A new version of The Little Mermaid debuts in theaters this weekend, amid ongoing controversy over the choice to cast a black actress as Ariel.
Halle Bailey stars in Disney’s live-action remake of their animated 1989 classic of the same name. After a teaser trailer was released in September 2022, many fans expressed excitement over a new version of the popular film.
However, the reaction from some fans was extremely negative. The trailer alone received over a million "dislikes" on YouTube.
What Color Should a Mermaid Be?
Many critics seemed upset about Bailey's casting, calling it a sort of “blackwashing” of the original film, which featured a white Ariel.
"Disney should of (sic) just left the little mermaid alone. Stop being lazy and come up with new characters instead of messing with beloved original movies. There was no need to change Ariel’s identity," wrote one online reviewer.
Other reviewers took a different approach, calling it an illogical depiction of mermaids.
Radio host Matt Walsh argued that it’s simply not scientifically possible for a mermaid who lives under the sea to have black skin. Realistically, he said, the creature should be completely translucent.
(Fans of the movie note that this is a musical about singing sea creatures performing choreographed song and dance routines, which, by most accounts, is also not based strongly in scientific reality).
Other critics point out that a black mermaid is simply not accurate to the original 1837 fairy tale penned by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.
In the original story, the young mermaid is described by Andersen as having “skin as soft and tender as a rose petal, and her eyes were as blue as the deep sea,” which most have interpreted as white.
So that's where the story originates. But what about mermaids themselves? Where do they come from?
It turns out the legend of mermaids goes back much further.
All Greek To Us
Many experts say mermaids can be traced back to ancient Greek mythology. The ancient Greeks wrote of figures called sirens – seductive but dangerous creatures who lured unwitting sailors to their doom.
Sirens first appeared in Homer’s Odyssey as mysterious island figures who sing beautiful songs intended to bring sailors off their chosen course and into their trap. In The Odyssey, Odysseus has his crew plug their ears with beeswax in order to resist their siren song.
Although their physical appearance went undescribed in The Odyssey, ancient Greeks later depicted them as creatures having the body of a bird and the head (and sometimes torso) of a beautiful woman. These enticing figures, it was said, perched upon rocks offshore, and sang their song to lure sailors into fatally smashing their ships on the crags.
Over time, the sirens slowly transformed in myth from birdlike creatures into beautiful women with the tail of a fish in place of legs.
Mermaids Around the World
So did ancient Greeks create the mermaid? Not so fast – some historians say the origins of mermaids can be traced back even further than the Greeks.
They point to an ancient Assyrian myth where a goddess named Atargatis flings herself into a lake over her shame over an illicit love, only to emerge with her face and head unchanged but now with the body of a fish.
But that's not all. Similar tales of mermaids can be found in various cultures and religions around the world.
Africa
West, Central and Southern African peoples recognized a water spirit known as Mami Wata (Water Mother). Mami Wata is often depicted as a mermaid-like figure with a woman's upper body, and the lower body of a fish or a snake.
East Asia
Legends in some Japanese and Chinese cultures tell of sea-dragons and their dragon-wives, which are sometimes depicted as a figure similar to a mermaid. Meanwhile, in Polynesian mythology there exists a god named Vatea who was believed to be half human and half porpoise.
India
Meanwhile, Hindu and Buddhist cultures in India worshiped a group of water-gods called the Asparas – commonly described as water-nymphs that played musical instruments.
A Mermaid in the Bible?
You may be wondering if mermaids ever made their way into the Bible. The answer is... well, sorta. The word "mermaid" appears zero times in the Bible's text. However, if you look to the story of Samson in the book of Judges, you'll find reference to Dagon, the chief god of the Philistines.
The Philistine leaders bring Samson to a temple to sacrifice him to Dagon, only for Samson to regain his strength through prayer and destroys the temple, killing himself and the thousands of Philistines inside.
Interestingly, Dagon, a fertility god who is oft-described as a provider of both wheat and fish was regularly depicted in art as half-man and half-fish... a veritable merman!
