15-Yr Old Animation Producer Challenges Empire, Gets Ugly Slurs...

Mel Brennan · Apr 27, 2006

From all over the Googlesphere, but specifically from here:

Ava Lowery is a fifteen-year-old who lives in Alabama. She calls herself a peace activist, and for the past year, she’s been producing her own short animations on her website, peacetakescourage.com. All in all, she’s made about seventy of them, she says, and most of them oppose Bush and his Iraq War.

“I was just so mad about it,” she explains. “And the media are not showing the real images of the war, so I did a lot research and started my own website.”

She submitted one of her latest creations, “WWJD,” to the monthly “contagious” contest that huffingtonpost.com is running. (It’s an open contest that ranks the number of viewers for each submission.)

“WWJD” (“What Would Jesus Do”) is a powerful animation that features a soundtrack of a child singing “Jesus loves me, this I know” while one picture after another of a wounded, bloody, or screaming Iraqi child fills the screen.

“The object of the animation,” says Lowery, is “to get the following point across: Jesus loves Iraqis, too.”

Lowery ends the video with quotations from Beatitudes, including, “Blessed are they who mourn” and “Blessed are the meek” and “Blessed are the merciful” and “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

She says she’s received a lot of positive feedback in short messages back to her site. And she understands that the fact that “people are on the web, and they just let loose.” But she was unprepared for the viciousness of the negative feedback—especially the ugly sexual slurs similar to those that Cindy Sheehan has faced. (If you can’t stand foul language, stop reading now.)

“It’s people like you who need to ********ing die and get raped while your corpse rots in the sun,” said one e-mail Lowery shared with me. “******** you, I would jack off on your parents if I could. If you don’t like the team, get out of the park. That means take ur small dick and get the ******** off of my homeland you ************ chocolate gulper.”

“You are a TRAITOR to your country and should be executed for treason,” another one said. “All you do is bitch about the US. If you hate it so much, why don’t you GET THE ******** OUT.”

“Why don’t you go masterbate [sic] to a pic of Sheehan and ******** off,” said a third.

“Are you a muslem [sic] terrorist?” asked another.

She says there was a threat against her that was circulating “on the conservative underground.” And she says she received one e-mail from someone who said, “Contact me ASAP. It concerns a danger to your life.”

When her mom called the number, the person who answered denied any knowledge of the threat, Lowery says.

She adds: “I was really weirded out by it...”
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I'm sure. It's odd, the indictment of the practice of democracy by others vis-a-vis the employment of the tools of that selfsame democracy. It must be that some feel that the nation's rights only applies fully to those to fully support the acts of the nation's officeholders.

Sounds like some regimes we've seen go the ignominy to which we're sentencing ourselves...

Barbara · Apr 27, 2006

Who talks that way to a kid, anyway? Cripes.

MattR · Apr 27, 2006

The simple fact of the matter is that 35% or so of this country will support this war, and most of what this administration does, NO MATTER WHAT.

Literally, the President could shoot his wife in the head, and they would support it as the true American thing to do.

The problem is, the house of cards has fallen completely apart, with the illusions about faith, loyalty, bringing honor to the White House, protecting you against citizens, small conservative government, etc... all that stuff is GONE now.

The only recourse is to change your mind, or viciously attack anything that might mess up your viewpoint.

And only losers and commies change their mind...

spejic · Apr 27, 2006

MattR said:

The simple fact of the matter is that 35% or so of this country will support this war, and most of what this administration does, NO MATTER WHAT.
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That isn't the problem - the problem is the smaller but not insignifigant number of people who act like the people who sent the death threats. I can't really understand such people, but I have seen them before. It's like they have no moral sense beyond "OBEY".

Chicago1871 · Apr 27, 2006

Anonymity makes evey the weakest person bold. What those "people" said is deplorable and besides needing a good smack to head they need a lesson about the principles of the country they claim is theirs.

russ · Apr 27, 2006

Those boards need BS moderators.

Revolt · Apr 27, 2006

I don't know why, but I just thought about the abuse Hank Aaron endured as he passed Babe Ruth's home run record. This fifteen year-old is another Hammerin' Hank, IMO.

Karl K · Apr 27, 2006

Mel Brennan said:

From all over the Googlesphere, but specifically from here:

I'm sure. It's odd, the indictment of the practice of democracy by others vis-a-vis the employment of the tools of that selfsame democracy. It must be that some feel that the nation's rights only applies fully to those to fully support the acts of the nation's officeholders.

Sounds like some regimes we've seen go the ignominy to which we're sentencing ourselves...
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Oh, puhhleeze.

You ever spend anytime reading the wonderful sentiments of some of the anonymous posters on Democratic Underground or Kos?

I wouldn't want them dating YOUR sister, despite what little I think of you.

Or do you even listen to what Al Franken says about having Dick Cheyney whacked?

Neither side of the political spectrum has a monopoly of complete and total graciousness. There are vicious potentially violent a$$holes on either side.

By the way, this 15 year old has some talent. That she puts it into the service of these views is in my view misguided, but it's a free country.

Revolt · Apr 27, 2006

Karl K said:

Oh, puhhleeze.

You ever spend anytime reading the wonderful sentiments of some of the anonymous posters on Democratic Underground or Kos?

I wouldn't want them dating YOUR sister, despite what little I think of you.

Or do you even listen to what Al Franken says about having Dick Cheyney whacked?

Neither side of the political spectrum has a monopoly of complete and total graciousness. There are vicious potentially violent a$$holes on either side.

