A Pagan Presence on Sesame Street?
Tuesday August 22, 2006
Last week marked the introduction of a new character on "Sesame Street": Abby Cadabby, a fairy-in-training. Abby, who hails from Fairyside Gardens, Queens, is young, eager to learn, and has been described as a feminist who also likes being a...
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"A Feminist who also likes being a real girly - girl..."
Yes, any other type is a (whisper) lesbian, aren't they??>
Yay!!! Finally, we pagans are getting some good representation with the kids!!!>
First Off, "Anonymous Also"(very courageous, by the way) needs to work on her/ his addiction to homophobia-get over it, and realize were all on this planet together.
Most importantly though, Abby respresents just another facet of the years of imagination, inspiration and creativity generously shared with/given to us by the geniuses and creators of the Muppets, and of Sesame Street.>
Hey Carol, that line about the lesbian thing was meant to be a sarcastic joke.
When I previewed it, the smiley came up after the word lesbian, but I didn't realize it didn't on publish until you posted.
No, I apologize if I offended you at all. What I meant was the old tired saw about the only "acceptable" feminists were straight girly girls, and the rest being supposed FemiNazis or lesbians.
You're absolutely right when you say we're all on this planet together.
I apologize again, Carol.>
THE SEQUEL:
"A Feminist who also likes being a real girly - girl..."
Yes, and any other type is a (whisper) lesbian, aren't they?? :-) :-)>
I heard on a christian radio station today that Abby Cadabby is going to tackle issues like "mean girl syndrome" - to HELP young girls learn how to deal with how mean other girls can be - how can that be anything but good....maybe we should stop looking at the package and read the book before we decide if Abby is good or bad - so far - everything the muppets have represented has been good - loving - family healthy - family (of all kinds) conscious. YAY MUPPETS!>
All for that.
(See, I don't have kids, and my nephews are young adults now, so I have no clue whatsoever what's on kid's shows today.)
But if this can stop Mean Girl Syndrome and help with self esteem and respect issues, then bring it on.
I know fully well if the Sesame Street and Henson people are behind it, it'll be fine.>
Then again, there are the "lipstick lesbians," who are both lesbian and girly-girl.
Just to confuse matters more. ;)
I think people worry too much about labels. While it would be cool if Abby was pagan or lesbian (better yet, both), she's probably just the standard mainstream feminist, which, I suppose, is controversial enough amongst those who haven't heard that this is 2006, not 1806.>
I don t see anything inherently Pagan about this new muppet. I d like to think that messages of Equality between the Sexes, respecting human dignity and personal freedoms, honoring the Earth, etc. are aspects of *humanity as a whole* not just indicators of a belief in paganism. (Although I take the implication as a complement!)
Regardless, if these are the messages this muppet is going to expunge, I say; more power to her!>
A feminist muppet...well, as long as she doesn't start teaching little girls about tampons and birth control, I'll be happy. :-)
God bless!>
Donna, I agree with you, understand what you're talking about, and was just giving a sarcastic response to the Tinky Winky line in the original post, (also meant in sarcasm) and the Fairyside Gardens, Queens line.
Hate to disappoint all that read more into that original post of mine, but that's all that's behind it. Just some sarcasm.>
Abby's cute! I doubt if she's a Pagan, though wouldn't it be cool if she was. I mean, if Baby Bear and his family can be Jewish, why can't Abby be a Pagan?
Personally, I wish Sesame Street would introduce Kami to their USA-based group of muppets. You think Abby, Tinky-Winky, and Barney have caused waves, think of what would happen if they introduced an HIV-positive muppet to a US audience.>
Heck, just imagine if "Sesame Street" ever tried introducing any of these muppets from "Avenue Q" (source):
Rod, a Republican investment banker who is secretly gay. Parody of Bert.
Nicky, Rod's roommate, a messy slacker. Parody of Ernie.
Trekkie Monster, who spends most of his time on the internet looking at porn. Parody of Cookie Monster.
Lucy the Slut, a nightclub singer who is as slutty as her name suggests. "Lucy's like what would have happened if Prairie Dawn on Sesame Street had grown up and gone bad."
The Bad Idea Bears, the two adorable and sinister bears who can convince anyone to do something bad in the most adorable way.
Ricky, the new boyfriend that Nicky has found for Rod via the internet. He looks an awful lot like Nicky, hence the name similarities. When Nicky presents him to Rod, he says "Oh, I think I know your type."
:)>
I'm Christian and I'm a SAHM who gave up my career to stay home with our kids. I still choose to be a SAHM and volunteer in my church and community a lot. In other words, on the surface, I'm the very person who would be against this muppet.
BUT - guess what - my best friend is Pagan. My sister's best friend is a Lesbian (and, btw, NOT the "lipstick" kind...) and I totally understand that this is a PUPPET for Petes sake - one that is going to be used to address acceptance and self esteem issues in young children - issues that, contrary to what the polititians andrabble rousers from both sides might say, are not the sole property of any one sub-group.