Whale of a Tale
Whatever their true origins, mermaids have remained an enduring myth into the modern era, showing up time and again in historical writings and entertainment.
Christopher Columbus himself reported sighting mermaids on his sailing journeys in the Caribbean.
Later, 19th century hoaxter P.T. Barnum prominently featured the "Fiji mermaid" in his sideshows across America. It was totally a real mermaid, he reassured audiences, and definitely not a dried out monkey carcass hastily sewn to a salmon’s torso (spoiler: it was the latter).
Many historical mermaid sightings were likely manatees or seals, experts say. But even into the present day, sailors around the world continue to report mermaid sightings on the open ocean.
Do you believe mermaids (in some form) ever could have really existed? What do you make of the controversy over the new film?
104 comments
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Hey truebluebethy, it's not all about being lovie dovie.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Apparently, different ministers think ministering means different things. Remember the prophetic words of the saintly Dr. Hannibal Lechter, "I only kill the rude". Furthermore, "There's no business like show business, like no business I know". So, on with the show!
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Truebluebethy
I don't understand, folks. We are the ones who are left to bring calm, understanding and acceptance to this world. We are, after all, ministers. I take my role very seriously! I'm not a minister because I spent $50 on an ordained minister cert from Universal Church. I spent the majority of my life in surrender to a greater purpose. I ask that each of us here on this site refrain from accusations, slander, bullying, name calling, degradation, and the countless other forms of lower self activites I see here every month, every article. GIVE IT A REST. Grow up. How much must be taken from each of you in order for you to just shut it up and let someone have their moment, whether you buy into or not. And if you must say something, be polite and with decorum about it. God Bless, Minister Beth
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
Thank you for your comments.
I am glad you take your role seriously, and appreciate your greater purpose. These are very good things to do.
I look around me, and I can't help but think how much God loves diversity. There's so much of it! Diversity in nature, diversity in people, diversity in diversity! It is truly too much to take in.
I too often wish the world was a more peaceful, productive place. It is, however, what it is. People are what they are. This doesn't mean I don't think it can be changed. It is certainly always changing - another diversity.
I feel one blessing from the internet and social media such as our little community here is that it has allowed humanity to truly meet itself for the first time. I feel that yes, the diversity of opinions, viewpoints, and methods of relating were always this diverse, and now we are seeing just how diverse! it is not always neat or comfortable. Or polite.
One thing I try to do is meet people on their own terms and understand where they are coming from. Sometimes I feel that the gulf is too wide to even attempt. Sometimes I am uncomfortable. Sometimes I might make others uncomfortable. Sometimes, no doubt, others feel I am too different to talk to. I feel every interaction is, in it's own way, holy. it is the universe doing what the universe does. I do not understand it, nor can I really comprehend it - I only have my limited perspective, my own tiny feedback. I am insignificant compared to the universe's vastness - but I am here, and having existed, my presence, even after I am long gone, can never be taken away, forever after part of what is, to the end of time, and who knows after that.
Anyway, thanks again. I wish you peace.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Ehrman, if Jocelyn would marry me I'd never feel fatigued or lonely again. So I'd never again have anything to fear again. So work some magic on her. You keep coming back to life, so you must know something about it.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Jocelyn, I can't live without you!!! Will you marry me? I swear to your gods and goddesses that I'll always be true to you alone. And we can batter dip and fry that purple mermaid, and serve it to our guests at our wedding reception. It's finger licking good! Trust me, I already know.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Jocelyn, I can't live without you!!! Will you marry me? I swear to your gods and goddesses that I'll always be true to you alone. And we can batter dip and fry that purple mermaid, and serve it to our guests at our wedding reception. It's finger licking good! Trust me, I already know.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Jocelyn, we don't have to spend the entire night in the pool with my purple mermaid. When we get tired of doing her we can go inside, and spend the rest of the night, if you want to,in my bedroom. You'd be totally amazed by what all there is to do in there. If you want to, you can even stay a lot longer. I already know I love you madly, and would worship you like a goddess!!!
