Jesus Pills

look here kids if i was in a desperate situation and was then on the receiving end of free aid from another more able sorce... ...i don't think i'm at liberty to complain about the product its packaging how it gets to me etc.... .....so long as the product does what it says it does on the label etc.... ....i'm a happy bunny and i would also be thinking about the poor souls not fortunate enough to be able to complain and gripe about a symbol. after all the choice is yours if you take what is offered or not and ...................... i could go on but it pains me so, i'm making the choice to stop now and retire to my toilet!?... .....before bed

another intelligent pod from maracamp.
judaisme is the only non proselytism religion!!!!

Dude, Tylenol is NOT the same thing as the cross. The cross is not a logo, slogan or a saying...it's an ancient symbol. Imagine how pissed a person of the Christian faith would be if they took a pill with an upside down cross or a pentagram on it. It's Christians taking advantage of a peoples losses and the poor. Look what happened to the Native Northern Americans and the Aztecs when they met the people who WEREN'T like them.

Interesting pod Mara. Definately not an issue that would get covered by traditional western media. An entire debate can arise from this pod on the missionary role of various organizations. I look forward to seing more of your work and I hope you like my piece as well.

I would love to see a medication distributed in this country (US) with the inscription "Allah Akbar" printed on it. I'm guessing it would be the people posting approvingly of the "Jesus Lives" medication that would be the first to freak out about a Islamic phrase on their medication.

I think it's a great way to get people informed about Jesus, who knows if it's actually him healing these people or the pills but either way it helps people to realize what Jesus does

good pod, interesting subject and story. thanks alot for this one and i hope it gets on.

so forceful...

Religion is not the problem here, the problem is Common Sense! I think what gets overlooked in all this rhetoric is that people in need are getting medicine!!! Common sense tells me it probably isn't a great idea to put messages on pills, but common sense also tells me that it's not something to get all worked up and offended about. I see this as trying to find controversy just to find controversy. Hey, I just took a pill and it said "Tylenol" on it...maybe I'll do a pod on it.

Nice, just show it on TV.
Christians are not always the ¨good¨ in the movies.

Great stories, the music could be a tab lower, i never knew about this

Really interesting, I would love to see more...

interesting

great pod tho needs some fine tuning. great topic. it made me want to start spouting off my beliefs and i think that's a good effect from a pod. GL!

I don't see why sending the word is a problem, if anything at all you are a temple where Jesus lives and worships you because of your acceptance. Others just need to know who he is..

This clip did not indicate that this was done intentional, could it have just been a mistake. Would this pill actually convert the religion of anyone? Maybe it’s just may be my ignorance to how disciplined Muslims are to their religion. I don’t mean disrespect but it seems like the pill cures an illness that some of the people in this village can not afford. If the distribution was done with malice then shame on the so called aid organization, I worked for the Red Cross and volunteer every time I went to help it was because I wanted too, regardless of anything.

WOW!!!

WOW!!!

mainly i thought it was an amazing topic that you found

Wow... this is interesting piece of news. I have no idea this was going on. I don't agree with this kind of tactic at all. Using a tragic event is no excuse to impose your religion/beliefs on others.

Thanks for producing this.

This is really interesting subject matter and a really tough subject matter to cover. The reporter seems very poised and I like her determination to tell this story. But it still falls flat.

I understand how hard you tried to get the org who distributed the pills, but if you could have found someone, anyone from anothere Christian aid org who believes in this type of direct, in-your-face action, it would have elevated the film for broadcast quality.

However, I think Current could use this material, work with it and give it more life as part of a larger piece about Banda Aceh, relief work etc. As a stand alone, its good, but just short of broadcast.

I have to green light this. But on the critical side I would say that it needs to be finished as well. It seems like it needs some credits or something. The sound is great the edit is decent and th shots are meaningful. Good luck on finishing it it is a cool story!

From a raver perspective it looks like a new ecxtasy pill.. It's also just another way for "NON-denominational" sanctions of religious groups to attempt to press their beliefs on people. A pill does NOT implant the belief of god, It's the choice of that ascertained individual to accept it or not. It's simply evil for them to do that.

Great job! Very informative.

everybody is advertising everything
soda water, crap clothes, jesus pills
its all the same
funny thing is most these people cant
read english - they just need medicine
turn that little pill upside down
wow
a sword

how dare you give me a pill with a sword
and funny letters i cant read !

whose feeling threatened here?

I understand cultural differences, but if they do not want the message, then DO NOT TAKE THE MEDICINE!

Wow. How proud Jesus must be right now. . . .

I like this piece . I think that people are unaware that it happen!

