Despite NOM’s best efforts to shame Apple, the tech giant has once again moved to block the Manhattan Declaration iPhone app, which was approved and then yanked last month. So the app’s makers — led by the “country’s most influential conservative Christian thinker” Robert George, who launched the 4,700-word Christianity pledge last year to the squeals of James Dobson and Maggie Gallagher — re-submitted it. And were just shot down. Which means an entire class of technophiles will miss out on being told the correct answer to the question “Do you support same sex relationships?” So is this thing available on Android yet?
Cue the outrage from ManhattanDeclaration.org:
It is difficult to see how this is anything other than a statement of animus by a major American corporation against the beliefs of millions of Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox citizens. It is our sincere hope that Apple will draw back from this divisive and deeply offensive position. The corporation’s leaders must be made to understand that they do the country no good service in capitulating to efforts to stigmatize, marginalize or defame people on one side or the other in important moral debates.
We will be taking this to Apple’s App Review Board after they come back from the Christmas and New Year’s holiday observances they mention. If Apple is in good faith, perhaps they will be willing to submit this matter to arbitration. We will keep you informed. Until there is more to report, we will not be making further comments on this matter.
Alex 0^0
Yep, mistake to insult Steve Jobs and then expect Apple to say
“yessir can I have another.” Maybe they thought Jobs is a gay Republican, the type who respond to abuse by asking for more.
Steve
I don’t have any difficulty seeing this as something “other than a statement of animus…”
It is in fact, a clear statement that Apple will not support the animus against gay people that is represented in the so-called Manhattan Declaration.
Refusing to endorse animus against gay people, is not animus against the haters.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
“It is our sincere hope that Apple will draw back from this divisive and deeply offensive position. The corporation’s leaders must be made to understand that they do the country no good service in capitulating to efforts to stigmatize, marginalize or defame people on one side or the other in important moral debates.”
Gee, color me confused because it kinda sorta seems like your little hate-app is attempting to do just what has your panties all bunched up to the Gays………….
And BTW: I doubt very much the clueless toothless mindless lemming like lunatics who hang on yours, Maggots, and Dobsons vile, hate filled rhetoric would even know how to download an app………….much less possess a smart phone
Daez
Way to go Steve Jobs. It gives me imense pleasure to be posting this on my partner’s iPad. His son also got an iPod touch for Christmas. These products are quite nice. However, I would never buy an Apple computer.
B
Some of you are reading too much into Apple’s motives. You can read the “declaration” at http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/the-declaration/read.aspx . Whatever you think of it politically, Apple has one extremely good reason to reject any “app” built around the Manhattan Declaration – the thing is boring. In addition, they don’t like apps which make disparaging comments about other groups (the targets are also customers and Apple doesn’t want to lose customers). One should note that Apple wants a world-wide market. You can imagine how the “declaration’s” criticism of marriages with multiple partners would go over in countries like Pakistan where a man may legally marry several wives.
While Apple has a set of obscure policies regarding what can appear in their store, and developers complain that the policies are applied inconsistently, the reality is that Apple set up the store for its own benefit – I’d image primarily to help sell iPhones. If you don’t like it, fortunately there is an alternative – phones based on Google’s “Android” software.
Dollie
“Conservative Christian thinker…”
^^^^which word is not like the others?
Go, Apple! Proud owner of an iPhone here. 🙂
Rick Gold
If these so-called “conservatives” are just that, they should recognize Apple’s decision to pull this “app” as simply an exercise of their rights in the marketplace.
Should these “conservatives” wish to, they can research and develop groundbreaking technology, create a mythos and a brand then market it to a rabid, dedicated fanbase/market segment and reap the benefits therefrom.
On the other hand, they can just shut the fuck up.
Rick Gold
I forgot: How long before Robert George is caught enjoying some HOT man lovin?
Paul in Canada
“The corporation’s leaders must be made to understand that…” This line from their media statement says it all. Asshats!
Thomathy
ManhattanDeclaration.org:
They are right, of course, that Apple, and indeed any other corporation, should not be engaged in censorship. Apple created this quagmire itself by placing itself on a pedestal of moral superiority; by making itself our nanny. Let’s not forget that Apple has not always been a friend to gays or queers or to anyone in particular. Apple’s morality is a fickle thing. Apple would have been best off to not have engaged in censorship in the first place.
That said, the cynic (or realist?) in me believes, and I think these types of Christian organizations have proven this before, that they would not respond similarly if Apple, say, stopped engaging in censorship whatsoever and all views, opinions and applications, no matter what is being espoused or whatever the content was were allowed.
Not being happy in any case would be the problem of those Christian organizations. Still, I think it would be great if Apple stopped playing nanny. The applications that might be created in response to those Christian organizations’ would certainly be suitable responses to their inanity and hatred. Freedom of expression, after all, is, or ought to be, paramount.
Dave
Manhattan Declaration App: bad. Apple censorship: also bad.
Apple has banned almost anything remotely objectionable (as well as anything they just don’t like) from the App Store. Plenty of other platforms don’t require your content to go through some central authority to approve it. Applause for Apple banning something is just congratulating Big Brother. They’re not trying to force you to download the App; they just want it to be available. I don’t agree with the people behind the the Manhattan Declaration as they interpret morality, but they shouldn’t be banned from presenting their side, as no one should.
There is less reason for people to argue against their ideology when its presentation can simply be banned. We need to support a free exchange of ideas and information. Hopefully, then, whoever has the better case will win the most support. I know it’s not a perfect world and things don’t always work that way, but remember that it’s not just ultra-conservatives that Apple bans.
This was typed on a Mac. I’m not anti-Apple; they’re products do have merits (e.g. my laptop is made of metal, not plastic). I am, however, against giving anyone, be it a corporation, the government, or whoever, the ability to simply ban distributing something because its content is objectionable.
Richy
If you are going to have freedom of speech for everyone in America…it should be for everyone in America. Equal rights for everyone, it should be for everyone. Apple obviously didn’t ban the Manhattan Declaration before there were complaints…so it wansn’t Apples idea.
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL…
FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOR ALL…