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Jocelyn, I hope you aren't under the mistaken impression that the ULC promotes Christian morals. This isn't even a Christian ministry.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Ehrman, I'm not at all distressed by my dark imaginings, and it's really hard not to have them around here sometimes, when you consider what I'm up against.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Ehrman, I did speak my truth (... and then some) quietly and clearly, and listened to the ignorance of a dull and ignorant person. And wouldn't you agree that I gave her some good, spiritual advice?
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Avalon Olson Zakazakina
I guess I am in the minority in that I love all the different versions of a tale (tail?). Every single version of something has improvements and detriments, and I find them all very interesting. I haven't seen this movie yet though I am excited to do so because I want to see who plays Ursula, my favorite character. The little mermaid is far less interesting than Ursula is to me.
Arguing about mythical creatures is as useless and ridiculous as arguing about deities.
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Avalon Olson Zakazakina
I guess I am in the minority in that I love all the different versions of a tale (tail?). Every single version of something has improvements and detriments, and I find them all very interesting. I haven't seen this movie yet though I am excited to do so because I want to see who plays Ursula, my favorite character. The little mermaid is far less interesting than Ursula is to me. :)
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Stephanie Lee Scruggs
Lord god have mercy.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Not everything we write on this blog is meant to be taken seriously. Most of us ministers have great senses of humor (some dryer or more sarcastic than others), and it won't hurt anyone to sometimes lighten up, and have some fun, but being serious all the time, can be very harmful.
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
Seriously?
That said - Love your posts!
There are a number of people here who could REALLY - literally! - lighten up! :)
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Oleg Vladimirovich Shmyrin
The problem with this movie is not that Cinderella is black. The problem is that this film destroys not only the established canon of a children's fairy tale (and in this case it is not necessary to refer to African motifs and myths - the film is specifically based on a Danish fairy tale). The problem is that this film destroys the characters and their depth, makes the characters flat, politically engaged, and also deprives the fairy tale of its educational power. The canonical film, beautiful and pedagogical, turned into an agitation of the current political movement.
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Amber Fry
Erm... do people not realize that Disney didn't come up with their fairy tales but pulled the ideas from other much older sources? Are people not aware they were often much, MUCH more violent and usually ended badly?
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Rev Ned
Nope, they don't.
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Ann Vise Nunes
I think the mermaid tale originated with manatees. They are mammals with breasts and to a sailor that would be all it takes.
Not seals. Seals don't have breasts.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
What about sea serpents. Do they have breasts,?
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ServantOfJudgement
Fake sea serpents have real breasts, real sea serpents have fake breasts.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
In that case Servant Of Judgement, I'll stick to my inflatable rubber doll.
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Marion Sowerby
Funny you should say that, the country of Egypt is currently up in arms about the Netflix show Cleopatra, which portrays her as black.
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Amber Fry
Considering she came from a Macedonian family line she would be of a lighter skin color.
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Rev Ned
Should some one do Porgy and Bess or Raisin in the Sun with an all white cast?
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
They could color their faces, like Al Jolson used to do. Then they could even sing about their mammies.
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Rev Ned
^Everybody knows real mermaids are white and come from Murica!^
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Michael G Woram
Those who went to see the Little Mermaid, expecting it to be a documentary, probably need to pay more attention to their perception of reality than to the race of the protagonist.
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Jocelyn Nixon
There is a post by Carl Elfstrom which should be removed. Pure fetish hinging on porn
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
We don't our own comments Nixon. Only the staff of the ULC does that. And they only post the ones they took are appropriate for the topic at hand, and don't follow advice from us ministers. They've posted hundreds of my glorious, spectacular comments for quite a few years, so don't expect to run me off. You'll read a lot you won't agree with on this blog. You'll need to develop a tough skin, to survive around here.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Jocelyn seems to be taking all this stuff too seriously. That could lead to a severe mental break down, especially if she keeps interacting with me. She doesn't know it yet, but she's in store for the ride of her life.
