by Kryistina ~*~ Frugal Diva Extraordinaire ~*~
Member since:
September 26, 2006

Faith-Based Homicide Supported by Walmart

December 09, 2006 07:55 PM EST
views: 93 | rating: 7.3/10 (15 votes) | comments: 33
I wrote about this issue previously here, and I beg you to please take action.

Have you heard the newest news?

I received an email recently announcing the release of the new hate and religious violence video game.

"Wal-Mart is promoting the religious right's extreme ideology this holiday season.
Just in time for Christmas, the religious right has released a violent video game in which born-again "Christians" aim to convert or kill those who don't adhere to their extreme ideology. Disturbingly, the game's apparent attempts at religious indoctrination are aimed at children and focus on violent, divisive, and hateful scenarios. While the religious right apparently has no problem pushing the product this holiday season, America's #1 video game seller should know better."

Now I usually edit the pre-written form letters provided by the activist folks, and that's what I did here as well. This is what I sent to the CEO of Wal-Mart (the nation's #1 video game retailer)regarding their decision to sell the most violent and hateful video game I have ever seen.

"Dear Mr Scott,
I am deeply offended by Wal-Mart's decision to sell the "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" video game, filled with religious violence, to our children this Christmas.

Up to this point, I have been very pleased with Wal-Mart's practices. Standing up for partner's rights, and providing health insurance for it's employees when no other minimum wage employer does, are great and admirable things. let's keep holding to the moral and ethical high-ground and take this violent filth off of the shelves and keep it off.

The game is based on an extreme ideology, and promotes the conversion or killing of those who do not adhere to a specific interpretation of "Christianity" - including Muslims, Catholics, Jews, and even Christians who beleive in the seperation of church and state or the teaching of evolution in schools.

"Left Behind: Eternal Forces" takes place in New York City, shortly after the rapture. Gamers are charged with creating "Christian" militias who roam the streets of New York City, looking to convert non-believers and killing those who they are unable to draw to their side while their "holy" and "God-driven" characters scream horrible and taunting things to those they are murdering in cold blood due to a disagreement of principle! In fact, after particularly bloody battles, players must use prayer to recharge their "soul points" that have been diminished by the killing.

I have no problem with Grand Theft Auto, but teaching a child (or adult) to kill others because of an ideological disagreement is akin to starting the next Jihad (holy war). Do you want that blood on your hands?

Remember, those who see a thing happening and do nothing to stop it are just as guilty as those who perpetrate the crime with their own hands. In a nation already violently divided along faith-lines, in a world where religion kills millions every year, what do you want to contribute to the efforts? Death, or peace?

Please, Mr. Scott, this divisive game has no place on Wal-Mart's shelves - especially this holiday season.

Surely the possible "bottom line" isn't important enough to insult and anger over 90% of your current shopper base. Is it?

I will be forwarding this information to my friends and family. The Pagans, the Catholics, the Evangelical Christians, everyone. May a mighy noise be brought forth to rouse you from your slumber of complacency. I can only hope it is enough.

Thank you for taking the time to read my words.
Sincerely,"
 Define: Christian:
  • Following the teachings or manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus Christ.
  
To send your own letter, click here. Protect the future.
  
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Comments: 33

John L. Dec 9, 2006, 7:59pm EST
Hey, didn't they use that same game during the Spanish Inquisition???
Randy- Being true to myself Dec 9, 2006, 8:03pm EST
I agree violence is terrible, but are you upset because it is violent, or because the violence is in the name of religion?

I think to abhore violence is worthy, but to dislike just due to the religious input is not a noble cause.

Also, what about vulgar language, sexual inuendos, and the such?
Ron (in complete sheeple overload) W. Dec 9, 2006, 8:06pm EST
And the nutsos buying these games are the same nuts worried about islamofascists?
Prairie K. Dec 9, 2006, 8:08pm EST
I was apalled the first time I heard of this game. I've done some research on it, and apparently the game is poorly coded and stalls the computer. Hopefully, the game itself is so badly written that people won't buy it. I am outraged this thing even made it as far as it has. This would only appeal to the kind of people who would send their kids to Jesus Camp!
Prairie K.
Ron (in complete sheeple overload) W. Dec 9, 2006, 8:09pm EST
Randy,

" I agree violence is terrible, but are you upset because it is violent, or because the violence is in the name of religion?"

Are you listening to yourself here? Of course I am, I can't speak for anyone else, but that's my religion, too, and using it in this way is obscene.
LEЯA © Politcally Incorrect M. Dec 9, 2006, 8:20pm EST
I'm not familiar with the game, but I did go to their website and they posted something about the controversy surrounding it.

