Et Tu, Disney?

What happened to Disney?

And when I say Disney, I am not referring to the man, Mr. Walt Disney for whom I have the utmost respect and admiration. I am referring to what his name brand has unfortunately become.

When he was alive, Walt Disney stood for quality entertainment. He stood for magic, beauty and love. He stood for understanding and tolerance of the foibles of others. He stood for beautiful stories and happy endings.

Statue of Disney and Mickey Mouse
Disney World (Photo by Travis Wise/Flickr.com)

All we had to do was watch Mary Poppins or any other early Disney great to see that these messages he wished to spread were the messages that lifted up mankind and allowed us to see a way to create a much more beautiful world.

Mr. Disney’s message was that we could create magic for ourselves and others and he spoke by example by creating Disneyland, a place where even the most bitter and hardened person could go and be a happy kid again even if just for a day.

Even today, there are adults who love Disneyland enough to return over and over. The magic still exists there, though, sadly, Mr. Disney has moved on.

So again, what happened to Disney?

Remini is already attacking everything good that Mr. Disney stood for his entire life.

For those who don’t know: Disney owns A&E in partnership with the Hearst Corporation of New York, and A&E is churning out some of the most bigoted dreck ever to appear anywhere.

The most egregious example is the A&E program featuring washed-up TV sitcom actress Leah Remini, who has made it her personal purpose in life to attack religions. Leah and her band of criminal wife-beaters, rapists and grifters have cranked out their hateful garbage, aided and abetted by Disney and A&E.

Walt Disney was a religious man. He was a devoted Christian, named after his family’s congregationalist pastor, Walter Parr.

In 1949, Mr. Disney was quoted as follows: “I believe firmly in the efficacy of religion, in its powerful influence on a person’s whole life. It helps immeasurably to meet the storm and stress of life and keep you attuned to the Divine inspiration.”

Although Remini’s main targets today are Scientologists, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jehovah’s Witnesses, at what point will she start attacking Christians as well?

Remini is already attacking everything good that Mr. Disney stood for his entire life.

And I am dead certain that, were he alive today, Walt Disney would have nothing to do with her.

Sadly, an American tradition and icon has been sullied by this trash. Mr. Disney’s name has been needlessly dragged through the garbage and, to some, it no longer stands for love, creativity and magic, it stands for reality TV trash.

And this is very sad.

So, to honor him, let’s remember who and what Walt Disney was.

He was not a purveyor of trash. He was a very great man.

AUTHOR
Chris Ellis
Chris Ellis is an author, music instructor and professional blogger. Chris has written extensively as a guest blogger and has been the top blogger for lifehack.org. She lives in San Jose, California with her husband and generously proportioned Chihuahua, Little.