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
When people take me seriously, I know they have serious issues - but that never stops me! =D
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ServantOfJudgement
Didn't the original disney cartoon for kids have a character with a visible election? Hard to tell, no pun intended. Disney adds so many sexual images to their kids shows its hard to keep'em all sorted.
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Florencio Guevara
You left out the biggest of all: Yemaya.... On every continent she is revered...!
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Robin Call
Hollywood and Disney should not be remaking old movies, tv shows and changing the characters based on race, sex, sexual orientation, etc. just to make or save a buck. Instead,They should be making new movies with new plots, characters, and names. By remaking over the originals, actually ruins the movies, tv shows, etc. People are tired of the political correctness nonsense. It is just laziness on Hollywood and Disney…
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Lady Celynia
In my opinion, this is a non-issue made into an issue by Disney purists.
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Lady Celynia
In my opinion, this is a non-issue made into an issue by Disney purists.
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David M Hines
Like we don't have enough real stuff to fight over?
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JaZe
Dagon? Isn't that name the Dogon people in Africa call the gods they say came from Sirius and taught them about Sirus B, the small companion star not discovered until many many years later? Similar names appear in other cultures.
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Ellen B. Wentzel
There should not even be a discussion of color. We are all the human race. I can't believe this is even being said on a religious/spiritual site.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Stick around, Ellen. You'll be reading a lot more stuff around here you won't believe, but tolerance is a spiritual virtue. It will only make us better ministers.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
The only issue with this is, Disney already did the Little Mermaid. How about something new Disney? Stop making live action versions of your cartoons and make something new.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I bet if they held a seance they could get some great new ideas from Walt Disney.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
Though I do believe in Mythical Beings, the gods and goddesses to whom I offer worship, I do not think merfolk existed in the physical reality in which I live.
From the reviews I've read online, I think this Disney effort will, if the opinions are correct, sink under its own demerits, which are not about ethnicity. Ms. Bailey is getting favorable notice for her singing, but the "re-imagining" of the rest of the story is not.
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Richard Albert Heyse
Mermaids are often mentioned in the Celtic nation of Kernow and across the western border in England. Though today they may be trapped in the body of tourism, for many ancient seafairers they were real enough. I believe there is no smoke without fire, and there is enough words spoken of sightings of these beautiful creatures. Yet they do not exist in the physical plain, but on a Spiritual one, a plain many of us only see at certain times. Those fortunate enough to see creatures from this plain are there to receive a message and awake their Spiritual selves. Most have failed to awaken this. So 'Yes' I do believe in Mermaids, but not on the physical plain.
I care not for the movies, for it is entertainment, and providing its accepted in that context it is fine. It does not depict the true Mermaid and should not be taken seriously, whatever skin colour, beyond entertainment value.
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Paul Johnson
As my wife’s grandfather told her some seventy years ago that the down fall of America would come through the Black People. I have no idea just repeating what he told her, and if I didn’t have anything else to support or to disagree; it sure looks like he had heard from the Lord.
Just a thought not a fact.
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Lionheart
Having common sense has nothing to do with hearing imaginary voices from a mythical Lord 🤭. It’s starting to look as though her grandfather was right. 🤷🏼
🦁❤️
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Rev Mark D
Paul...what's not a fact?
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Michael Holland
We should all be gray and then there would be no issues! (Sarcasm)
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Gandolf was gray, and quite a wizard! However, I haven't yet fully awaken the wizard within me, so I smear collagen elastin firming creme on my face everyday, for a better and more youthful complexion.
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Rev Ned
Michael, even so, there would be some reason to discriminate figured out.
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Michael Holland
I know and its sad! If we all were the same, someone would still find something to complain about! What a world we live in! Lets try to make it a better place! We have the power!
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David Arthur Lewis
Much ado about nothing. Another white nationalist snowflake whining about inconsequential trivia. Can't you folks at the monastery find any religion news to write about?
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Rev Mark D
"...Can't you folks at the monastery find any religion news to write about?..."