Lil confussed... From what I saw on the video it didn't seem that the NGO workers were "making" the people do anything of spiritual significance. It seems at times we are so worried with being tolerant that in the name of tolerance we become incredibly intolerant. That is to say the people who are giving out the free medicine should be allowed to give the reason why they are doing so. If they are not allowed to do so then maybe it is a mark against the culture who won't allow it. I'm sure that Nazi POWs would have been offended if being helped by a Jewish nurse but I doubt anyone was worried about cultural sensitivity in those cases. The video was well done, just think the content was biased. It shifted the focus away from the good that they were doing towards a triviality. They were doing something good. If you are die hard on finding stories which make Christians look dumb you don't have to go over seas... Oh and Jesus said go ye therefor into all the world and "make disciples".

i've always thought the whole purpose of missionary work inappropriate...

good work

great work

video quality is good, nice edits...GL

I just uploaded a new piece (B-Green) and would like your comments if you have time.

Thanks
Zan

Jesus said go ye therefore into all the world and preach the Gospel. In this case the people who were distributors said nothing, but allowed people to read it. They didn't urge them to convert, they just wanted to let them know about the Good News. I thank you for making the video b/c I didn't know anything about b4 now.

Why do people do missionary work to begin with? It strikes me as the height of arrogance. I agree with the Christian aid worker towards the end of the clip who says, in essence, that distributing meds with a culturally insensitive message is bad form.

As much as I liked the presence of the woman on camera, there was just too much dead air. The interviews were good. But since concision is generally the rule in journalism, I don't think there was enough solid material to fill the 4 minutes and change the clip currently runs for. And why the "tension" music? It's a bit too much.

What to do? Perhaps find out who manufactures these insideous little pills and find out where else they are being sent. Is the US government involved in this at all?

Good luck.

J

It is easy to sit here as Americans and say 'walk away from the pills if you don't agree with the religious message on them'. However, these are people ravaged by both poverty and nature. To take advantage of that situation is deplorable and by no means a true Christian message.

The current so called anti-Christianity mentality is well founded in this situation.

Whoa, that's heavy. Very well done, Definite GL!

although I am a Christian and would love for everyone to come to know Christ, I am offended that Christian people are taking advantage of people who need help and are forcing them to do something spiratual that they would not regularly do in order to get help.

The video was very good and provided excellent exposure to the issue. It's great that groups are giving aid, but my personal opinion is that the aid groups and the missionary groups should stay seperated or at least keep the part that's converting and the part that's aiding seperate because they have two different goals. One note; for me, it ended rather suddenly. I think it could be improved by adding a conclusion that summarizes the issue. Good job, green light!

im sorry, if the people dont want the Christian message then dont take the pill. Have the Muslim missionaries give out medicine and antibiotics, oh wait they arent doing that kind of work.

*Not to be totally critical, i did like the documentary, it looked professional, and was well put together with the music, but i just cant stand the anti-Christianity. I understand cultural differences, but if they do not want the message, then DO NOT TAKE THE MEDICINE!

well done. air now!

Fascinating!

Great intentions - Bad way to Handle the issue - - Like the exposure for the Problem....

enter your post here

Sometimes drastic measures are needed to pass on the word of Jesus. If helping others and giving them aid is one way, so be it. Who are we to judge.

Please refer to Mattthew 6:1-4 and note that Jesus has already judged this behavior and shared that judgement with us.

good story perfectly well told. GL !

W.W.J.T.?
What would Jesus think? He'd greenlight this film...way to go!

ummm, thats crazy. good investigation!

word...

good pod

Great story and great pod

god job

Excellent. Excellent. GL.

I like the fact that it is being made public that some christians spread the word in shameful ways!!!

Well done. Always interested in hearing how organizations try to lawnmow over religious sects for their own goals. GL

Nice pod - the low-key oobservations about sneaky evangelism are right on. This is not a terrible transggression, but forms part of a larger problem - ties in well "intelligent design", etc. and the pod does a good job of getting that point accrooss without pulpit-thumping.

Sometimes drastic measures are needed to pass on the word of Jesus. If helping others and giving them aid is one way, so be it. Who are we to judge.

Well laid out story. I enjoyed the host, she gave the pod an overall connection that kept the viewer personally tied to the story.

GL for sure. I just saw 'Jesus Camp' last night, so this pod is right on time. But I think the pod was fair and not meant to bash the missionaries, as some made it clear they were sensitive to the culture of the area. Great job. The freaky music enhanced the mood and the point of the pod, too!

I've enjoyed many of your other pods, too -- especially the one about racism in Russia.

As an aspiring Current TV journalist and producer, I'd appreciate your feedback on my first pod ever -- Newark Art Supply.

Thanks for the great stories!

