Let's watch VeggieTales "Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush" (2005) #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AZbTz5sB50 …—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
I've never seen this one. Pretty sure it's the VeggieTales version of "Indiana Jones" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
yeah veggietales theme song :) #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
We start w Bob & Larry on the counter. Larry asks why Bob is the one who always gets to read the letter. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Larry pulls out a different letter—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
now Bob & Larry are arguing abt which of the 2 letters they are going to answer #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
oh they both got letters from someone who is being bullied—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Larry questions how Bob can be certain it's not the same bully
is this going to be a lesson abt being certain even when it's not 100% certain #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
okay seems we are watching the story of Junior Asparagus as Robin Hood #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
oh no, a giant ........ gourd dragon? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales pic.twitter.com/qqxtUt38FA—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
oh actually it's just Junior on the playground, imagining himself as robin hood. & a bully is sitting on him. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales pic.twitter.com/sBBXCgWOBK—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
the bully says no one is allowed on the playground unless he says so #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
the kids are going to go to Laura's house instead. Junior doesn't want to go. he seems really sad/embarrassed about being bullied. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Celery girl asks if Junior wants to tell his parents. he says no. seems like "tell his parents" is presented as the "right answer" & junior is going to learn he needs to do it #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
now Junior is fantasizing abt himself winning a football game #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
back in reality, Laura comes to check if Junior is okay #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Junior is acting like he's all brave & doesn't have any negative feelings. tells Laura he is not scared of Gordon the bully #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
now Junior is imagining himself flying a spaceship #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
he landed on "The Planet Sandboxian", where a bully lives #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
now a huge alien is chasing Junior #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Junior uses some kind of scifi tech to make the bully inflate & float away like Harry Potter's aunt #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Back in reality, Junior's dad shows up. Junior asks if he was ever afraid as a kid. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Dad tells the story of how he was bullied as a kid. Until one day he stood up to the bully & got "pounded" but then the bully didn't bother him any more after that #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Dad says "God has not given us a spirit of fear" & he needs to "turn the other cheek" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
The other kids come to see if Junior is really willing to go back to the playground #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Junior is hoping th bully is not there. but oh no he is there. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Junior reminds himself that god gives us courage. then he tells the bully that no one owns the playground.—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
"If you're gonna pound me, go ahead. But what's it gonna prove?" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
Junior says "you're gonna have to pound me every day. because i'm not afraid of you!" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
all the other kids step up & say Gordon will have to beat them up too #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Gordon gives up & goes away without pounding anyone #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Junior says if Gordon ever comes back, hopefully it will be bc he wants to be friends #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
now junior is back to being robin hood #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales pic.twitter.com/24nj7Nmbi8—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
he sings a song abt turning the other cheek, with the courage that comes from god #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Now silly songs with Larry! Larry is singing abt how he ordered a pizza but it's been hours & it hasn't come yet. RELATABLE. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
"Pizza angel please come to me" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
wowwwwwww i have had all these exact feelings #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
"Then my heart skipped when i heard the door" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
oh no the delivery guy ate the pizza. wow this is awful #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
All right now time for the story of Minnesota Cuke & the search for Samson's hairbrush. Minnesota is on a snowy mountain #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Martin (Bob the tomato) is talking to Minnesota (Larry) on a video phone #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota finds the snowman w the golden carrot nose #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
oh no, the snowman's head rolled down & chased our hero #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Mr Lunt shows up & grabs the golden carrot. mwahahaha #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
next scene, Minnesota & Martin are back at their children's museum, which has NO exhibits bc Minnesota couldn't get the carrot nose #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
OH MY GODDDD I HAD TO PAUSE THE VIDEO AND LAUGH—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
celery comes in to say there is a group of Canadians trying to take over both sides of Niagara Falls
Minnesota: "But they have the best side already" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
i have been to Niagara falls a LOT of times & CAN CONFIRM, Canadian side is better #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Anyway, these Canadian barrel makers are searching for Samson's hairbrush to give them power #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Bob recaps the story of Samson. he fought the philistine bullies #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
