second slot by NFL officials who were worried about potential viewer and FCC backlash - is simply an ultra-public example of Parsons standing up for his personal convictions. Deemed suggestive - and rightly so - by many conservatives and Christians, Go Daddy's Super Bowl commercial was an intentionally pointed jab at what Parsons perceived as an overreaction to the Janet Jackson 2004 breast-showing, halftime fiasco.
Legitimately concerned with censorship issues, Parsons makes no apologies for his Go Daddy commercial, which features a buxom brunette who is petitioning the "censorship committee" for approval of her advertising idea. Essentially the edited version, which aired only in its first scheduled slot during the game on FOX, showcases the "Go Daddy Girl" doing a fairly tame dance/cheer routine when her spaghetti-strap tank top comes undone. She catches it immediately, and only PG-rated flesh is revealed. FOX approved the ad and set to run it twice, but was stopped by NFL officials after the first appearance when they called FOX and told them to scrub it. Apparently the intention to make a point while branding his business name had hit the bulls-eye on both counts for Parsons, who succeeded in riling content-rating officials and caused the viewing public to debate the ads' many points of controversy - making GoDaddy.com an immediate household name.
As for me, while I don't personally endorse the edited version of the commercial, it is actually pretty low-key when compared to many ads on primetime television. And while I might have spiritual concerns over certain aspects of it, it can't be defined as "indecent" by the television standards of today. Further, it will not change my high opinion of Bob himself, who has never been anything but nice to his customers.
As to the full-scale version of the ad - which turns up the heat on the debate and can currently be seen exclusively at the Go Daddy web site - it is definitely risqué. For instance, the suggestion of nudity is more overt, with actress Candice Michelle Beckman hiding beneath a table to adjust her shirt. The suggestive banter between two of the "committee" members was also PG-13, though so human that I could not restrain an involuntary grin. Again, worse is heard on regular prime-time, which I am guilty of watching along with the majority of those reading this commentary - (many of whom permit their children to watch as well, I might add) - so how can any of us be upset with Bob's commercial without being hypocritical?
Besides, the full-scale version never made the airwaves, so debating about its appropriateness doesn't really amount to anything - except in terms of letting Bob know where you stand on it. And he seems to earnestly consider everyone's views, even if he doesn't agree with them. I say this based on personal experience, as I blog to Bob whenever I feel the urge to make a point. He has never been disrespectful or ugly about my alternate views. In fact, he uses his blog as a forum to discuss such topics with me and the rest of the world, and that makes me appreciate him. Liking his style and spunk is as involuntary as grinning at his original, full-length ad. I just can't help it.
So, why do I support him if I don't support his commercial? Well, Bob has a way of infecting people with loyalty and admiration by treating them well. As a customer since 2001, with literally hundreds and hundreds of domain registrations through GoDaddy.com, I can testify to the fact that his commitment to treat clients the way they deserve to be treated is not just an aspiration or goal, it is an actual practice. There's never been one time - not one - that I've been let down by his customer service or policies. Any concern or issue I've ever had trouble with, has been responded to with ultra prompt courtesy, and has left me feeling like I mattered personally. I'm not just another customer, or some account number to Go Daddy - I'm a person. And such treatment is based solely on Bob's own principles and ideals. I could be anyone, of any income level, race, or creed - Bob doesn't know because he has never even met me. What's important to him is that I'm a person who believes in his product enough to buy it, and therefore, I matter. I'm not just one among millions that he can easily replace - as is so often the attitude of big business. Instead, Go Daddy's exceptional customer service makes me feel like I'm considered to be one in a million - which makes me unique, and therefore, irreplaceable.
Additionally, folks who take the time to read the long list of Bob's charitable endeavors, or see how willing he is to consider investing in business ideas dreamed up by the little guy, like him even more. There are so many big-business schleps who forget where they came from; forget what it took to get where they are; who can't be bothered by those "beneath" their social status - but as far as I can tell, Bob's not that way. He remembers, and he can empathize, therefore he does what he can to show consideration to those still struggling to find their niche. I would venture to guess that such a thing brings a sense of value and purpose to his life.
