Fresh Loaf

Just out of curiousity, am I the only Rick Warren-loathing, gay-marriage-supporting atheist who is uncomfortable with the idea of protesting Warren’s appearance at Ebenezer Baptist Church today?

To put it politely, I vehemently disagree with Warren’s statements denigrating gay people. But I don’t think it’s a good idea to protest outside a church. How is protesting Warren at Ebenezer any more appropriate than Christians protesting outside a synagogue because the Rabbi won’t acknowledge Jesus?

Warren’s sickening statements prior to the passage of California’s recent anti-gay marriage initiative make him a powerful symbol of anti-gay discrimination. I get that. I just don’t think a Baptist church, or any church, is the appropriate venue for me to protest him.

Warren is scheduled to speak outside the U.S. Capitol tomorrow as part of Obama’s inauguration. When he does, I’ll mute the TV, mutter something nasty, and go check my e-mail.

If I were in the audience at the Capitol, I’d probably protest by turning my back to him. The Capitol is a public space. It’s my space. I’m more than comfortable protesting there. I feel obligated to protest his presence there.

But churches are private space. If he wants to be an ignoramus inside a church, I think that’s his business.

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A side effect of the popularity of viral videos is a renaissance in the novelty song. The increased professionalism of Youtube-able film clips has meant that musical parodies and other comedy songs have increased in both quality and variety while finding bigger audiences thanks to blogs and social networking sites. Here are five of 2008’s definitive musical videos that didn’t involve a cat flushing a toilet.

1. “I’m F***ing Matt Damon”

The “Digital Shorts” of “Saturday Night Live” specialize in NSFW music video parodies like the recent “J*** in my Pants.” (I use asterisks because the clips are probably funnier when the swears are bleeped out.) None has bettered shock comic Sarah Silverman and her musical prank on her boyfriend, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. “I’m F***ing Matt Damon” has catchy hooks that make it fun listening, despite being the most inappropriate break-up song imaginable. Kimmel’s response, “I’m F***ing Ben Affleck” built to a “We Are The World”-style chorus and proved nearly as funny, but the joke was officially exhausted when Elizabeth Banks sang yet another version, “I’m F***ing Seth Rogen,” to promote Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno. (more…)

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