celery says Samson's hair gave him his strength. Bob interrupts but can't really get a word in- I'M SURE he wants to say Samson's real strength came from God. & that's going to be the lesson #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
anyway, Minnesota decides he will find the hairbrush & get the strength to stand up to his professor rival who's bullying him #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota goes to find Julia (we met her in "Duke & the Great Pie War")—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
a lot of we-have-a-romantic-backstory banter between them #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
She says a lot of ppl want to find Samson's hairbrush. it's too dangerous! he should stay out of it #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
She tells him an address. Minnesota leaves. Just then, the rival, played by Mr Lunt comes in & wants the address too #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Bob is on the video phone telling Minnesota that god made Samson make promises like not to eat grapes or cut his hair—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota: "That's weird" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
again, bob gets interrupted before he can say the whole thing #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota goes back to the ice cream place where Julia works & finds she is flooded with melted ice cream. he saves her. she says she didn't tell mr lunt ANYTHING #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
now we are in a barbershop with 2 EXTREMELY ITALIAN carrots #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota comes to ask the barbers abt Samson's hairbrush.—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
turns out they are in a secret order that has protected the hairbrush for generations #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
they say the hairbrush is in the ancient catacombs below the city—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
(with a joke abt how "catacombs" sounds like "cat combs" in an Italian accent) #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
Oh no! Mr Lunt heard the whole thing & is going to the catacombs! #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota calls Bob & says Mr Lunt isn't just a bully, "he's my enemy!" Minnesota is so mad! Bob tries to tell him the bible says to love our enemies #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota is so ready to get revenge #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
now Minnesota is down in the catacombs #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
he sees wall paintings showing the story of Samson. with a lion & everything. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
yay a rickety old bridge. i expected no less. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales pic.twitter.com/TLlQb62bCY—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
omggggggg below the bridge is a pit of worms—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
"Worms, why did it have to be worms????"
(Indiana jones fans will get it) #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
Minnesota Cuke gets the hairbrush. just then, mr lunt comes in & demands it #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota says he has the brush so he has the power!—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
mr lunt says nope, Minnesota has no power bc he doesn't have hair (anyone else having flashbacks to the hairbrush song?) #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
oh no! Julia is a hostage! We find out that the celery guy was working for mr lunt all along! #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota hands over the hairbrush to free Julia. then mr lunt cuts the bridge & leaves them both dangling there #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota says he has to go and stop him! Julia is like "why?" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Julia says Minnesota Cuke being so interested in revenge makes him a bully #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
now Bob is on the video phone again—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
& Larry concludes there never was a band of evil Canadians #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
Bob explains that Samson's real power came from God, not from the hairbrush—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
& god can give Minnesota the power to love his enemies #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
Minnesota chases down mr lunt. 2 Canadian mounties show up to stop him #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
mr lunt tries to fight them but then realizes the hairbrush has no power #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota tells the mounties not to arrest mr lunt—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
then mr lunt is like "whyyyy did you do that? no one's ever done anything nice for me" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
back in the children's museum. they have the hairbrush on display. yay. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
now Bob & Larry are going to talk abt what we learned today #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
THIS. "Sometimes you can't do anything to change them." I wish that had been emphasized more- because the rest of the "lesson" very strongly implies that it's your responsibility to change the bullies by "turning the other cheek" etc.Larry says we learned there are bullies & sometimes you can't do anything to change them #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Bob says god never wants us to try to get even. instead we should love our enemies. & it's also good to talk to your parents #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
that's the end of VeggieTales "Minnesota Cuke & the Search for Samson's Hairbrush." Let's discuss. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
So the lesson in this VeggieTales episode is what to do abt bullies #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
i didn't like the lesson—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
we'll get to the reasons why in a minute. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
So, the first story, abt Junior & the playground bully Gordon #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Junior "solves the problem" by deciding that he's not afraid & he's going to stand up to Gordon & say Gordon doesn't have the right to kick them out of the playground #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
