I wrote yesterday: “… And while Blind Side has much that is commendable, my criticism is this: The portrayal of Sandra Bullock’s character as the well-to-do mother (Leigh Anne Tuohy) is unnecessarily hyper-sexualized. …â€Â I anticipated an avalanche of unsubscribes. There were only two. Surprisingly there were many affirming comments. Here are but a few: I start with this powerful one that I just received moments ago with concerns that I believe reflect the hearts of many. Mr. Johnson, I am glad I am not the only one who noticed Sandra Bullock's immodest clothing in "The Blind Side." I agree wholeheartedly with your criticisms. My husband, for obvious reasons, disagreed that her clothing was distasteful and even denied that her outfits revealed cleavage. I have come to the conclusion that he does not want to criticize because such outfits on a gorgeous woman are there as eye candy for him. Like many men, he simply enjoys the view and pretends that he does not lust over it. I don't buy it. Mr. Johnson, I long ago reached the conclusion that I am in a blatant minority in my views, even in my own home.  Indecency has so saturated  our culture that even many claiming to be Christians not only overlook it, but also actively participate in it and welcome it into their homes, which in turn affects all of those living under their roof. I believe that these people will have to answer for that someday. God commands us to be holy because He is holy. This should most certainly apply to the media we absorb. I appreciate and so much respect the fact that you, a man, stand for Godly principles and fight those things which provoke lust. You are in a greater minority than I am simply because of your gender. Thank you for being a great example of a man living by the Spirit instead of the flesh. I wish there could be more people like you. In Christ, …. Email #1: “…Unfortunately, immodesty is all around us…including Sunday Mass/Worship. …â€Â I agree with you. Unfortunately, immodesty is all around us…including Sunday Mass/Worship.  It's hard to even understand why women choose to wear immodest clothing showing cleavage, in the workplace and around their children. In my eyes, it is teaching your daughters that they are "eye candy" and it teaches your sons that women are meant to be ogled. Why don't they understand that they are promoting men to lust after them? And what women wear to the beach is horrendous and shocking. It's bad enough when teenagers dress in that way, REALLY troubling when "respected" mothers do. I have also NEVER understood this new fad of "hot" pregnant moms, wearing tight shirts accentuating their pregnant belly, and/or bare bellies. Is there anything sacred anymore? Thanks for speaking about an issue that is unpopular, and may God contiue to bless you and your ministry. Email #2: “…I too am bothered by the unnecessary cleavage shots….â€Â Thank you for your well deserved criticism of the immodesty in the movie Blind side. I too am bothered by the unnecessary cleavage shots and other immodest dress in even movies that claim to be Christian. Dressing that way only makes your body public property and sends mixed messages to men. I will stand firm in my beliefs and pass them on to my sweet little girl. She is almost three and when she sees someone dressed that way or sees a magazine cover that is immodest she says "She's indecent mommy she needs to get some clothes on." I wish more women would take a stand and say NO! My body is NOT public property. Keep up the good work. M.L. Email #3: “…are absolutely right on. …â€Â Bill, you are absolutely right on. My husband received movie tickets from his employer, so we went to the theater in December–the first time in years. We chose the Blind Side. It really bothered me how the mom dressed and acted (slapping another man on his backside/using crude language/behaving as the head of the husband). You are definitely not alone in your criticisms. However, I feel as though the rest of the Christian community is so hungry for a good "family" movie, they overlook glaring inconsistencies and sinful behavior. Thank you for your ministry. D.H. DeMotte IN Email #4: “…it seems though that there always has to be cleavage. …â€Â I agree with you. I also watched the movie, and that is the only part I had a problem with, it was almost as if she was flaunting her body. I wonder if the real Leigh Anne Tuohy dressed like that? There are so many good movies, but someone always has to put SOMETHING in them so that we can't watch them. So many times I'm told of a movie that has a great story, or message, so I'll watch it. It seems though that there always has to be cleavage, or some kind of body exposure, male or female, I don't appreciate having to be exposed to either one. I have complained about the magazines at the checkouts, they show men & women in practically