Here is just a small part of what they have to say about it.

"Several months ago, there was a news story with erroneous information about the game. Unfortunately, some readers accepted the misinformation as being factual, and then the rumor mill and the blogs were off and running.

If you hear someone making negative statements about this game, we encourage you to ask if they have personally reviewed the game. If they are merely passing on hearsay, it is false and misleading information." http://www.leftbehindgames.com/pages/controversy.htm
Todd .. Dec 9, 2006, 8:22pm EST
Sounds like a terrible game.
True American Dec 9, 2006, 8:27pm EST
HAHAHAHAHA... and thats all i have to say about it. Oh yea and fuk walmart.
True American Dec 9, 2006, 9:28pm EST
I dont see a problem with makin some money TJ, but not at the cost of human suffering and keeping all the money for themselves and fuckin over the employees and purposely tryin to run businesses outta town and assisting in the new Eminent Domain laws........
True American Dec 9, 2006, 9:41pm EST
So TJ how long are you allowed outta the cage to play?
Steve Y do I even bother Dec 9, 2006, 10:08pm EST
First I had heard of this, so I checked out the games site and found a letter from the companies CEO about the controversy...if you would like to read it:

CEO's Letter
Layla Morgan Wilde Dec 9, 2006, 10:09pm EST
Scary. I don't shop at Wal-Mart.
True American Dec 9, 2006, 10:14pm EST
I might buy it just so i can beat up the Pope and take all his fancy clothes... beat up on some mormons too.
Olga M. Dec 9, 2006, 10:20pm EST
I could puke.
Dawne Joy Dec 9, 2006, 10:35pm EST
Even after all the bickering baby dust disappears, I still haven't heard if anyone has ACTUALLY seen the game and played it for themselves.

You just like to argue.
Grateful 1. Dec 9, 2006, 10:43pm EST
GOTTA LOVE the logic that even TreeAmeriKa and RE could argue:

The author:
"I have no problem with Grand Theft Auto, but teaching a child (or adult) to kill others because of an ideological disagreement is akin to starting the next Jihad (holy war). Do you want that blood on your hands?

Whoring and Pimping and Gunning Down Strangers and Secret Sex Scenes and Stealing all in the name of uh, POINTS has to be A LOT better for ANY kid than anything this game could offer...

I find it very hard to believe that one of the most successful titles ever would be associated with what was portrayed here. But, then again the logic above...

Discussion over for me.

RE and TREE: did your mommas not take you boys to WalMart to get you a GI Joe or something and all the kids got theirs because their mama made the trip. Or did she take away your Barbie Collections - and WalMart was sold out and you will NEVER forgive them?
True American Dec 9, 2006, 10:49pm EST
no i got my toys from Toys R Us or Kaybee Toys... and i was more of a Transformers and Ghostbusters fan.
Grateful 1. Dec 9, 2006, 10:50pm EST
T-Amerikan: I had this vision of you stripping the Pope as you Taser him with your mighty sword.

The disturbing part was you liked WAY too much...Alter Boy fantasy for you?
True American Dec 9, 2006, 10:53pm EST
no im not into old saggy mens.................
Teara, Mrs. PSofG, P. Dec 9, 2006, 11:38pm EST
I can see how you might be angry at walmart for selling this game. But as others have pointed out, they sell other games that are just as bad, if not worse and the American people will buy them because we are desensitized to such violence. Sending letters and bad-mouthing the store is not going to stop them from putting the game on their shelves because they know people will buy it and walmart will profit from it. As a matter of fact, this right here is free publicity for the game and the store. If the true issue here is the effect the game is going to have on children then you are barking up the wrong tree. You should be trying to get the word out to parents that this is not the type of game they should purchase or allow their children to play , and you can only hope that people listen. If they do you indirectly have an effect on the store as well (which is good for you as you believe they are in the wrong here) because the more people you convince this is a bad game, the fewer people who will buy it, and the less profit the store will make. Maybe if the game doesn't make them much money they will pull it off the shelves, and even if they don't you did what you could do to shield children from it.
Kathryn E. Dec 10, 2006, 2:33am EST
Good grass roots politicking to get the NATION's parents in an uproar to CAUSE Walmart to WITHDRAW the product, otherwise MORE CUSTOMERS THAN NOT will BOYCOTT WALMART.
Rhonda *TheTightwad* S. Dec 10, 2006, 8:10am EST
Walmart will pull items off the shelf if is found to be offensive by others and with good reason. I do not know the game so cannot say what I think about it. I will say, I am not fond of games like Grand Theft Auto. I don't care for the idea of my son learning to steal cars and pick up hookers. The game isn't in my house. Many of those games are not in my house because of the violence, sex, etc.
Now, if you really want to get into an uproar, when my husband went to his class on gangs, he learned that many of the games our children are playing are from companies owned by gangs such as Bloods, Crips, etc.
Carolion Grailbear Dec 10, 2006, 9:57am EST
I always send blessings to situations and individuals, where others send judgement and condemnation. What you give is what you'll receive, so----since I'd love to see us all healed of this consumer-religion violence, I chose to send unconditional love. It's an incredibly powerful force.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Carolion Grailbear Dec 10, 2006, 9:58am EST
Rhonda - not only the bloods & crips - but our own military have developed a number of killing "games." We've got a lot of sick mental programming to un-do!
True American Dec 10, 2006, 10:04am EST
I think its going too far to try and force something off the shelves, leave it up to each individual person if they want to buy it. I have never played Grand Theft Auto and I never will because I think the game is sick. Any parent that allows their child to buy that game is a p.o.s. parent, but im not going to try and take it off the shelves. Hey, if you dont want to buy something, then just simply walk past it.
Steve Y do I even bother Dec 10, 2006, 10:12am EST
WOW TA, excellent comment...and I.....agree.....completely.......

