Bert + Ernie = Everyone’s Favourite Couple? Nope.
Not surprisingly, one of the most talked about news stories since yesterday has been the official statement released by Sesame Street, regarding everyone’s favourite muppet “couple”, Bert and Ernie.
Remember back in the day when everyone was SO SURE they were more than roommates? More than friends? More than BFFs? Lovers, perhaps?
Yeah, no.
Last afternoon, the following was posted on Sesame Street’s Facebook page:
Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves.
Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets™ do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.
As you can probably imagine, people from both sides of the fence leapt to their own opinions, and as of right now, the comment thread pretty evenly split down the middle, every now and then dipping into a yelling match between a select few who are decidedly more passionate about the topic.
The statement was issued following a petition, “Let Bert & Ernie Get Married on Sesame Street” and is sitting right now just short of 8000 signatures. However the commenting is a bit more heated, now with the inclusion of bible quotes. Yeesh.
The group’s Facebook page is at about 5500 members, and the majority of them seem to object the idea.
Now, I speak for everyone at GEEKPR0N when I say NO-ONE deserves to be discriminated against. No matter what.
Speaking from my own personal opinion, having watched Sesame Street as a child, the program is catered to children who haven’t even started school yet, or are in Kindergarten. I didn’t wonder why Bert and Ernie never had girls over, or why some of the kids had different skin colour, or why Oscar was always so damn grouchy.
Issues like sexuality are the farthest things from their mind, whether it be gay OR straight. Issues like this shouldn’t be forced on them at all, let alone before they’re old enough to properly understand it. If they want to know why Billy at school has two dads instead of a mom and dad, they will ask you.
To sum it up, Bert and Ernie aren’t gay, never were, never will be. Making a huge deal out of trying to force them to get married is rather ridiculous. Would you force Beaker and Dr. Honeydew to get married? Or Gonzo, Camilla, and all the chickens? See where I’m going with this?
Do you really want your young child to be exposed to the kind of ridiculous banter in the links I posted? Didn’t think so.
Let kids be kids.
Bert and Ernie love each other, and it should be left at that.
