CONCERNED LADY FOR AMERICA

Debbie Anderson is just an "ordinary decent American" on a mission to make Rio Blanco a more god-centered community. When a local shopkeeper persists in selling Cosmopolitan and other "morally corrosive" magazines, she sets out to educate him just as Christ would have done--lovingly, with a gracious but relentless boycott.

CONCERNED LADY FOR AMERICA is a darkly satirical short film on the tactics of the Christian right. The characters and the storyline are not exaggerated and are actually based on real things happening in the United States right now.

Right wing religious organizations are executing a systematic plan to "reclaim" American culture. These groups often seek to impose their ideology and values on a community without regard for more fundamental American values like liberty, tolerance, and freedom of expression. They are well organized, well funded, and determined to remake America in their own image. The People for the American Way has a comprehensive list of right wing organizations that we encourage you to explore. There is no better response to their tactics than information and open debate.

Although our film is a satire of the Christian right, our target is not Christianity. We strongly believe in the sanctity of everyone's religious beliefs and religious liberties. What we are satirizing is the politicization of religion, and the attempt to turn religious beliefs that some people follow into laws by which all must abide.

The name of our film is a take off on the name of real-life right-wing Christian organization, Concerned Women for America. They are the nation's largest public policy women's organization claiming over 500,000 members. Their mission is to protect "traditional values that support the Biblical design of the family" which means that they are anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-feminism and anti-sex education. They have national offices in Washington DC as well as 500 regional groups across the country (check your state) In 2002 their reported finances were 11.9 million dollars.

The fictional boycott that Debbie and the Council for American Freedom conduct in the film is based on the beliefs and methodology that is advocated by the American Family Association. They even have a downloadable brochure on their website educating people on how to conduct such a boycott. (Production note: in the final scene of the film, it is these very brochures that Beverly and Margaret are folding and stuffing into envelopes). This organization has about 100 employees and state directors in 21 states. In 2000 their reported finances were 11.4 million dollars.

Think we made up Chroga? If only we were that clever! Today, you can find faith-based versions of every conceivable commercial enterprise and every pop-culture interest. There are Christian banks, Christian auto repair shops, and, yes, even Christian yoga, or as its devotees like to call it, Chroga.

Okay, this one we actually did think we were making up. In the interest of comic relief, we wanted to identify one form of pop culture that Christians could not logically colonize, and then depict a Christianized version of it. But what might that elusive form be? Goth, we concluded. It's dark, it's gloomy, it's obsessed with death and vampires and crucifixes -- oh, wait. Yes, as it turns out, Christians Goths exist in real life too.



	Debbie Anderson is just an "ordinary decent American" on a mission to make Rio Blanco a more god-centered community. When a local shopkeeper persists in selling Cosmopolitan and other "morally corrosive" magazines, she sets out to educate him just as Christ would have done--lovingly, with a gracious but relentless boycott. No Joke, It's Really Happening CONCERNED LADY FOR AMERICA is a darkly satirical short film on the tactics of the Christian right. The characters and the storyline are not exaggerated and are actually based on real things happening in the United States right now. Right wing religious organizations are executing a systematic plan to "reclaim" American culture. These groups often seek to impose their ideology and values on a community without regard for more fundamental American values like liberty, tolerance, and freedom of expression. They are well organized, well funded, and determined to remake America in their own image. The People for the American Way has a comprehensive list of right wing organizations that we encourage you to explore. There is no better response to their tactics than information and open debate. Christian Right Although our film is a satire of the Christian right, our target is not Christianity. We strongly believe in the sanctity of everyone's religious beliefs and religious liberties. What we are satirizing is the politicization of religion, and the attempt to turn religious beliefs that some people follow into laws by which all must abide. Concerned Ladies The name of our film is a take off on the name of real-life right-wing Christian organization, Concerned Women for America. They are the nation's largest public policy women's organization claiming over 500,000 members. Their mission is to protect "traditional values that support the Biblical design of the family" which means that they are anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-feminism and anti-sex education. They have national offices in Washington DC as well as 500 regional groups across the country (check your state) In 2002 their reported finances were 11.9 million dollars. Boycott Strategies The fictional boycott that Debbie and the Council for American Freedom conduct in the film is based on the beliefs and methodology that is advocated by the American Family Association. They even have a downloadable brochure on their website educating people on how to conduct such a boycott. (Production note: in the final scene of the film, it is these very brochures that Beverly and Margaret are folding and stuffing into envelopes). This organization has about 100 employees and state directors in 21 states. In 2000 their reported finances were 11.4 million dollars. Chroga Think we made up Chroga? If only we were that clever! Today, you can find faith-based versions of every conceivable commercial enterprise and every pop-culture interest. There are Christian banks, Christian auto repair shops, and, yes, even Christian yoga, or as its devotees like to call it, Chroga. Christian Goth Okay, this one we actually did think we were making up. In the interest of comic relief, we wanted to identify one form of pop culture that Christians could not logically colonize, and then depict a Christianized version of it. But what might that elusive form be? Goth, we concluded. It's dark, it's gloomy, it's obsessed with death and vampires and crucifixes -- oh, wait. Yes, as it turns out, Christians Goths exist in real life too.		Download a printable PDF of this page.

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