& Junior stands up & says he doesn't care if Gordon beats him up, he's going to come back every day & stand up to him #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
so..... that was a giant bluff, right? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
i don't feel comfortable w this lesson bc it's abt how the bullying victim can try to make themself less of a target/make it not interesting for the bully to bully them #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
it feels like this advice abt how to respond to bullying ACCEPTS that the bully has the power & it's just abt what you can do to make him less interested in bullying you #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
I think an authority figure needs to step in & tell the bully it is NOT okay to treat ppl that way, even if they do make themselves easy targets or whatever #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
And if a kid tries following this advice and it doesn't "work", then what? It would be easy for the kid to conclude that it's their own fault. They might think they didn't follow the advice correctly and need to try harder. When in reality there will always exist mean/abusive people in the world. Sometimes you just need to cut them out of your life, because trying to change them is not going to work.This advice abt what *you* should do & what *you* should say & how confident *you* should act when standing up to a bully sends the message that it's *your* responsibility to stop him from bullying you #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
personally i don't know what the current thinking is on a healthy way to handle childhood bullies, but my starting point would be the concept of BOUNDARIES #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
ie, it's not okay for ppl to treat you that way, & i do NOT accept the situation being framed as "the bully has the power & it's my job to say/do the right things to get him to stop" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
The bully is the one who's doing something bad. That should be the focus- an authority figure telling the bully their behavior is not okay & they need to stop. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
I don't like this focus on how the victims should respond. it feels victim-blamey. almost like saying "you are LETTING this happen to you by not standing up to them in the correct way" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
okay next was the story of Minnesota Cuke. the rival professor was a bully to him. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Minnesota is so mad & vows to get revenge. The audience is meant to understand that this is wrong. This makes Minnesota into a bully too. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
So yes, I agree revenge is wrong. But. We need to have a discussion abt the difference between justice & revenge. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
I would say revenge is when you're driven by your own hurt/anger & you want to hurt the other person in a way that's not related to the amount of damage they actually did, but motivated by your desire to make them suffer #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Whereas justice is when someone pays for what they did wrong, in a way that's reasonable & proportional to the actual damage they did #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
As an aside: Actually, I believe there are 3 aspects to justice:—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
1. help the victim
2. punish the person who did wrong
3. prevent it from happening again in the future
#PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
but in church they only talked about the "punishment" part of justice #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Anyway. It is wrong for Minnesota to try to get revenge. But it is GOOD to hold mr lunt accountable & make him face justice. #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
But this veggietales episode just said "turn the other cheek" & "god wants us to love our enemies"- didn't say it's good to seek justice & let bad ppl get the punishment they deserve #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
"Turn the other cheek" can be an effective strategy for getting people to stop mistreating you. (For example, look at nonviolent protest during the Civil Rights movement.) BUT. It's only going to be effective if you've really thought it through. If you've evaluated the risks and possible outcomes, if you're clear about what your goals are, if you understand the power dynamics of the situation, if you have a plan for how to set up a situation where "turn the other cheek" will make a big impact. In other words, it's only going to work if you're able to carefully evaluate it beforehand and understand exactly what you're doing and have the option to NOT use it if you decide it's not useful. Don't just naively do it because "it's the right thing to do."
personally i don't think "love your enemies" was the right response RIGHT AFTER Minnesota & Julia were ABANDONED ON AN OLD BROKEN BRIDGE by their "enemy" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
like........... how about "it's okay to be mad, but don't act on it until you calm down & think rationally abt it" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Personally I would focus on your own emotional health- ie, being constantly mad & wanting revenge isn't a healthy state to be in #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
so you should learn to handle your emotions in a healthy way FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, bc YOUR OWN emotional health matters. not because "it's the right thing to do" or any crap like that #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Then Minnesota tells the Canadian mounties not to arrest mr lunt. umm. didn't he just try to kill you though....? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
i mean, this is a lighthearted kids' movie, maybe Minnesota & Julia weren't actually in any danger. but it seemed to me that mr lunt left them trapped down there to die #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
BUT SERIOUSLY, if somebody tries to kill you, you shouldn't ask the police not to arrest them, just bc "god says to love our enemies" #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
especially since there's no indication whatsoever that lunt recognizes he did a bad thing & repents #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
like, don't you think he's going to show reckless disregard for ppl's lives again in the future?—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
like don't just let him go bc of some lofty "love your enemies" bullshit #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
