PROGRESSIVE MAGAZINE ARTICLE ABOUT ME AND MY WEBSITE!!!

[Ava]

Animation Producer Gets Ugly Slurs
By Matthew Rothschild
April 24, 2006

Ava Lowery is a fifteen-year-old who lives in Alabama. She calls herself a peace activist, and for the past year, she’s been producing her own short animations on her website, peacetakescourage.com. All in all, she’s made about seventy of them, she says, and most of them oppose Bush and his Iraq War.

“I was just so mad about it,” she explains. “And the media are not showing the real images of the war, so I did a lot research and started my own website.”

She submitted one of her latest creations, “WWJD,” to the monthly “contagious” contest that huffingtonpost.com is running. (It’s an open contest that ranks the number of viewers for each submission.)

“WWJD” (“What Would Jesus Do”) is a powerful animation that features a soundtrack of a child singing “Jesus loves me, this I know” while one picture after another of a wounded, bloody, or screaming Iraqi child fills the screen.

“The object of the animation,” says Lowery, is “to get the following point across: Jesus loves Iraqis, too.”

Lowery ends the video with quotations from Beatitudes, including, “Blessed are they who mourn” and “Blessed are the meek” and “Blessed are the merciful” and “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

She says she’s received a lot of positive feedback in short messages back to her site. And she understands that the fact that “people are on the web, and they just let loose.” But she was unprepared for the viciousness of the negative feedback—especially the ugly sexual slurs similar to those that Cindy Sheehan has faced. (If you can’t stand foul language, stop reading now.)

“It’s people like you who need to fucking die and get raped while your corpse rots in the sun,” said one e-mail Lowery shared with me. “Fuck you, I would jack off on your parents if I could. If you don’t like the team, get out of the park. That means take ur small dick and get the fuck off of my homeland you faggot chocolate gulper.”

“You are a TRAITOR to your country and should be executed for treason,” another one said. “All you do is bitch about the US. If you hate it so much, why don’t you GET THE FUCK OUT.”

“Why don’t you go masterbate to a pic of Sheehan and fuck off,” said a third.

“Are you a muslem terrorist?” asked another.

She says there was a threat against her that was circulating “on the conservative underground.” And she says she received one e-mail from someone who said, “Contact me ASAP. It concerns a danger to your life.”

When her mom called the number, the person who answered denied any knowledge of the threat, Lowery says.

She adds: “I was really weirded out by it.”

http://progressive.org/mag_mc042406



I am SO excited about this! :woohoo:

[progmom]

1. hey congrats!!

That's excellent! :thumbsup:

[Scout1071]

2. WOW!

Great job on the website.

Watch your back. Some of those comments are horrifying.

[skygazer]

3. Wow! Congratulations!

Proud to know ya! :woohoo: :applause:

(and I notice their spelling is no better than it ever was - "muslem"?)

[SeattleGirl]

4. Congratulations, Ava!

Very impressive!

If you haven't been already, though, please save the emails as possible evidence in case this crap gets worse. Take care!

[no name no slogan]

5. Nice Job!

I just got the latest issue in the mail Friday. I haven't read it yet, but I certainly will!
:toast:

[Misunderestimator]

6. Hey, good job!

:thumbsup:

[Taverner]

7. Congrats! Excellent work!

[Droopy]

8. Good going, Ava

I'm also happy that you have persevered in the face of the ugly right wingers who have been sending you obscene hate mail. I'm sure you and your folks have got all of the "be careful" stuff going, but be alert. Other than that: Congrats! :toast:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. That is great news, my dear Ava!

I am proud to know you, and to have seen your work!

Please be careful, though.....some of those "people" can be very dangerous!

Congrats on the recognition!

:loveya: :hug:

[Ava]

22. thanks Peggy

we have always been very careful due to some of the nasty emails i've gotten. :hi:

[deadparrot]

10. Congrats.

Sorry about the jackasses, but other than that, it's great news!

:toast:

[NJ Democrats]

11. Congrats on the article about you.

Some of those comments though. They are really gross and saddening to what our country has become.

[Blue Poppy]

12. Amazing!

Great work. I wish I had my collective shit together at your age.
Keep up the fight. You have an amazing talent.
Thank you for sharing!


ETA: chocolate gulper? :wtf:

[ThomCat]

13. I'm very sorry that you're getting threats.

It's amazing that there are people that horribly, violently opposed to peace and justice.

I'm glad you're still creating these animations, though. You're awesome!
:applause:

[Buddyblazon]

14. Congrats Ava....

you have a lot more drive at 15 than I did.

And a warning to any lurking fReepers...please take it back to your buddies:

If ANY harm whatsoever comes to Ava or her family, me and my tatooed clad, truss lifting, set building, black t-shirt wearing, monkey wrench swinging, roadie Union members will make your lives...not so fun.

20 IATSE members with Leatherman's at your door is not a pleasant thought for anyone...let alone someone we have a beef with.

Threateners beware.

[LaurenG]

15. How wonderful Ava

great job. I'm sorry about the threats though. You must be getting through to them!:thumbsup: :hi:

[El Fuego]

16. Awesome!!!! WOW!

Congrats!
:toast:

But I'm sorry you had to find yourself on the wacko radar.

[flvegan]

17. Congrats, Ava!

Sad but true, if you generate that kind of hate from that kind of people, then you're obviously effective.

I think it's awesome that you got this article about you, though!! Keep up the great work.

[graywarrior]

18. You rock!

[trof]

19. Lordy. 15. How'd you get so smart so fast?

I'm proud to have you as a fellow Alabamian.
:hi:

[Droopy]

20. I asked MiniMandaRuth the same question

She's 14 and is way smarter than I was at that age. Hell, smarter than I was when I was in my early twenties. She credits it to good parenting.

