Adults should keep noses out of children's business

Sigh.

SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeon's delightfully cheery cartoon character, was recently accused by several Christian activist groups of being gay.

The argument apparently stems from the character's inclusion amongst a multitude of other children's characters in a video for nonprofit organization We Are Family Foundation designed to promote tolerance and diversity.

The foundation's tolerance pledge, however, includes the sentence, "To help keep diversity a wellspring of strength and make America a better place for all, I pledge to have respect for people whose abilities, beliefs, culture, race, sexual identity or other characteristics are different from my own."

The pledge is available on the foundation Web site, www.wearefamilyfoundation.org, not to be confused with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual Web site for the organization WeAreFamily.

Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family fame is quoted in a CNN article as saying, "Their inclusion of the reference to 'sexual identity' within their 'tolerance pledge' is not only unnecessary, but it crosses a moral line."

Ah, so there's the rub.

It's interesting that Dobson and the activists seem to believe we only need to be tolerant of those persons or groups we agree with. The rules fly out the window the instant we disapprove, which seems to be the exact opposite of tolerance and compassion.

But that's another column, one that's already been given ample time and will be repeated to blind eyes, deaf ears and closed minds until its speakers are Smurf-blue in the face.

Regardless of one's feelings regarding homosexuality, the whole SpongeBob argument is ridiculous. SpongeBob is a cartoon character designed for the enjoyment of little kids and should be viewed primarily as such.

It must take a real grouch to try and ruin millions of childrens' glee and joy as they watch SpongeBob set off on his quest for jellyfish, whip up his world famous Krabby Patties at work or delight in imaginative games with best friend Patrick the starfish while tormenting cranky neighbor Squidward Tentacles.

It's the same situation as when "Sesame Street " characters Bert and Ernie or purple Teletubby Tinky Winky came under similar fire. The characters are not gay, nor are they straight. They don't have sexual identity or sexual relationships of any kind, because their core audience is children. Casting or attempting to cast them in an adult light is really missing the point.

I never watched "Teletubbies," so I can't speak for Tinky Winky, but the whole purpose for Bert and Ernie is fun and the occasional alphabetically-sponsored lesson, whereas SpongeBob cartoons are pure fun, plain and simple. Any ulterior motives to be found are within the accusers' own dirty minds.

And if finding enjoyment in them takes away something from those who would complain, then I say that's all the more reason to heat up the popcorn and pay a visit to Sesame Street or SpongeBob's home of Bikini Bottom.

On second thought, I retract my statement about it taking a grouch to try and taint innocence and joy. That's an insult to grouches everywhere.

I have a feeling these anti-SpongeBob and anti-Bert and Ernie campaigns would disgust even Squidward and Oscar the Grouch.

Matthew Weaver is a diehard animated cartoon and Muppet fanatic. And if that's wrong, the Columbia Basin Herald business and agriculture reporter doesn't want to be right.