David:
Well they got us to comment didn't they, so I guess it must have worked.
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Rev Mark D
I wish to return a parrot. What seems to be the problem?
It's dead.
No it isn't.- John Cleese and Michael palin, dead parrot sketch.
I'm looking for an argument. No you're not!
Monty Python argument clinic.
Now I've been looking around at these issues in general for very long time. And I certainly can tell you that Halle Berry is clearly not a mermaid. On the other hand, Whitney Houston is another matter.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I bet you'd agree that she makes a much better mermaid than Whoopi Goldberg.
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Rev Mark D
"Mermaids are pure myth..."
Thanks Nicholas for clearing that up.
But now that I think about it, there are those for whom your remark actually is necessary.
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Lionheart
Religionists like to believe in all things mythical with no supporting real evidence, so I'm sure they will believe in mermaids, fairies, and even unicorns. 🤷🏼
🦁♥️
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Lionheart, I wish you could see my gargoyles. Pick a time and location, and I'll have them fly over and meet you.
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ServantOfJudgement
The Narwhal whale has a single horn in the shape of a unicorn horn. Obviously the unicorn evolved into the whale due to the Great Flood and kept the funky horn as a conversation starter.....
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Najah P Tamargo
Minster Najah Tamargo USA
Mermaids?????? Seriously????? A "cartoon movie"????? The world is on the brink of collapsing and we are worried about a "black mermaid cartoon movie?????
I don't' have time for this nonsense!!!!
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Minister J. Stoney
Minister James L. Stoney USA
I Agree with You I Don't Understand People We Should Be Praying for This Nations. Meanwhile We Are Talking About Mermaids Come on We Supposed to Be Worries on the Battlefield..................
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Nicholas J Page
Mermaids are pure myths always have been and always will be. End of
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Lionheart
Yep, just like Unicorns, the world being flooded by a deity, Adam and Eve, God, and someone walking on water. 🤷🏼
🦁❤️
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Russell D. Hall
Ephesians 2:8,9..............Romans 11:6.........1st Corinthians 15:1-4
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Lionheart
Are these quotes from a book?
🦁❤️
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Lionheart, maybe each one of those words is the name of a book. Or maybe it's a secret code, like for a children's club. Some of our fellow ministers on this blog are no doubt small children and functioning illiterates, who copy things they've seen, without even knowing if it màkes sense, but presuming it will make them look like big boys, and make their mommies and daddies proud of them.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
True Nicholas, but they can still be a lot of fun in our fantasies.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
google the name matt walsh, he's a far-right goper, he's homophobic, transphobic and an idiot. is 'scientific' argument is as informed as a third graders view of science. he confuses benthic with pelagic and mermaids, were they to exist would be pelagic creatures. when he talks about translucent organisms he's talking about those benthic creatures that live at the deepest depths of the ocean where no sunlight ever reaches.
fact he is so wrong that if mermaids were real they would almost certainly be black or dark brown, like manatees, seals, walruses etc. in other words matt walsh has no clue other than his mermaid went from being white, which in his mind is proper and normal to being black, which is horrible and abnormal. of course he's been accused of being a racist before so no surprise here.
but consider the argument, changing the skin color of a made-up creature simply because the new color is offensive to a significant portion of america.
also, a Note to ULC: Please upgrade this site, a day or more for comments to be posted? this is not 1999. other than drive-by commenting it;s impossible to have a running conversation here. and I'm assuming that is what you want since you keep coming up with rather silly news items.
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ServantOfJudgement
I believe the argument is: If the character is gay the actor has to be gay. If the character is black, the actor has to be black. If the character is white the actor can be any color. If the character is straight the actor can be any sexual preference. I don't care, it's a show, just a show.
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Oleg Vladimirovich Shmyrin
ahaha
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
I always take someone who takes the time to comment on something but qualifies, "I don't care", with a grain of salt.
The REASON for what you describe is all about representation. Straight whites have traditionally held 99% of all roles, so that other demographics have been under-represented.