In this day and age, I believe there's a LOT more to worry about in this world than the supposed sexual orientation of an imaginary child like character....>
She's not a pagan, she's a fluffy bunny. :)>
JonAtFaithUCC, that is HILARIOUS!! :-) Love that post.
Anonymous, couldn't agree more. I think what some are losing sight of on here is that it's A PUPPET, repeat, A PUPPET!!
If it helps kids become better citizens of Mothership Earth, great.
And Dutch Pagan -- it does look like a fluffy bunny, doesn't it? :-)>
Yup, but i agree with you: if it is good to the children so mote it be. :)>
"brought to you by the letter L" - peachy!
I hope she comes out pagan, this would help kids confront religious prejudices.>
She's a transgendered, fallen-away Unitarian formerly named Abel Cadabby. Though a member of the Green Party, she supports Joe Lieberman and is lactose-intolerant.>
Holy smokes, guys, how soon we forget.
Abby is from Fraggle Rock!!
(Proud owner of the DVD complete 1st season.)>
ROFL - HOW right you are! I thought "she looked familiar"! She does look EXACTLY like a Fraggle!
How funny!
Though I still believe that this is a tempest in a teapot - this is an imaginary child character aimed at preschool children.
I don't think sexuality is something thats on most pre-schoolers minds (whether it's straight or gay), and as far as religion goes, it's about teaching acceptance of others (which, in my opinion, goes along with being comfortable "in your own skin" - and that includes comfortable in your own faith).
Accepting others doesn't mean converting them, it doesn't mean constantly talking about how we are different - it means that you see that you are different in some ways (maybe many ways), and it's not an inhibitor to a relationship.
If there is a Muppet (or Fraggle) that talks to KIDS (who,by the way, is the target audience for Seaseme Street) that teaches kids about acceptance of themselves and others, then who cares what baggage the adults in the world try to read into it!>
LOL, sinsonte, GREAT post!! :-)
She's also a vegan, and when not on Sesame Street, is a intern on Free Speech TV.>
sesame street has a vampire count, a mad scientist and an insane cook that runs about with a big meat cleaver...and people are getting all knotted up cause they have a new character that might *secretive wisperd* be a lesbian....i mean really!
besides which bert and ernie are clearly gay (they appear in bed together) ...i think its a great thing!>
The Count, Bunson Honeydew (and Beaker, don't forget), and The Swedish Chef are three of the best characters on the show, though my favorite is still Grover, with Cookie Monster running a close second.
Speaking of All Things Henson, Franklin Evans may be the proud owner (and rightfully so) of the Fraggle Rock Season 1 DVD, but I, who revels in my Anonymity, am the proud owner of the DVDS of the great Henson masterpieces Dinosaurs and The Muppets Take Manhattan.
Thank You.>
Oh, and also a VHS copy of The Great Muppet Caper. (The scene where Kermit and Charles Grodin's character Nicky have a duet on "Miss Piggy, It's You" is one of cinema's greatest moments, IMHO.) :-)>
It seems to me that all these so-called "christians" are just people with way too much time on their hands who like to sit around and look for things to complain about and feel persecuted, even though they control both houses of the senate and the presidency. Shouldn't they be out helping the poor or performing some other acts of charity, emulating the person they claim to worship? Jesus would be ashamed.>
Well one thing is for sure, if she doesn't bring in the bucks she'll be relegated to 2nd class status and move to Fairy-ville in no time....the Church of the Almighty Dollar (All denominations accepted) will determine the outcome on this one.
Avenue Q should be produced in every high school....but I think Trekkie monster is just a bit much for the pre-school crowd. If you haven't seen it or heard the sound track, take the time....
As for the rest for Muppets being focused for kids only....eh ...I'm old enough to have seen the 1st episode....then watched it with my kids and some of the stuff Kermit says as a reporter in older episodes...not for kids...but they'd never pick up on it, I didn't until I was watching it as an adult, nor did my kids.>
I think the key is not to focus on her looks but how she behaves, isn't that what most of what we teach our kids. What about other fairies in stories like Tinkerbell, etc. Sometimes a little imagination is good for little ones. With wars raging, global warming, all that I would care is that she behaves kindly to others. A strong female character who can be assertive but kind would be wonderful. I don't care if she makes money for them as long as she sets a good behavioral example.>
are you joking? it is a kids show that has been on for years and will continue to be on for many more. if we say that she can't be different, what are we really teaching our kids. more than half the books, movies and everyday life would have to be taken away because there MIGHT be an underlying issue. aren't kids supposed to have an imagination? what does it matter if she has wings and carries a wand. i bet those same people yelling about this little muppet has a collection of harry potter movies at home. i think it is up to the parents/caregivers what the kids watch and how much. if you dont like it, change the channel but dont make the decision for the rest of us. we are not living in the past. my kids do watch it and i think it is wonderful.>
I can't believe so much hub-bub is created over a Muppet, for crying out loud. It is a pink, furry hand puppet that has a girl's name.. it's not even a real "she"! hehe This is like when people accused Bert and Ernie of being gay!! C'mon.. Bert and Ernie are not gay - Abby is not a feminist,lesbian Pagan - Porky Pig is not a pervert because he has no pants - and SpongeBob and Patrick are not lovers! Good grief... God help the next generation! hehe>
