Vanity Fair Writer Snubs Nose at Cincinnati—Again

Recently A.A. Gill, a British writer/commentator who seems to pride himself in his mocking tone when he writes articles/reviews etc., wrote a mocking article on the Creation Museum. We mentioned this in a recent article on the AiG website where we state, “Gill, an atheist, is the author of a not-very-flattering article about the Creation Museum that is found in February’s issue of Vanity Fair magazine. Movie star Bettany came to the museum with Gill and toted an expensive camera, and Bettany supplied the photos for the Gill/Vanity Fair piece. (By the way, the name Vanity Fair comes from a fictitious place mentioned in the Christian classic The Pilgrim’s Progress—how ironic; and how ironic, too, that the avowed atheist Bettany is playing an angel—the Archangel Michael—in the new film Legion.)”

In that article he also mocked the city of Cincinnati. It was interesting to see the blogs and twitter comments flying around from various people in Cincinnati over Gill’s mocking of this beautiful city (that he knows very little about). I was interviewed on WLW Radio Bill Cunningham’s program and the local FOX–TV affiliate this week over this matter. Well, because of all the press, Gill responded on the Vanity Fair website—and takes the opportunity to again slam Cincinnati.

He said,

Hello Cincinnati, We were all surprised it took you so long to react to my piece about the Creation Museum in which I take a firm but loving look at your hometown. You misunderstand the difference between enjoying living somewhere and enjoying visiting it. For example, pigs like living in mud, but you wouldn’t want to sleep over. There were, though, other things that I didn’t mention that I did like about Cincinnati. There was the funny taxi driver who said, “What the [expletive deleted] did you come to Cincinnati for?” And then there’s the hat shop where I got my comedy headgear. There was a picture of [former British Prime Minister] Margaret Thatcher hanging in it. Only in Cincinnati would Margaret Thatcher be a pinup. ‘ You can read the Vanity Fair response at: http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/02/a-a-gill-responds-to-cincinnati.html

The same mocking tone he uses against Cincinnati is the same he used against the Creation Museum. It is a good point for all of us to understand that his lack of research in understanding Cincinnati as a city, with its world class symphony orchestra, famous zoo, etc. was also applied to the Creation Museum. He didn’t come to carefully consider what the museum taught—he probably wrote his article before he came and just filled in the blanks. We do find the British media have a much more mocking tone than the USA media. Their anti-Christian agenda is often so obvious.

From what I’ve read, Vanity Fair is struggling with subscription numbers. Well, maybe Gill will help them lose even more subscribers—especially in the Cincinnati area.

Ohio Creation/Evolution Debate

Here are excerpts from a news release composed by the host of three upcoming unique debates, one of them on creation vs. evolution. They are being held right up I-71 from our Cincinnati metropolitan area. The creationist debater is affiliated with our sister AiG ministry in England.

DEBATE SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, OHIO

Debate Summit 2010 will be held March 12^th – 13^th and includes nationally and internationally recognized scholars. The Debate Summit series exists as a forum designed to explain, test and defend various aspects of the Christian worldview by interacting with qualified representatives of non-Christian worldviews in moderated public debates. Its goal is to create and maintain an atmosphere of civility, mutual respect and the open exchange of ideas.

The Debate Summit is hosted by Grace Community Church of Washington Court House, Ohio.

Debaters for this year include Dr. Will Provine of Cornell University. Dr. Provine is one of the world’s preeminent spokesmen for evolution. On a popular level, he is perhaps best known for his interview in Ben Stein’s documentary, “EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed”. …

Dr. Provine’s … first opponent is Dr. Andy McIntosh of Leeds University (United Kingdom). Dr. McIntosh lectures internationally and is an expert in thermodynamics, combustion theory and aerodynamics. The Provine/McIntosh debate topic is “Flight in birds and bats: Is evolution or creation the best guide?”. Dr. Provine’s second debate is with Dr. Dennis Sullivan of Cedarville University (OH). Dr. Sullivan, a former surgeon, is Professor of Biology at Cedarville and is the Director at the University’s Center of Bioethics. The Provine/Sullivan debate will be “Free Will: Does it exist? Does it matter?”

[In the third debate] Dr. Ed Buckner [President of American Atheists] will debate Jay Lucas, the Senior Pastor of Grace Community Church. … . The Buckner/Lucas debate will be “Moral Foundations: Which makes more sense, Christianity or Atheism?”.

Complete information can be found at debatesummit.com.

Although it is not part of the special events, a Sunday message by Dr. David Menton of AiG will be given on the following Sunday, March 14 at the host site for the debates, Grace Community Church. Dr. Menton’s message will be based on Psalm 139:13-14: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.”

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying

Ken