I'm sure you are familiar with the pendulum of fashion and opinion. This is no different. No doubt, as proper representation is demonstrated, and people are satisfied that fairness is established, the rules will once again loosen up - BUT this movie certainly demonstrates that we are not there yet. THAT is exactly what this controversy is all about - straight whites are VERY satisfied with how things are, and bitterly resent losing their 'special' status.
Prove me wrong.
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ServantOfJudgement
Kenneth
I don't really watch very much TV. If I didn't have a wife I probably wouldn't watch anything but a few times a year. That's what I mean when I say I don't care. I don't care.
I also don't care if a straight guy plays a gay guy. Between you and I, a straight guy could never play a gay guy very good at all. I'd think it would turn the actors stomach unless he were gay. Again, I don't care. We're finding out now that actors we assumed were straight are/were gay. They played straight characters. I hear James Dean and marlin Brando were homosexuals. I'm sure the number of gay actors is much higher than we think. My sister works as a dresser for live acting and travels nationwide for the shows. The majority of those actors are gay, she has no reason to lie, she's quite open minded. Hire 100% gay actors, I don't care.
What we've got is a "you hit me first, no you hit ME first" problem. It will never be solved, not ever. Enough will never be enough and both sides will justify their role in this perpetual battle. No society or civilization has ever survived the point our country is in. None.
To me the conflict and complaints of such a topic is petty bickering. Like a kid crying cause his sister has more chocolate chips in his cookie than he has.
After all, it's a it's a show based off a cartoon based off a fairy tale. Make the mermaid a pansexual transgender non binary elderly black female native American that prefers to be recognized as a middle aged heterosexual Caucasian male. I don't care.
Stay safe
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
I honestly believe we can not NOT watch TV - or otherwise be influenced by the media - these days.
Look at us here, commenting on stories supplied by the media. Do your friends watch TV? Well then you do too. It's innately interwoven into our social tendencies, which we all have, unless you live in a cave somewhere far away cut off from all humanity, which it appears you aren't.
And many people DO care about what color people are and what's in their pants and what they are doing in their bedrooms, and they work VERY hard to enforce their own life choices on humanity. That is exactly what the 'culture wars' are about, is regular people in all their diversity and the busybody Gestapo.
The gay question is a little more nuanced because many in Hollywood 'pass'. And it's not like they do something obvious like wear a dress or something, Conservatives have resigned themselves to an uneasy truce with that - a sort of civilian 'don't ask don't tell - because it's too much work to most, but they DON'T WANT TO SEE IT, because it offends their cultural sensibilities - and THAT is where the WAR comes in.
https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights
And as for race, look at how they have demonized BLM and immigrants, and are outlawing CRT - three other right-wing boogiemen to keep conservatives in line.
People do things for reasons - and "I don't care" ain't one of them.
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Daniel Todd Kamm
Loved "Interestingly, Dagon, a fertility god who is oft-described as a provider of both wheat and fish was regularly depicted in art as half-man and half-fish... a veritable merman!"
Wow, loaves and fishes... before there were "loaves and fishes...!" And maybe something more after dinner? Those old gods, they were always up to something!
As for the movie, an actor is an actor, that's what they do. The judgment should be focused on the artist's craft and performance, not some arbitrary hashing out of obscure details like eye colour (people of all "colours" have blue eyes) and as for "luminescence," who ever said that white = glow in the dark?
I've almost run over as many white people as people of colour after dark... my night vision is not so good anymore!
A racial motive here, quite certainly, but you can also add a sexual one:
Perhaps the critics were looking for some real life experience they were no longer (or shorter, as the case seems to be) getting from... a cartoon?
The new "The Little Mermaid?" is a real live person and celebrated actress. She is there to act a role, do it well, not to cater to prurient interests. Get it?
For g?d's sake ...it's a movie. Get over it.