I had to read this blog entry over again after I read the comments. Did I just miss the references to opposition to Abby? No, there aren't any. It's just Idol Chatter speculating about what Abby is and where she came from. There's no controversy here. Yet, anyway -- I wouldn't be surprised to see that some undies end up in a bundle somewhere.>
As an extremely active member of a Baptist church and a mother of two kids under the age of 4, one might assume that I may have a problem with Abby's paganism. Give me a break! I can't imagine a more ridiculous notion than caring what religion/origin/preference (of any kind) a Muppet is. Sesame Street has a vampire (as noted before), main characters who are monsters, Wanda the Word FAIRY (by the incomparable Andrea Martin), and a 7-foot-tall bird of heretofore undisclosed classification! The biggest threat to our kids is NOT Sesame Street. Anyone who would attack a puppet instead of addressing poverty (which, by the way, Jesus had a LOT more to say about than people who weren't like him!) and the lack of preschool programs for ALL our kids should be ashamed of themselves.>
Brandy if you are addressing me...nah I'm serious...but having fun with it. Seasame Street IS a kid's show, no doubt about it, I watched it as a kid, my kids watched it, my grandkids hopefully will watch it. But Kermit (with Jim H still alive) did have some pretty interesting side comments that you don't catch unless you are an adult and listening... I WATCHED the TV with my kids.....and now that they are a junior in HS through college age...it shows....because when my brain got sick of kid's shows or I had to move to a new activity, the TV went off and they did something else, usually creative...so for those with kids who didn't know about Kermit's comments...maybe ask yourself...is your TV a babysitter or a tool?>
Oh you folks are funny...you're arguing about not arguing!!!!
Okay so everyone is happy and welcoming of Abby! Yea ABBY! YEA Seasame Street, may it be on the airwaves for many years to come! YEA US the open minded and acepting group we are to accept puppets for the way their makers made them!
Wait until I show the folks at our Pagan Pride Day Celebration they're gonna love this! Becca... Bright Blessings to you...will you come down because the Baptists down our way are not so willing to live in peace as you are and generally stage a protest.....>
Snow, Snow, Snow, slow down!! You are confusing the Muppet Show with Sesame Street. Bunson Honeydew and the Swedish Chef were never on Sesame Street. They are characters designed for an adult sensibility, and would never be used in such a confusing (to kids) fashion.>
When I said it was a show aimed at kids, I was talking about Seasame Street. That's a show aimed at kids - there's no innuendo or other adult humor in
g row
g row
g row
GROW! Grow starts with G! Grover can make a G! Can you?
Brought to you by the letter G, the letter O, and the number 4
;-)
There have been lots of other Muppet productions that are aimed at adults.
(and btw - not only have I seen and have copies of the Muppet movies, but for Christmas my kids gave my dh the 1st season of The Muppet Show.)>
I just want to say Abby Cadabby is my new hero. Just the full on pink is what annoys me.>
"Just the full on pink is what annoys me" -- Anonymous 8/25/06
True. Couldn't they have made her like a gold or tan color or something?? This pink makes her look like a flamingo, and there is no other flamingo on Sesame Street than (Drumroll, please...)
PLACIDO Flamingo!!
(and where has Meryl Sheep, been as well?) :-)>
The following was taken straight from muppetcentral.com/news
"she is a 3-year-old fairy named Abby Cadabby. Neither monster like Zoe nor humanoid like Prairie Dawn, Abby is a purely magical creature, complete with tiny wings, a magic wand and sparkles in her hair."
So there you have it people... she is not a Pagan child muppet character... she's actually a mythological fairy... or faery as we Pagans like to spell it.
So Sesame Street is just getting with the times... look around... kids are eating up movies like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Nanny McPhee, ect. which all involve the use of magick and mythological creatures. Sesame Street is just giving the children what they want is all.
I think it's great! Sesame Street is evolving and keeping the kids interested... it's all good!>
I've enjoyed reading the discussion. As a puppeteer, I can honestly say that the character of the puppet develops on its own. Nothing is more frustrating when someone decides to peg a certain puppet because its color or some other design aspect. It's even worse when someone makes it fit their agenda. The puppet's look really might have more to do with the materials available at the time--well at least in my case.
The thing about Sesame Street is that all of the characters, foam or flesh, have their own personalities, just like people. When folks decide that Abby is pagan or lesbian or whatever, we're prejudging her. And from my point of view, that's as wrong as prejudging Bob or Maria Give Abby a chance to move into the neighborhood and get to know the new kid on the block.>
She's just the cutest little fuzzy pink thing! Little girls will go nuts.>
I WANT ABBY !!! LOL, she ROCKS!! Pagan/Fraggle you call her what you will ... IDoes ANYONE know where I can BUY her ? Any clue on the cost?? There are somethings in life that just by being in it make me smile & ABBY is INDEED one huge smile for me!! ANY HELP ON LOCATING where I can get her, PLEASE EMAIL ME TONIGHT!!!! Peace, LOve & Sand between your Toes!~ Wren A.>
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