On Feb. 16th, NBC’s late-night skit comedy series, Saturday Night Live, aired a mock movie trailer for a film spoofing Quentin Tarantino’s critically acclaimed movie, “Django Unchained.” The skit/mock trailer was for a film called “Djesus Uncrossed.” As one might guess, certain religious watchdogs/special interest groups – notably, the American Family Association or AFA - immediately began a campaign to ostensibly ‘encourage’ companies like Sears and JCPenney, who advertise on the show, to pull their ads. The AFA alleges that Sears caved right off the bat, and even thanked the Christian special interest group for alerting them to the offensive content. When JCPenney did not instantly follow suit, the AFA spearheaded a nationwide campaign to pressure them into doing so. In time, the department store chain gave in and pulled their advertising from Saturday Night Live.

When special interest groups like the AFA make statements like, “As long as corporations support this kind of offensive material, their sales are going to suffer as shoppers abandon retailers that support blasphemy…” they manipulate and bully companies like Sears and JCPenney into pulling advertising from television stations and/or individual shows. If this type of intimidation is given in to, there arises immediately a specter of censorship that cannot be tolerated in a free society. If someone doesn't like something on television, in print, or over the radio, they are free to turn the channel or page at will. They ought not to be free to financially bludgeon their agendas into the pocketbooks of corporations.

By expanding the SNL skit, "Djesus Uncrossed" into a full-length feature film - ideally made by Mr. Tarantino, produced by NBC-Universal, and starring the actual actors listed in the skit - a clear message will be sent that holding advertisers, entertainment entities, and the viewing public as a whole, collectively hostage will not and cannot be a successful endeavor.