By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-03-25 15:14:11 | Word Count: 664
There is simply no way that Apple (whose logo happens to be rainbow colored, ironically enough) has approved the uber-controversial “Exodus International” iPhone application. This application was created by Exodus International, a religious organization that is seeking to help gay individuals become heterosexual. Um, excuse me, Apple, but you can™t possibly be serious with this one. Wait, before jumping down your case let me be fair by playing a little devil™s advocate here just for goodness sake. Yes, Apple, you are an open forum and you seek to be an outlet for everyone. Yes, you even have been known to create the most trivial nonsensical applications ever known to mankind. (Devil™s advocate ends here)"this time, you have gone a bit too far.
Now you™ve allowed Exodus to use you in a way that is not only counterproductive but it is also quite offensive. Exodus International has been practicing, with over 35 years of ministry experience, to “educate,” and encourage using the body of Christ to “address” the issue of homosexuality with grace and truth. According to Exodus International the specific mission is to “mobilize the body of Christ to minister grace and truth to a world impacted by homosexuality.” That™s just fine and dandy seeing as how Exodus International isn™t on trial here. This organization is just doing what they think that they should be doing as a religious mission. It™s Apple who has offered an uncomfortable level of surprise and dismay by actually implementing such an oppressive application in a forum where many users are directly affected.
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Apple gave the Exodus International application a 4 rating which indicates that the application contains “no objectionable material.” Well, I certainly object to that, if it counts for anything. I certainly share sentiments with TruthWinsOut.com who writes “”No objectionable content? We beg to differ, Exodus™ message is hateful and bigoted. They claim to offer ‘freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ™ and use scare tactics, misinformation, stereotypes and distortions of LGBT life to recruit clients.”
The great thing is that those objecting to this application have not accepted this laying down. More than 100,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Apple to remove the application from the iTunes store. This isn™t the first time that a petition has been brought against Apple. Just last year a similar application was briefly offered on the Apple platform. The application was another ant-gay application created by a Christian group. All it took to get this previous application removed was 7,000 petition signatures. Apple™s reason for removing the application was that it was “offensive to large groups of people.” This brings me to ask “what™s so different now?”
It is more than necessary to stop the implementation of offensive and prejudice applications before you create a monster here, Apple. You are dangerously taking steps in the wrong direction down a slippery slope. First, its anti-gay apps then it™s anti-black, anti-Semite, and anti-human applications. Careful not to eliminate your loyal following, Apple; seems to me like you are well on your way. No better time to acquire a respect for standards than now.