nothing. The store managers can't seem to grasp that there is anything wrong with a bare bodied man in trunks. It does offend me. I don't appreciate being tempted. Yes, if a good looking, half naked man is put in front of you, even though you turn your head, you still get the visual. I don't want it, or need it in my life. It is everywhere you look. It is hard to walk around with your eyes closed, that is WHY we fight for decency! Thank you for all that you do, and God Bless All of you at the ADA, cc Email #5   Short and to the point — My family and I had just watched it Saturday and those were my exact thoughts. Email #6 “…we have been too conforming and it's too easy to fall into sin. …â€Â Thank you for your observations of the Blind Side Movie. I haven't seen it, but I always liked Sandra Bullock just for the very reason that she didn't usually portray herself as a sexual object. I'm disappointed to hear this about her too. I agree with you 100 percent. I have deliberately chosen not to watch programs such as Dancing with the Stars just for that very reason. I'm an older woman, but even when I was young I tried to be careful of that. Not that I'm such an angel or anything, but I think we have been too conforming and it's too easy to fall into sin. Much more difficult to get up again.  I pray now for our youth and our country, and especially my own children. I cannot afford to financially support you, but I wanted to let you know that I read your letters and am thankful there are ministries of your type. God bless you in the future. Email #7: “…Your evaluation of this movie (even though I haven't seen it) is perfectly warranted. …â€Â Bill – Your evaluation of this movie (even though I haven't seen it) is perfectly warranted. I too decry many good Christian (and with my experience, many Catholic, especially) women who wear shirts / blouses / dresses that are surprisingly low-cut, and most immodest. Some will say that "that's the style everywhere", and say that they've made (at least half-hearted) attempts to find more modest clothing, but "to no avail". I guess that's Christianity all over – we need to very often walk "second miles" (in this case, to "look harder" in clothing selection) in order to counteract the paganism that's engulfing our society. Easter blessings, OH Email #8: “You jumped the shark in this review.â€Â Dear Bill, O PLEASE!  You jumped the shark in this review. I didn't see what you saw, and you must have seen it because you expected it. H.W. Email #9:  “keep ourselves unspotted from the world.â€Â Bill Thank you for keep us up to date on what’s going on – to keep ourselves unspotted from the world as much as possible . [We] appreciate your great work – we will try to send some extra this month because of the financial stress ADA is facing. Grand Rapids, MI Email #10:   taken aback by how she dressed — I too was taken back by how she dressed. Your points should be considered and acted upon. Thanks so much. V.K. Email #11  “… don't appreciate these actresses putting these views in front of [husbands] eyes.â€Â Dear Mr. Johnson, Thank you, my brother, for taking this hard stand. I'm sure you'll be criticized for it. I have the movie on order and I was unaware of this problem. I believe there may be some inappropriate language in it, so I was planning to wait for Clearplay to come out with a filter before we watched it. Now, I'll wait for the Clearplay filter, plus I will make plans to watch it without my husband because I really don't appreciate these actresses putting these views in front of his eyes! Thanks again and God bless you and your ministry. V.M. Email #12: “… not offended …â€Â Sir: I've seen the movie and I just last night watched the Tuohy interview on Huckabee. I was not offended by the clothing either the actress or the mom wore.  If you look at today's Christian church attendees, you'll see (mostly young) women wearing tops that show too much and skirts or slacks that are a bit tight. It's up to the church to set standards. In fact, our youth pastor did a couple of years ago when he told the girls about to go on a mission trip to not bring bikinis, short shorts, or revealing clothing. They were to dress properly…by covering up…at all times. T.M. Email #13: “…we see so much worse in society …â€Â I guess you're right. To be honest, though, I did not necessarily find Sandra Bullock's dress to be offensive. I guess we see so much worse in society.  