Reb tk
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ServantOfJudgement
There are actually plenty of fertility gods. They all have other stuff lumped in with the fertility bit, maybe wine, could be war, I suppose this one has fish and biscuits, watch out for a lawsuit by Long John Silvers, the original Fish and Biscuts fast food joint, not counting Arthur Treachers. Saying something first does not equate to doing it first. While the Greek are attributed to discovering electricity because they documented it first doesn't mean they discovered it first. We know now it was discovered long before the Greek documented it. Near finally, B Franklin took the prize with his crazy stunt and claimed the discovery of electricity was his. Tesla showed up Franklin by giving us Alternating Current to the dismay of Thomas Edison who claimed electricity as his.
Anything that resembles the Son of Man is merely a cheap copy that hit the press one night before the arrival of Jesus, the real scoop. These gods are not a fore runner, not a headliner, just a cheap copy. Jesus is not the God of loaves and fishes, Jesus is the God of the universe in which the loaves and fishes may exist. As a bonus, they taste good.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
It’s Disney trying to make a buck…. It’s not about race, it’s about money.
Matt Walsh is as always WRONG. Fish do not have translucent skins, and yes Matt some fish and sea creatures ARE black.
Racism like religion just gets people angry and makes a few people a lot of money.
And for those of you who think or were taught there is no such thing as race. We know there is. So far we have found races of Orcas, seals and Argentine ants. I’m sure as time goes on we will find more.
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ServantOfJudgement
The whole planet is on the brink of anarchy and people are worried about the color of an actor of a Disney tale?
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@ ServantOfJudgement When you say the “whole planet is on the brink of anarchy” can you explain? If we are in the brink of anarchy now, what would you call World War I? And World War II? There’s no war in Western Europe, Australia and very little in China, Korea and Africa. The world being on the brink of anarchy is just a scare tactic used by Christians.
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ServantOfJudgement
Najah P Tamargo said the same thing I said, I don't believe hes a Christian.
Look around. Even our own political climate is on a razor edge. USA has committed to Ukraine, nearing the point of our troops going over. We all know China will invade Taiwan, we promised to support. Africa is being plundered as always. Most of south America already is in anarchy. Mexico is controlled by drug lords that dismember and eat their enemies and those guys are pouring through our doorstep unhindered. Nuke free countries are desperately developing nuclear warheads. North Korea has a death wish with their constant missile testing in japans back yard. The money. Nations are all dropping the dollar. Our political environment has turned toxic. If either side wins, the other claims election fraud and want action. If one side wins the people will burn their own cities down.
If you think my angle is "Turn to Jea-zousa and be reborn" you'd be mistaken. Prepare yourself, at least prepare a little. Prepare for a 'bigger than covid' event where you can't get stuff for a while.
At the minimum, to stay on topic, with all this, who cares what color an actress is to play a role in a fantasy movie? Not me.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@ServantOfJudgement What you are describing is nothing new. Similar things were happening around the word during the Vietnam war. World War II, World War I, Spanish-American war, Civil war. This is just history repeating itself with a slightly different actors.
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Kenneth Lafe Eric Sanderson
@ Servy...
Thanks anyway, but if I want to watch Fox News, I'll turn on Fox News.
And I occasionally do - just to know what some people are being told to think.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I wonder how many people complained about Cleopatra being played by a white woman. Mermaids can be any color, since they don't really exist, but Egyptians are definitely black, since Egypt is a country in Africa. And even though I look like an old, white skin head I'll be wearing my African Dashiki shawl everyplace I go throughout the Emancipation month of June, as well as a Gay Pride bracelet to help them celebrate that as well. And ofcourse, I'll also be wearing my ULC Minister's cap, so I can help promote the fact that we are all children of the same universe.
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JaZe
My dear, born in Africa does not necessarily mean black. Egyptians are composed of different Arab groups and their skin color varies from light to dark.
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taycomama
Cleopatra was Greek, the latest of the inbred Ptolemys.
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Takaya Kovani Sweeney
Yes, but it’s definitely not white.
Hence, the point he was making.
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Pastor Jim
"If you want to stop racism, stop taking about it." - Morgan Freeman
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JaZe
Comment removed by user.
