Josh Jasper thought his television commercial, which depicts a baby as a future rapist, would teach viewers about violence prevention.
Instead, thanks to YouTube, the ad has triggered an international firestorm and death threats for the Dubuque man, who heads a nonprofit advocacy group for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
In a letter to Jasper’s bosses, an Australian viewer called Jasper a “man hater” and a “mangina” who should be fired. Another offended viewer put it this way: “You would be better off dead.”
[…]The ad contrasts a smiling baby with the following script: “He’s tough. He’s strong. He’s aggressive. He’s powerful. He raped his girlfriend. But he wasn’t always this way. What are you teaching your son? …”
Jasper said the ad was intended to make a point that people are not born violent, but are conditioned to be that way. He said donations paid for the commercial, which has aired for nearly a year on televisions in northeast Iowa and parts of Illinois and Wisconsin.
TV ad sparks death threats for Dubuque man | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs
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This is a Dubuque, IA non-profit called Riverview Center which according to their vision statement…
is creating a community free of violence through our violence prevention initiatives, including educational programming that empowers individuals, fosters empathy, and helps to develop social skills that emphasize respect, equality, and non-violent conflict resolution. Our educators present in every classroom in every school in our service area. In addition to schools, our violence prevention education programming is available to all community groups and businesses.
it is not mentioned in the article quotations above, but I see it as slightly ironic that, Josh Jasper, the man who is being targeted with death threats because of this ad, is also former U.S. Marine and a LAPD crisis counselor. Ironic because I think a lot of the people spewing hate towards this man would think twice about it if they knew that piece of information.
The controversial commercial is included above and has drawn comments such as this:
“That is such a disgusting ad” and “I teach my son whenever I can: NEVER protect a woman.”
THIS is an absolutely disgusting response to a group that advocates non-violence.
I don’t ever ask this, but please don’t just “like” this post…
please reblog.
This is just as morally objectionable as the anti-choice advertisements that claim abortion is immoral, because it could have prevented the birth of a person viewed as great. Without meaning to resort of reductio ad Hitlerum, Hitler’s mother considered ab abortion, but was talked out of it by her doctor. This broadcast makes that sort of point.
#abortion