whew, that was tough :)
I would never buy Grand Theft Auto, the only video games we have in our house are Spiro the Dragon and Bust a Move (a puzzle game). The reason I have no problem with GTO is that it is blatantly advertised as being violent and full of filth kids should not be exposed to. "P.O.S. parents" who buy it, KNOW what they are getting.

This new game is marketed for teens and depicts violence based on faith. There will likely be good people who think this game is based on the books. People who buy it for their kids in order to strengthen their faith, steel their resolve to live as good Christians in preperation for "the end times". The books contain no mindless murder for religion by the faithful. Those poor parents who buy this game will be sorely mistaken, and will have spent money in support of a campaign of hate.

Yes, I firmly beleive that despite how "desensitized" we are, no matter even how old we are, voluntarily exposing ourselves to violence and hatred is unnecessary and dangerous. I say dangerous because desensitization slows our natural responses to real danger, real emergencies. I won't shove my beleifs on anyone else however, as I also beleive that is wrong.

But using violence, hatred, murder, and judgement in the name of a faith based on peace, love, and forgiveness is not only wrong, but evil to it's core. Even worse is that the people promoting this game, distruibuting it are the very same "Christians" who protest at funerals of innocent schoolchildren for the "crime" of attending a secular school. These people have always perverted and twisted the meaning of the word Christian, misleading innocents (not always children) into following their demented schemes. Now they are trying to reach out to destroy those who have not yet fallen under their spell with their other methods, and now they are working their insidious plot via this game.

I'll admit I have an alterrior motive for keeping this game off the shelves. I am completly against lying and dectit. To make a profit or to make a convert, it matters not. The marketing of this game is a total fallacy. I wouldn't be so upset if they came right out and said what it was so that people could protect their children from it.

As for alerting parents about this game so they can make their own decisions, I thought that was part of what I was doing by posting my concerns here.

Peace
Rich Sadowsky Dec 11, 2006, 9:34am EST
It's kind of funny the position retailers like Walmart are in. I used to refuse to shop there because they only sell "clean" versions of CDs. I don't need the Walton family to decide for me what kind of hiphop or pop CDs I buy.

I admit I don't know anything about this game. I am not a gamer and neither is my daughter thankfully. She prefers reading and movies and plays. Sure, some of those things portray negative issues too. But I expect her to think for herself. I chose to bring her to see some racey plays when she was 8 (such as Rent) to open the discussion on sex, drugs, and AIDS. What is most important with video games, music, movies, and life is to talk to your kids and make sure none of these things are having a negative influence on their development.
Rich Sadowsky Dec 11, 2006, 9:58am EST
I forgot to add that you did the right thing presenting this information. Now we can all research this issue and make the decision that is right for our families.
Rich,
Ya know, I really liked your comment. *agree*

You speak the ultimate truth when it comes to parenting. Educating your children, preparing and forewarning them against the possible dangers and evils of this world, is the only way to really, truly protect them from the effects of those ills, whether they are with you or on their own.

Thank you for adding your voice to the conversation.
clifton j. May 28, 2007, 3:58pm EDT
walmart = bad;
religious propaganda = very bad;
W+Rp = worse possible situation

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