

on Dec 03, 2004

I had not heard that, but I totally agree with your assesment!

Dr Guy

on Dec 03, 2004

how many saw it? I came away disgusted at the roman guards. Does that make me anti-romantic? I doubt it. You should see it. It is historically accurate, and does not portray the jews in a bad light (Jesus was a jew!). It portrays human beings, and the evil side of them. But they are mostly depicted by the romans.

I doubt any of your Christian friends saw it. Anyone who comes away saying it is Anti-Semetic (which is stupid since Arabs are Semetics as well), went in that way.

BTW - How many names do you need?

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