and oh i rolled my eyes SO HARD at the part where mr lunt was like "wow you did a nice thing for me, i don't understand why" *cue opportunity to talk abt god's love* #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
bc this is what they taught us in sunday school. be loving to the ppl that are mean to us, & they will be astonished & desperate to know how it's possible we can be so kind when they are so mean #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
I remember I actually tried this, as a little kid. Another kid, let's call him Mark, was always trying to be the first one to get off the school bus, instead of letting us all file out one row at a time from front to back like the bus driver said. I believed Mark's behavior was very unfair to me (and all the kids who were waiting their turn), but I responded by "loving my enemy" and politely letting him go first even when it was my turn. GUESS WHAT? He never said "wow why are you so nice to me when I'm so mean to you?" He probably didn't even know that I believed he was mistreating me. I had extremely strong feelings about how Mark was being such a bad person- and probably nobody else even noticed because I never said anything about it. I just stood quietly and let him go first, imagining that he understood how generous and forgiving I was being, and how unfair his own behavior was. Imagining that I was "heaping burning coals on his head."... and there's your opportunity to tell them abt jesus! #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
spoiler: THE REAL WORLD DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
over here in the real world, if you act loving toward ppl who mistreat you, you give them no incentive to change their behavior, & they will walk all over you forever #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
which would be OBVIOUS if we taught kids abt BOUNDARIES #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Also i want to talk abt the story of Samson—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
which Minnesota sort of learns little-by-little throughout his adventure #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
First of all, the biblical story of Samson is EXTREMELY F**KED UP & very much NOT suitable for children & can't be simplified to a single moral lesson. & Samson should NOT be taken as a role model #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
let me give you a little taste: Samson told a weird riddle at his wedding which made his wife's whole family mad at him & then he got mad at them & went off & killed a bunch of ppl #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
later Samson comes back to see his wife, but her father doesn't let him in (he assumed that relationship was over bc of that whole incident at the wedding) so Samson gets mad ... #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
...So Samson catches 300 foxes (what?) & ties their tails together in pairs (WHAT?) & lights them on fire (WHATTTTTTTTT) & releases them to go burn the philistines' fields #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
and so on—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
like, the whole story of Samson is one giant WTF after another #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
VeggieTales claiming "he fought against the philistine bullies" wayyyy oversimplifies things #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
and yes, i suppose in the bible story it is true that, even though a big deal was made of Samson's hair, his real power came from god, not his hair #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
but like that was just 1 little piece in a parade of WTF and murder #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
my point is, let's not act like Samson is the kind of story you can pull 1 nice little lesson from & teach sunday school kids #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
that very much misrepresents the biblical story of Samson. i might even go so far as to call it dishonest #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
like what happens when you teach kids "Samson is a story abt how god gives us the power to love our enemies" & then later they go read the bible story & try to force it into that mold? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
note: i'm pretty sure veggietales did not actually ever specify what power god gave Samson, exactly. heavily implied it was the power to love one's enemies. ... #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
... but those of us who read our bibles know it was the power to kill a whole building of philistines in a murder/suicide sort of thing #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa wow they are using the story of SAMSON to teach kids to LOVE THEIR ENEMIES oh my godddd let's take a minute to just marvel at how completely backwards that is.see what i mean when i said this story really isn't appropriate for children? #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
Anyway let's wrap up. VeggieTales "Minnesota Cuke & the Search for Samson's Hairbrush" was abt what to do abt bullying #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
but i don't think it's good how the lesson focused on the "right" way for a victim to respond, rather than asserting, in no uncertain terms, that the bully is doing a BAD THING & should be held accountable #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
@pnumber628 Doesn't sound like it addressed how bullying is a form of ABUSE and how it can have a long-term effect on people, either. (There are adults who were abused as children by other children who deal with stuff like C-PTSD, anxiety, among other things.)—Shelly (@mizshellytee) 2018-04-12
it reminds me of complementarianism teaching women whose husbands treat them bad that they just need to submit more & their husband will magically start being nice #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
like, it accepted the framing of the situation that has the bully on top, w all the power, & the only thing the victims can do is try to entice the bully's whims in a certain direction #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
... & hope it works—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
#PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales
i don't think "love your enemies" & "turn the other cheek" & "don't let him see your fear" are good advice in this situation #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
---------------------All right, those are my thoughts on VeggieTales "Minnesota Cuke & the Search for Samson's hairbrush" ~ thanks for tuning in #PerfectNumberWatchesVeggieTales—Perfect Number (@pnumber628) 2018-04-12
To see all my VeggieTales reviews: Perfect Number Watches VeggieTales (Master Post)