These are the reasons I will continue to buy from GoDaddy.com, and why I am calling for my fellow conservatives and Christians to give the business - and its owner - a break. I mean, come on, you don't boycott your local fast-food drive-thru because the manager sometimes expresses personal views that are in conflict with your own. Rather, you only concern yourself with the hamburger and fries that manager can provide on your lunch break. How is Bob's commercial choice any different? Hold him accountable for his commercial(s) by reasoning with him, not by boycotting his business. It's not like he's doing something illegal, unethical, un-American, politically partisan or X-rated. And, contrary to what you may be thinking, I do believe in holding people accountable for their actions, (and also inaction, by the way), but I also believe it has to be done with the right frame of heart. In the end, each person will answer to God for what they did and didn't do. They won't answer to you, to me, to a TV evangelist, or even a world leader. It is God's place, and God's alone to pronounce judgement on a person. (See 1st Samuel 16:7.) And while we are directed to use our SENSE of judgement, (also known as common sense or wisdom), in regards to what we support or endorse, (see 1st Corinthians 2:15), it is NOT our place to judge the heart of a person - no matter how wrong they may seem. Even the most wicked, evil doers in the world - like murderers, for instance - were sweet little babies at one time. Who knows - except God - what they went through to turn out the way they did? And while I believe that justice should be swift, sure and severe for those outside the law, I also believe that God can forgive even lawbreakers - and more than that, He can redeem them - giving them a total make-over from the inside out. (Tookie Williams is a GREAT example of this, and you can click here to read his story.)
I say all that to make a point - and the point is that you cannot classify Bob, (or his commercial), as being criminal - so stop treating him like one. While the ad is beneath God's high standards and expectations according to scripture (and aren't some of our own actions as well?) the good fruit that Bob's life has produced overall proves that he is making effort to do the right thing more often than not. Bob, in fact, attests to being a "moderate Christian". And although in spiritual terms there are no degrees of Christianity according to the Bible, I do believe it teaches that there are many levels to the Christian walk. Bob just has not yet arrived at the destination where God ultimately wants him to be, (who has?), but he is at least on the journey! If many of Bob's accusers would stop with me long enough to look in the mirror, I think we'd all have to say that same thing about ourselves. (Read 1st Corinthians 13:12.) Unless we see Christ's countenance reflected back at us with perfect clarity when we look into the silvered-glass, we can't say we've arrived. Even the best of us are all but a shadowy, blurred likeness of Him. (See the strong words Jesus had to say in regards to this issue in Matthew 7:1-5.)
Of course God wants us to strive towards living right and to encourage others to do it as well - I'm not saying that He doesn't. But there will be times that we will miss the mark, even as we strive earnestly to hit it. (See 1st John 2:1.) What we can say with Christian integrity is that we put effort in trying to, or in intending to, live the way God wants us to live. And as we grow in grace we will get stronger and more efficient at doing so. (See 2nd Peter 3:17-18 and 2nd Corinthians 3:17-18.)
In conclusion, as a conservative Christian myself, I do believe that Bob could have selected an equally creative, non-sexual commercial to produce, based on high ideals, with universal humor, which could have impacted people in a more profound, rather than sensational, way. But he didn't. And I like him - the person - anyway. And while I concede that the commercial does not meet the standard that our Lord laid out in His Word, I also absolutely know that the commercial did nothing to lessen Bob's eternal value or significance to Him either. He still loves Bob. And Candice. And the extras. And the sound people. And the editors. And the writers. And the grips. And the heads of FOX television and the NFL - and we "Christians" should too. How can we, who claim to be "followers of Christ", not follow His example in this?
Voicing our Christian concern about morality issues is fair - and it is also our right, as well as our duty - but HOW we do that is our CALLING, and we are called to speak the truth in love. (See the entire 4th chapter of Ephesians, and pay special attention to verses 15 and 16.) Further, if you read 1st Corinthians, Chapter 13, you will see that there are only three things that will last beyond this world - faith, hope, and love - of which, love is the greatest, and springs from the very heart of God Himself. That chapter defines what real love is, and instructs us on how to LIVE it. You cannot legalistically hold on to the finer points of doing right things, and at the same time completely ignore the very motivation that is suppose to be behind that righteousness. Anyone can follow a set of written rules, but few follow because love inspires them to - which is really the core commandment God wants us to practice. Remember the greatest commandments? Matthew Chapter 22, starting at verses 34 through 40 says: "Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
You see, God IS LOVE, (see 1st John 4:7-21), and how can folks respond to such a love if they can't see past us shaking our fingers at them? For God's sake - literally - care about the person more than the controversy. Follow His flawless lead - for the love of Bob, and the rest of the watching world audience.