I think her "heart" in the movie was what drew my eye even more. Email #14: Yes, I did notice that too. Also, what she said to Michael at the end about what she would do if he got a girl pregnant outside of marriage, was totally uncalled for. How disappointing that even the good movies have to be tainted. J.D. I do not have the resources to donate, but I appreciate your stand. Email #15: Ms. Bullock true to the character she was portraying With all due respect, having seen interviews with the actual Lee Ann, Ms. Bullock was simply true to the character she was portraying. Sincerely, K.M. Email #16: “…I was very disappointed at the dress of Sandra Bullock. …â€Â Hi Bill, I also saw the movie yesterday w/ my husband, my sister and her 2 boys, aged 17 and 13. I was very disappointed at the dress of Sandra Bullock, which I also thought was inappropriate (most of the time) for a woman who claims to be a Christian. That may have been the movie makers' fault. I was also disappointed that Leigh Anne told Michael that she would "cut off his penis if he got a girl pregnant." The focus was on pregnancy being the unwanted result, not on the purity that should have been expected.  I was also disappointed that the Christians in the movie swore. Yes, the movie has some redeeming qualities but it is not w/o its faults. Sincerely, Wendy Email #17: “…my grandsons talked me into this one. Won't do again. …â€Â I noticed the same thing and was very disappointed in the film. I was very disappointed in the way she dressed to go into Harlem. I was also embarrassed.  When will these film makers get it. Yes, when we stop going to their movies. I only go to PG and G but my grandsons talked me into this one. Won't do again. Barb Email #18: “… you didn’t mention the profanity. …â€Â Thank you, Bill. I agree 150% with what you said about how Sandra Bullock was dressed in the movie, "Blindside." I kept thinking to myself, "gee…I guess this is how the "real" Mrs. Tuohy dressed – – since I heard she was there and approved the making of the movie…I mean, I would want to be portrayed as closely to the truth as possible. So, that made me wonder whether it was a true portrayal, or beefed up for the ratings… PLUS, you didn't mention the profanity… I knew there'd be some, but I was a bit disappointed in that aspect as well. Otherwise, yes, it was a good story – – and yes, I do realize it was not supposed to be a "Christian" movie, so I guess some profanity might be expected. I just hated that Tim McGraw said it in front of the kids as if he didn't care. Thanks, Linda Email #19: “…Unfortunately, immodesty is all around us…including Sunday Mass/Worship. …â€Â I agree with you. Unfortunately, immodesty is all around us…including Sunday Mass/Worship.  It's hard to even understand why women choose to wear immodest clothing showing cleavage, in the workplace and around their children. In my eyes, it is teaching your daughters that they are "eye candy" and it teaches your sons that women are meant to be ogled. Why don't they understand that they are promoting men to lust after them? And what women wear to the beach is horrendous and shocking. It's bad enough when teenagers dress in that way, REALLY troubling when "respected" mothers do. I have also NEVER understood this new fad of "hot" pregnant moms, wearing tight shirts accentuating their pregnant belly, and/or bare bellies. Is there anything sacred anymore? Thanks for speaking about an issue that is unpopular, and may God contiue to bless you and your ministry. Email #20 “…I wasn’t impressed with the film. …â€Â Bill, You are being honest about this film. I wasn’t impressed with the film or S. Bullock’s acting. I was quite surprised she got the Academy Award for this movie. I have nothing to compare it with as this is the only movie I have seen but I can’t imagine there wasn’t better acting. Oh well. J Email #21: “…. I don’t see why this family is made to look so special….â€Â I thought some of the language was offensive. I also am kind of shocked to see that by bringing in a 16 year old who already knew their family was such a big thing. I know of families who adopt kids who have special needs and not just one but several and they aren’t rich like this family was. Now that is really cool. It was very nice of this family to invite this boy into their family but it wasn’t like it was any sacrifice. I don’t see why this family is made to look so special. K.V. ==========================================================: As we approach the summer months, I would urge pastors and youth group leaders, and moms, dads, and grandparents to teach those under their love and care about what is pleasing and honoring to the Lord. One resource that we find particularly helpful is Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ “The Look: Does God really care what I wear?â€Â https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=store/display =============================================== Your support is important to our ability to make a difference: donate online at: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=donate/display9 American Decency Association Bill Johnson, PresidentP.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson
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