Still waiting for a satisfactory answer on what makes Christianity "degrading" - particularly an independent film that tells the woefully undertold story of anti-Christian persecution:
Facebook rejected an ad by the producers of the film I Am A Christian because the company says it degrades people.
The film is to be about the life of a Sudanese woman, Meriam Ibrahim, who was sentenced to one hundred lashes and death by her government for her refusal to renounce her Christian faith. Ibrahim was pregnant at the time, and her story captured international attention. She gave birth to a baby girl in prison.
The Sudanese high court eventually overturned Ibrahim’s sentence; and she, her husband, and two children took refuge in the U.S. embassy in Sudan. The United States government offered asylum; and after some high-level diplomatic negotiations with the assistance of the Italian government, Ibrahim and her family were allowed to emigrate to the U.S. last summer.
I'll grant FB that Christians are degraded by the avalanche of persecution, driven largely by Muslims, that has been carpet-bombed upon them, not unlike we're degraded by the less virulent but still unmistakable brand of anti-Christian persecution in which FB specializes. But evidently they consider the accurate portrayal of our persecutors to be what is "degrading":
In a press statement, Brian Harrington, a spokesman for the movie group, claimed Facebook sent a message which said the ad was not approved “because it doesn't follow Facebook’s Advertising Guidelines for language that is profane, vulgar, threatening or generates high negative feedback.
“Ads can’t use language that insults, harasses or demeans people, or addresses their age, gender, name, race, physical condition or sexual preference,” the message added, according to Harrington.
He said a subsequent exchange with Facebook evinced a response that said the ad did not conform to Facebook’s “language policies.”
“We’ve found that people dislike ads that directly address them or their personal characteristics such as religion.
“Ads should not single out individuals or degrade people. We don’t accept language like ‘Are you fat?’ ‘Wanna join me?’ and the like. Instead, text must present realistic and accurate information in a neutral or positive way and should not have any direct attribution to people.”
Here's the ad copy that FB found "offensive":
“Are you a Christian? We challenge you to change your profile picture to this ‘I Am A Christian’ photo for one week! Change your picture now, and challenge your friends to do the same. Stand up and declare Yes, I Am A Christian!!!”
First of all, I never change my profile picture. In fact, it is no end of pet-peevish irritation to me when FB friends endlessly change their profile pictures. Pick your damn profile picture and stick with it. Emblematicalism is the whole point of having a profile picture. Does McDonalds randomly cycle through jade rhombuses, iron triangles, moss cylinders, orange spheroids, and purple trapezoids in addition to the golden arches? No, they do not. And there's a good reason for that. If anybody wants to change their cover photo, that's permissible, although not encouraged. But leave your profile pictures alone.
Second, the ad is addressing Christians, which is the purpose of the opening query. The semantical implication being that if you're not a Christian, the ad doesn't apply to you (although it can if you so choose). How that equates to "Are you fat?" is anybody's guess. I guess the parallel is meant by FB to be an insult to the morbidly obese. As if there aren't tubby evangelicals.
But don't get the wrong idea, folks. I'm not suggesting or even implying that this is a First Amendment issue. Facebook is a private company, even if it is publicly traded, and they can accept or reject advertisements as they see fit. But that should not spare them from having to answer the question of what is offensive about asking FB subscribers what is "offensive" or "degrading" if they are followers of Jesus Christ.
I'll say it again, brothers and sisters: If FB hates Christians, they should just be honest about it and terminate of our accounts. Then we can form our own version of FB and put their asses out of business.
Sounds like "social justice" to me.
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