Good objective view. Very engaging story, I am a Christian and I find it repulsive when any religion is forced upon people.

why are christian fanatics making meds... what an unsafe world! but great job on the vid

Great work! I look forward to seeing more.

Great work and interesting topic. The video is shot extremely well--the footage is very clear and your titles and graphics look great without being too distracting.

super interesting and well put together GL

A unique story and well done.
I gave it the greenlight

check out my pod and tell me what you think. "A window to my world" Is about my life with an inborn genetic disorder.

interesting story

GL for your insight and approach. You have done some amazing work, and I continue to enjoy all of what you bring to the news. Thank you for your insight and your willingness to get the word out.
Peace~
Danielmklopp~

Interesting subject. I'm impressed with the breadth of your work. Congratulations on the success of your productions. GL.
~ zelig link

woah!! very very interesting pills..great job!! and great topic...we need more of these abstract pods!
GL from me!!

please check out my Sony VCAM and tell me what ya think!

This is a great, informative video. Good work.

Great piece on exposing this BS. Humanitarian aid will work just as well without having to push your own personal beliefs on a culture. This really deserves a GL. Good work!

Giving to the Needy

 1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

 2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

-Jesus-
Matthew 6

Putting a cross on an aid organization or blowing your trumpets about how Christian your relief efforts are is offensive to me. Putting it on needed medication is disgusting.

GL

i always think your pieces are cutting and superb. gl from kendallfresh.

Maybe it's me, but I was a little confused by Linda Cook's statement about the pills "hurting your witness." It makes it sound as if she feels the humanitarian project is only a means to the end of their missionary intent (personal opinion: It shouldn't be). You might want to clarify this statement in titles a bit more, or if she actually feels that the humanitarian side should be completely separate from the missionary side, maybe just omit this statement completely -- I got the sense she understands the issues well enough without this addtional comment.

Great report otherwise. GL.

This is a long story to make a big deal about one silly thing an NGO did. Sure it was a bad idea to distribute the pills as they did. But the message appears to be "do not talk about Jesus". When I see the Red Cross distributing as the Red Crescent it is offensive. If Muslims do not not want aid and support because of a cross that is their choice but it is also just as deceitful to give it and hide the source. Just like a pill you can not read.

Very thought provoking. GL. Were did you hear about this story?

Really interesting. Great story.

Good story. Your pods all tell a story and understand the basics of story telling. This is interesting and I appreciate the work you did to talk to different people and get some different sides to the story. Visually good as well.

As far as commentary about this subject, I think it's sad that this came about like this. Most of the people that are involved either in donating time or money to that project probably have very good intentions. But some misjudgement has caused people to look at them with a little less respect. The bottom line, these people were motived to help our neighbors because it's the right thing to do. Jesus taught to help your neighbors and to do good because it's the right thing to do.

good reporting

Green Light!

Thrlling to see how hegemonic charges are being implanted throughout the world. Very interesting and I would not expect anything less, your reporting is fantastic. Keep it up!

Please check out my first vid launch, We Create. Thanks

Another solid piece from you.

Nice story and great coverage around the world. You are doing a good job reporting!

GL from me.

I hope you can check out the "idiots" running around DC in my pod...

Incredibly rich topic--theoretically. I would be compelled to explore the social and cognitive results of such viral religious marketing. Without this editorial punchline it is a bit flat--but excellent, slightly funny, intimate exploration!

and your point is? I can't see a problem in handing out branded medication. I'm not surprised you visited 3 times and nobody was there or that you couldn't reach them any other way - they were either in prison or had even been executed (there is no freedom of religion there like we have in the UK and if there was even a suspicion of a moslem converting to any other faith or somebody trying to help them do that, then there are serious legal implications). The unfortunate thing is that by bringing this to our attention you may well have played a part in this.
Other than that, the filming was fine although the audio was a little unbalanced.

Any subject that brings us awareness about our country's wrong-doing will succeed.

Very interesting, but i miss a little bit the explaination, given by these missionars or similars or by someone else, of the motive, of what they think they are getting by just making people swallow these pills - if there is no other real missionary work.

Interesting post - might be a bit of a mountain out of a molehill considering the far more important issue of recovery but still those marked pills were tactless and unnecessary. Save the people medicinally first. Let them decide about their spiritual condition later.

Great piece, GL. Missionaries have been doing this for hundreds of years so why would they change now? In an ideal world they would help their fellow man because it is the right thing to do, but as we see that is not the case. Thank you for making this and bringing this issue to light.

It's pretty damn final. Christians are now literally forcing their religion down people's throats. Granted they do good works, but the motives behind what they're doing sort of contradicts itself. Unbelievable! Great journalism. GL.

Another great piece Mara. How did you even find out about this issue? You do a fantastic job at telling this story.