By the way, this 15 year old has some talent. That she puts it into the service of these views is in my view misguided, but it's a free country.
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Mr. Moral equivalence, Dick Cheney is 85 years old. This girl is 15.

Chris M. · Apr 27, 2006

Wow. That is some powerful stuff.

argentine soccer fan · Apr 27, 2006

Mel Brennan said:

From all over the Googlesphere, but specifically from here:

Sounds like some regimes we've seen go the ignominy to which we're sentencing ourselves...
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Sounds like there are a few crazy morons loose in the internet. That's Empire?

Chris M. · Apr 27, 2006

argentine soccer fan said:

Sounds like there are a few crazy morons loose in the internet. That's Empire?
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She wasn't challenging the morons. Try a second read of the subject.

Karl K · Apr 27, 2006

Revolt said:

Mr. Moral equivalence, Dick Cheney is 85 years old. This girl is 15.
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Threatening to kill is threatening to kill. THAT'S equivalence, pal.

Dan Loney · Apr 27, 2006

Karl K said:

Or do you even listen to what Al Franken says about having Dick Cheney whacked?
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Link please.

argentine soccer fan · Apr 27, 2006

Chris M. said:

She wasn't challenging the morons. Try a second read of the subject.
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I was questioning Mel's motives, not hers. I think he's trying to make the comments of a few crazy morons in the internet into some sort of proof of an emerging fascist empire.

Or maybe I'm missunderstanding. How do you interpret this?

mel Brennan said:

Sounds like some regimes we've seen go the ignominy to which we're sentencing ourselves...
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Mel Brennan · Apr 27, 2006

argentine soccer fan said:

...Or maybe I'm missunderstanding. How do you interpret this?
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If mooncalves like these had their way, and people like Ava silenced themselves, we'd be no different then crap empires and dictatorships that have leapt onto the wasteheap of history before us. It's about the idiots, not about the Great Experiment. Now, I'll aruge that the Experiment is faltering precisely because idiots have inordinate power, but that's not my argument here...

argentine soccer fan · Apr 28, 2006

Mel Brennan said:

If mooncalves like these had their way, and people like Ava silenced themselves, we'd be no different then crap empires and dictatorships that have leapt onto the wasteheap of history before us. It's about the idiots, not about the Great Experiment. Now, I'll aruge that the Experiment is faltering precisely because idiots have inordinate power, but that's not my argument here...
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That is true. But let's not overreach with our conclusions. Mooncalves like these don't have their way. There are places in the world where such an open challenge to those in power would lead to imprisionment or worse. Thankfully that is not the case here. The site is allowed to proclaim its point of view openly for all of us to see and judge, and that is as it should be. Has it been shut down?

The fact that a few idiots resort to such insults is not an indictment of our society, or of our chosen government, regardless of how we may feel about the policies of said government. Now if there is a way to show a connection between the harassers and those in power, then you're on to something more serious.

Do you think there's a real connection there, and is that your legitimate concern? I doubt you'd be opening a thread just to condem a few anonymous idiots.

Belgian guy · Apr 28, 2006

Sure they do, but are death threats a form of freedom of speech? I'm pretty sure they are illegal in most parts of the world.

argentine soccer fan · Apr 28, 2006

Belgian guy said:

Sure they do, but are death threats a form of freedom of speech? I'm pretty sure they are illegal in most parts of the world.
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Then most of the people who post in rivalries should be arrested.

Malaga CF fan · Apr 28, 2006

Thanks for posting this story Mel. This little 15-year old has some chops. Good for her.

There are plenty of freaks on both sides of the political spectrum, neither of them serve our best interests. Unfortunately, in today's media culture, he who screams loudest carries the day, so polarized views are all that most people hear.

When sickos come out to attack a 15-year old girl for speaking truth to power, you know she's hit a nerve.

Mel Brennan · Apr 28, 2006

argentine soccer fan said:

That is true. But let's not overreach with our conclusions. Mooncalves like these don't have their way. There are places in the world where such an open challenge to those in power would lead to imprisionment or worse. Thankfully that is not the case here. The site is allowed to proclaim its point of view openly for all of us to see and judge, and that is as it should be. Has it been shut down?

The fact that a few idiots resort to such insults is not an indictment of our society, or of our chosen government, regardless of how we may feel about the policies of said government. Now if there is a way to show a connection between the harassers and those in power, then you're on to something more serious.

Do you think there's a real connection there, and is that your legitimate concern? I doubt you'd be opening a thread just to condem a few anonymous idiots.
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To the extent that they contribute to the silencing of dissent, that is my concern. Remember, we're all living in and reacting to a slightly different time than, say, 2003, when the sentimentality of silencing dissent, of looking at those who didn't back this President as less than interested in the best for and of America, was the new black.

Sine Pari · Apr 28, 2006

There are idiots all over the internet

Case in point, the starter of this thread Melvin

HerthaBerwyn · Apr 28, 2006

Now that she has some noteriety Im sure there are 'operatives' investigating her. Surely she has a blemish which can be magnified so as to render anything she produces irrelevant.

nicephoras · Apr 28, 2006

:::::: said:

So idiots don't deserve freedom of speech anymore?
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Its about time. Now, I need to catch my train - I have a feeling its going to be on time.

Mel Brennan · May 10, 2006

HerthaBerwyn said:

Now that she has some noteriety Im sure there are 'operatives' investigating her. Surely she has a blemish which can be magnified so as to render anything she produces irrelevant.
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Nothing yet. Just challenging power, and being told as a result that her rotting corpse would be raped. Welcome to America, 2006.