We won’t have nice things in a theocracy. Even one that claims to be “secular.”

Lady Gaga has canceled her June 3 concert in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, which calls itself secular, after the hardline fundamentalists  Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) threatened violence and

chaos

if she entered the country, calling Gaga a

devil’s messenger.

The FPI stated they would try to prevent the performer from exiting her plane when it landed, complaining that Gaga performed in

a bra and panties.

Minola Sebayang, lawyer for promoters Big Daddy, told reporters:

This is not only about Lady Gaga’s security, but extends to those who will be watching her.

While the police in Jakarta refused to issue a permit for the concert, Big Daddy president Michael Rusli said:

For the past few days we have communicated with the government and Lady Gaga’s side. The government has given support, but this is not about the permit. The cancellation is really due to concerns over security.

It’s been reported that promoters were trying to work within government guidelines for decency–Beyonce and the Pussycat Dolls were allowed to perform their Indonesian shows in modest stage costumes. But while Rusili said that Gaga was

prepared to adapt to Asian culture,

her manager Troy Carter said the star

would not tone down any of her concerts.

In the past months, Lady Gaga has faced protests from Christian groups at her shows in the Philippines and South Korea, and in the latter country made her shows 18 and over, but refused to compromise her concerts’ content or the integrity of her vision.

Promoters are offering refunds for the 50,000 tickets sold for the concert.

Again, this is why we won’t have nice things in a theocracy. Like Pride tee-shirts. Or certain books. Or more importantly, the freedom to worship, love or do as we please. Because, even though Indonesia is a technically a secular country, 90% of population identifies as Muslim, and some of that 90% is so empowered by being in the majority that they’ve become threatening bullies. Kinda like some Christians here in the US, where 78% of the population identifies as Christian some of whom murder in the name of their faith, which is why it is important that all of us continue to support and maintain the separation of church and state, and refute the establishment of any theocracy, and work to insure that any government favoritism of any faith, by any government arm, even the IRS, is stopped.

 

Today Pam Spaulding wrote about Pastor Charles Worley of Providence Road Baptist Church in Maiden, NC  who told his congregation on May 13, 2012 that his solution to dealing with lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender people is to send them to concentration camps.

Okay, clear and simple, this guy is an absolute hate-filled moron who believes the the King James Version of the Bible is

the inerrant Word of God.

You know, the version with the satyrs dancing.  Because satyrs existed. According to this version of the Bible.

But let’s get back to Pastor Worley’s speech:

I figured a way to rid of all the lesbians and queers, but I couldn’t get it past the Congress.

His plan? To incarcerate LGBT behind an electrified fence and drop in some food.  Because

they can’t reproduce

they would eventually die off.

Isn’t one of the biggest fears of the wingnuts “FEMA camps”?  Even Glenn Beck says Obama is building them for Republicans. and why do you suppose The Wingnut Gummit would stop with the queers and homosexuals? They might go after oh, say Republicans who support queers and homosexuals. Or Republicans who  don’t like they way their taxes are being spent. Or… Someone needs to send Pastor Worley this poem by Pastor Niemoller:

First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Then at 1:24, Pastor Hate Worley preaches from the pulpit:

Somebody says, Who are you gonna vote for?” I ain’t gonna vote for a baby killer and a homosexual lover.

Whoopsie:

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.

And according to the North Carolina Secretary of State, Providence Road Baptist Church is a non-profit corporation.

The IRS’ Tax Exempt Organization Manager in charge of the Mid-Atlantic region is:

Vincent A. Fusco
Internal Revenue Service
5990 W Creek Road
Independence, OH 44131-2190

The Undefeated which opened in select cities ten theaters across the country, grossed $65,132, or $6,513 per screen on its first weekend  on opening weekend, July 15th. By comparison, that same weekend Horrible Bosses averaged $5,672. But Horrible Bosses was on 3,134 screens.

Math is hard, and statistics are made for spinning, but I kinda think overall Horrible Bosses did better…

On July 17th, Trevor Drinkwater, CEO of ARC which distributed The Undefeated told The Hollywood Reporter:

We expect word-of-mouth to keep ticket sales strong and we will definitely expand the film to a wider national audience.

This past weekend saw an abrupt drop-off; The Undefeated, while opening on four more screens, only averaged $1,713 per venue. Whoops! Total box office as of Sunday, July 24 was $101,000.

Time for Plan B: Video-on-demand and DVD, a tried and traditional route for any indie film.

ARC Entertainment, the distributor of “The Undefeated”…announced today that beginning on September 1st the film will be available to 75 million homes via Video on Demand and Pay-Per-View access through national and regional cable and satellite operators.

On October 4, ARC will release the DVD in an initial pressing of 250,000 units.

Glenn Bracken Evans, the film’s producer said:

This title is absolutely perfect for Video-on-Demand and Pay-Per-View backed by a traditional and significant marketing campaign. We are incredibly excited about having this film made available to the entire country earlier than expected. A traditional windowed release would not have allowed us to maximize viewership of this highly sought after film.

Look, independent movies have a hard time turning a profit, let alone documentaries, and political documentaries even more so. The Undefeated is a niche product. I wonder how The Undefeated filmmakers feel about the IRS argument made in a US Tax Court trial this March that

filmmaker Lee Storey could not deduct business expenses pertaining to her film Smile ’Til It Hurts: The Up with People Story because the primary purpose of her film (and by inference all documentary films) is to educate and expose, not to make profit, and that therefore documentary filmmaking is a not-for-profit activity

.
[HT Clusterflock.org]