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Pastor Jim
Mermaids are mythical creatures born of fanciful imaginings of old world seafarers.
I believe that recreating the original version of the film based on the color of the skin of the actors is purely racist. Why not create original characters of people of color? Besides, are we not human beings first.
"If you want to stop racism, stop taking about it." - Morgan Freeman
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I don't think it's racist for men to be attracted to women (or mermaids) of their same color. I'm all for interracial marriage, but still most people aren't engaged in such relationships. I wouldn't even mind having a purple mermaid living in my swimming pool. I'm sure I'd worship her like a goddess! I don't even care if she tasted fishy. I've eaten plenty of fish in my life, and it's only kinky the first time.
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Jocelyn Nixon
This comment is sexist and distasteful. Fetish is not the topic!
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Jocelyn, I'm sorry if I've made you feel left out (but ofcourse, you are a Nixon), and would like to extend a very special invitation to you, to join me and my purple mermaid, for fun and games, in my swimming pool. You needn't bring anything with you. We have all kinds of toys. And don't be surprised if we teach you some new tricks. Just come to Galveston, Texas and look me up. I'm very well known, and easy to find.
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Jocelyn Nixon
Are you serious? Did you just hash out your sexual fantasies about an underage, fish bottomed Disney character? You hear the word mermaid and apparently enter a trance where you are willing to speak about WHAT MEN ARE ATTRACTED TO in an open forum? This is very inappropriate as the thread is about colorism (and not as it relates to men’s sexual fantasies). This is not a thread about fetishes! Purple, green or otherwise! Geeez!!
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Oh yeah, Jocelyn, well if you had a purple mermaid in your swimming pool, what would you do with it? And I said nothing about it being underage. How dare you imply that, Miss thing! I thought mermaids were hundreds of years old, and aren't too very tight at that age, but will do in a pinch. I sometimes even shape shift into a merman, and go swimming with her. There's nothing evil about sex or fantasies, but there is something wrong with the people who don't have iether one.
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Grand Poobah M
@Carl, that's some of the best sarcasm I have ever read. You now have a fan who wants your words cancelled..... By the way I laughed way to hard at your comment.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Grand Poobah M, I think Jocelyn's biggest problem is she's stuck with the name Nixon, and that name hasn't been thought highly of in this nation since her cousin Richard did some naughty things in the early seventies. So she's got all this pent up anger and hostility inside of her that she projects onto others, and is ready to pounce on them, whenever they disagree with her holier than thou self, by misconstruing their words into something they never meant to imply.
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Jocelyn Nixon
Distasteful! Is this a post about fetish? Underage Disney characters and your attraction to them should not be mentioned here. But eating them is completely over the top! What is going on with you? Completely inappropriate!
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Jocelyn, I hope I made your day, babe, and have you something to pray about.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Jocelyn Honey, you're on a one person crusade. Nobody else is complaining about anything I said. So come on down from your high horse, and join the party.
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Joy
This was the absolute best thing I have ever read on these ULC articles. Mr. Carl, you made my day!
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Roosevelt Alexander Anderson
.....racism is due to on-going ignorance and demonic evil entities that reside here on the planet earth.
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Pastor Jim
Lol. Ok. Lol
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Roosevelt, it might be a good to talk to a psychiatrist about those evil demons. And if the first one doesn't put you on meds, try another one.
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Here's my take on the movie, my wife and I saw the movie and enjoyed it very much. It was fun to watch and quite funny and pretty sad too. As for whether or not the young actress Halle Bailey should or should not play Ariel was the decision of the Walt Disney Company and theirs alone.
Yes, Miss Bailey, 23, is not only a talented actress and singer but a beautiful young Black woman that I believe will go far. Please don't believe the hype about "how bad the movie is" and just watch it in enjoyment and nothing else. "The Little
Mermaid" is a story of a teen shield from the outside world by her father and when she finally realizes what the real world is different from where she is from.
Enjoy the movie folks....