[Ava]

21. thanks everyone!

:hi:

[bigwillq]

23. Good for you Ava.

Keep fighting the fight! Thanks for your creations!
:hi:

[Ava]

24. thanks bigwillq!

i hope you are doing good tonight :hi:

[bigwillq]

25. I am doing well.

I am at work but it is slow! :hi:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

26. You have this much talent? And you're only fifteen?

I hate you. You're doing great work and I hope you keep it up.

Fifteen years old? You make Mozart look developmentally disabled.

But seriously. I hate you.

[Ava]

27. you are TOO kind!

"You make Mozart look developmentally disabled."

now I know you are just pulling my leg! :rofl:

thanks! :pals:

[johnfunk]

28. GREAT work, Ava! Keep shakin'em up!

I feel your Woo-hoo! As Franklin Roosevelt would no doubt have said, "You go, girl!"

[WCGreen]

29. Geez you're only fifteen.....

[haydukelives]

30. You Go Girl

Love your work

[merh]

31. Way to go, Ava!

:patriot:

I'm proud to post on DU with you.

:yourock:

[Maddy McCall]

32. I can't believe that you're only 15....

Your work shows great maturity, and your parents should be very proud of their daughter.

:thumbsup:

[Hissyspit]

33. Sorry about the threats, Ava. There are a lot of ignorant people in the

world, but great article.

[NanceGreggs]

34. Congratulations, AVA!!!!

I have been truly moved by your work, and I'm happy to see it getting the attention it so richly deserves!!!!!

:applause:

[Wapsie B]

35. Good work Ava!

I'm at a loss for words here. You're wise well beyond your years. Just remember, these rwingers slamming you is the same thing that happened with those who dared question Vietnam. Same song,different verse.

[Downtown Hound]

36. There's a link to your article on buzzflash.com now

Congratulations on all you've accomplished. Man, you make me feel like a complete knucklehead when I think of how I was when I was 15 compared to you. Amazing.

About the threats, do be a little extra careful, but know that most of those come from of bunch of cowardly jerk offs who at the most could put down a bag of Ruffles if push came to shove. I wouldn't let them bother you too much. The mere fact that they responded at all means you got to them, so good job. Also, this whole incident demonstrates just how ugly and stupid they really are, that they have resorted to threatening a 15 year old girl for an animation preaching love and peace.

Keep on fighting the good fight. Cheers.

[Ava]

37. where? can you post a link?

[Downtown Hound]

38. Just go to

www.buzzflash.com

Scroll down a little bit, and it's on the left.

[Ava]

44. thanks! i saw it!

:pals:

[Skittles]

39. Ava my sweet, you rock!

yes INDEED! :thumbsup:

[mduffy31]

40. Way to go doll

Christ I am 29 and have a 2 college degrees and I feel like a failure right now next to you. I do have one question; what the fuck is with this quote: That means take ur small dick and get the fuck off of my homeland you faggot chocolate gulper.” I don't understand that one. Is this a member of the clan, did they mistake you for a 15 year old boy? :wtf: Stay strong and keep it up, and I would like to second the thoughts of another poster on this link, to the freepers you fuck with her or her family just think of this line from Tombstone, "you called down the thunder...You tell 'em I'm coming! And Hell's coming with me you hear! Hell's coming with me!"

Thus ended the lesson

[Ava]

41. i don't get it either mduffy31

:shrug:

[_testify_]

42. You ROCK!

You should be very proud!

:yourock:

[Crazy Dave]

43. Congrats Ava

:toast: :hi:

[auntAgonist]

45. Ava

I admire your talent and your ability / desire to speak out. You give hope for the future.
Congratulations to you. Your parents must be VERY proud of you!

:hug: :yourock: :hug:

aA
kesha.

[WeRQ4U]

46. Sweet............(people really write that shit to you?)

So depraved.

[Callalily]

47. Congrats Ava

Excellent work!

As far as the threats, when people resort to profanity instead of critical debate, you know as well as I do that they are showing their ignorance.

I'm always amazed when people say such things like, (I'll be kind here) "if you don't like it, get out of the country." Well, it's for that very reason that we do work so hard. We do love this country and we see that it's being raped by our current administration. We want to keep the privilege of free speech and free choice. And we will not be silenced.

[Progressive4Life]

48. Congrats, Ava!

Your courage and dedication gives me hope for the future. Keep up the brilliant work!

Don't let the trolls get you down. You are doing the right thing.

[NMMNG]

49. Congratulations!

Your animation is amazing. Unfortunately some people, who claim to be followers of Jesus, think the proper thing to do is "nuke the hell out of Iraq" (actual quote from a friend of mine). :cry:

What Would Jesus Do indeed.

[Random_Australian]

50. Nice job, Ava!

[swimboy]

51. Excellent Word, Ava!

Your animations are extremely powerful. Thank you so much for what you are doing.

[Beware the Beast Man]

52. Good work, Ava!

:woohoo: You have cojones, that is for sure!

[CottonBear]

53. Congratulations Ava!

Your parents must be so proud of you. You have accomplished so much in your 15 years.

Be careful out there and stay strong.

Peace. CB

[WatchWhatISay]

54. Ava, could you come teach my 18 year old daughter a whole lot about

the world. All she seems to care about is her $278 Coach purse and her Land Rover. I am afraid I failed to have any effect on her at all.

[riona]

55. Good going

That's a great magazine.

[ProudDad]

56. Great work

WWJD is great work. Thanks.

Keep it up!

[A HERETIC I AM]

57. Ava, I started the thread in GD about those threats and i'm sorry i didnt

know you were a DU'er. My apologies. Go get em' kiddo.

(I mean that in a most respectful way):headbang: