Weird Al's "Amish Paradise": offensive much?

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timeandeternity

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My brother wanted to show me and my mom Weird Al’s “Amish Paradise” video tonight, so I let him. Before the fact, I suspected it might be offensive, and as we continued watching, it became clear that he was mocking not only the Amish lifestyle but also their faith–which, though it’s not Catholicism, is very deep and sincere. I knew I should stop watching, and that I should say something, but out of fear of being made fun of, I didn’t at first. I did eventually, and walked away, but there was a good amount of time when I was standing there watching, knowing I shouldn’t be. I’m pretty sure this was a mortal sin, but I just wanted to post and get some feedback.
 
timeandeternity said:
My brother wanted to show me and my mom Weird Al’s “Amish Paradise” video tonight, so I let him. Before the fact, I suspected it might be offensive, and as we continued watching, it became clear that he was mocking not only the Amish lifestyle but also their faith–which, though it’s not Catholicism, is very deep and sincere. I knew I should stop watching, and that I should say something, but out of fear of being made fun of, I didn’t at first. I did eventually, and walked away, but there was a good amount of time when I was standing there watching, knowing I shouldn’t be. I’m pretty sure this was a mortal sin, but I just wanted to post and get some feedback.
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In my opinion, it can’t possibly be a mortal sin. I know speaking up against the popular culture (and it’s participants) is extremely uncomfortable. Especially when we are caught off guard. Anyway, you did say something and walk away. So, basically, you did the right thing. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Most people can’t react exactly properly in the moment.
 
Weird Al pokes fun at everybody and everything, it is part of his charm. I find not only him but also his music very funny and enjoyable. Might I ask why, with so many groups out there openly mocking the Catholic faith, you have time to be worried about something like this? I don’t mean to be rude, but it almost seems like you are going out of your way looking for things to be offended at. If you need something to be offended at, how about how many people receive our Lord while in mortal sin, and all the while acting like they are eating a ritz cracker?

Pax :signofcross:
 
If you’re offended by a weird Al song you should probably see a psychiatrist.
 
“And I’ve been milkin’ and plowin’ so long that, even Ezekiel thinks that my mind is gone!”
 
ASimon said:
“And I’ve been milkin’ and plowin’ so long that, even Ezekiel thinks that my mind is gone!”
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“If I finish all of my chores, and you finish thine, then tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1699!”

😉
 
Weird Al makes use of parody. You are completely misreading the content of the song/video, there was NO intent to mock the Amish lifestyle or their faith. The theme was chosen as it represents the complete opposite of the Coolio song which is being parodied, Gangster’s Paradise.
“Amish Paradise” is a 1996 single by parodist “Weird Al” Yankovic. It is a parody of the hip hop song “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio featuring L.V. (which itself is a reworking of the Stevie Wonder song “Pastime Paradise”). Featured on the album Bad Hair Day, it turns the original “Gangster’s Paradise,” in which the narrator laments his dangerous way of life, on its head by presenting an Amish man praising his relatively plain and uncomplicated existence.
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Read more here.

Do you suffer from scrupulosity by any chance?
 
I like some of Weird Al’s stuff and dislike others. Also I know he supports some bad causes.

In this case, there’s an idea that this particular Amish person is actually holier-than-thou and takes pleasure in the idea of people going to hell. I doubt that’s really typical of the Amish, but you have to remember that this is really a comedic combination of two things- the Amish lifestyle and the hard-headed black subculture of the song this is a parody of. It makes sense then that it’s boastful, and if an individual Amish person were to become boastful, what would that be like?

There’s also the statement that “we’re all crazy Mennonites”, which sounds mostly like Weird Al reaching for a rhyme near the end of the song, and the ending which implied that Amish get sick of their simple life, which I don’t think is accurate. Those who do can and do leave the community, and I recall learning something about a survey which listed the Amish among the most happy people in the country.

Anyway, as others have said for a sin to be mortal there must be grave matter, which is not present here at all, as far as I can see.
 
In my opinion, it can’t possibly be a mortal sin. I know speaking up against the popular culture (and it’s participants) is extremely uncomfortable. Especially when we are caught off guard. Anyway, you did say something and walk away. So, basically, you did the right thing. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Most people can’t react exactly properly in the moment.
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Of course it’s extremely uncomfortable. Remember the last Beatitude? Uncomfortableness doesn’t let me (or anyone else) of the hook.

Also, I wasn’t caught off guard. I knew it was probably coming. I knew what I should do. I had numerous opportunities to do it. And I didn’t.
Do you suffer from scrupulosity by any chance?
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Yes, I do. However, human respect is a huge (and I mean huge) struggle for me. I can become scrupulous about these situations occasionally, but there are many instances where I actually do commit sins–sometimes serious–out of human respect. My spiritual director has confirmed this.
 
timeandeternity said:
My brother wanted to show me and my mom Weird Al’s “Amish Paradise” video tonight, so I let him. Before the fact, I suspected it might be offensive, and as we continued watching, it became clear that he was mocking not only the Amish lifestyle but also their faith–which, though it’s not Catholicism, is very deep and sincere. I knew I should stop watching, and that I should say something, but out of fear of being made fun of, I didn’t at first. I did eventually, and walked away, but there was a good amount of time when I was standing there watching, knowing I shouldn’t be. I’m pretty sure this was a mortal sin, but I just wanted to post and get some feedback.
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Lol, though I actually love the Amish and have great respect for them, I have to admit I find the video quite funny.

It’s just Weird Al for ya… it’s not meant to be offensive. All his songs are parodies and he makes fun of everyone… it’s just meant to be funny!

He made fun of Michael Jackson all the time in his videos, but him and Michael were buddies. It’s all in good fun.
 
Debora123 said:
Lol, though I actually love the Amish and have great respect for them, I have to admit I find the video quite funny.

It’s just Weird Al for ya… it’s not meant to be offensive. All his songs are parodies and he makes fun of everyone… it’s just meant to be funny!

He made fun of Michael Jackson all the time in his videos, but him and Michael were buddies. It’s all in good fun.
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Actually many (most?) of his songs are not parodies, or at least not direct parodies (there may still be references and such). It’s just his most famous songs are parodies.

An example of an original song would be Dare To Be Stupid. I won’t include a link to the insane video here because of the sensitivity of the original poster, but you can easily find it on YouTube.
 
Aelred_Minor said:
Actually many (most?) of his songs are not parodies, or at least not direct parodies (there may still be references and such). It’s just his most famous songs are parodies.

An example of an original song would be Dare To Be Stupid. I won’t include a link to the insane video here because of the sensitivity of the original poster, but you can easily find it on YouTube.
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Ah, I see. Thanks! 👍
 
silicasandra said:
“If I finish all of my chores, and you finish thine, then tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1699!”

😉
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Okay. I admit it. I, too, find this funny!
(And yes, I’ve heard the song before.
In fact, I tape recorded it,
probably while listening to
the Dr. Demento show … )

:o
 
Last I heard the only one offended was Coolio who did the original “Gansta’s Paradise”. Lighten up, Coolio… :rolleyes:
 
roothless said:
If you’re offended by a weird Al song you should probably see a psychiatrist.
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That was a bit rude. Being offended at one thing and asking if they should be offended does not equate the need to see a psychiatrist.

It would be like if I said people like you are the reason an entrance exam should be taken to use the internet. 😛
 
I love when he says, “I know I’m a million times as humble as thou art.” Probably because I know people like that, who brag about how humble they supposedly are.

I actually wish he would do a song about Catholics. I’m feeling a bit left out. 🙂
 
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