Do you think "Jesus Camp" has ruined KC's image? (Kansas City: camps, moving)

[MidWestCityNative]

THESE ARE MY VIEWS AND OPINIONS, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THEM PERSONALLY IF YOU DISAGREE.

The much talked about 2006 documentary caught my attention a few years after its release. Although most of the film is set at the campsite in North Dakota, the church (which attended and organized the camp) is based in the KC suburb of Lee's Summit, MO.

The people featured in the documentary really blew my mind. They aren't your average "keep it to myself" Christians, they're pretty out there -- crazy, ultra right-wing, science-denying, cultish Christian stereotypes. It's an interesting documentary, but at the same time it made me feel uncomfortable. It was pretty heartbreaking to see those children get brainwashed by these people. It also made me wonder what people thought of KC residents in general (after viewing this film).

Occasionally, you had humiliating internet gossip like this (in response to the film):

"This going to KC is a good move, for thier numbers anyway.
It's already a fertile land. They've got an entire sect
devoted to the idea that KC will be the "Zion", or gathering place
for the second coming. We're probably only seeing the turtlehead of the shiat hitting the fan...."

"no f**king way I'm moving anywhere near that scary-ass inbred hick-town turned city"

Ouch. Well on a more serious note, perhaps this is why some people (if not all) assume KC is in the bible belt. They watch this documentary and lump us all in with the hardcore fundamentalist "Jesus Camp" crowd.

I don't care if this documentary is seven years old, the mere fact that it exists makes me feel a tad embarrassed for my city's metro area. Because of this documentary, people ignorantly assume the KC area is overrun with the kook-fringe religious right.

I'm sorry, but it just makes me mad . Does anyone else feel the same (or differently)? I would like to hear from all points of view.

[kcmo]

I don't think it matters much. This group could be based in a suburb of DC or Chicago just as easily.

Most people outside of KC already think KC is a bible belt type city just because of its location, name/association with Kansas (which tends to make the news a lot for hard core religious stuff).

Is KC even mentioned in the documentary?

Plus, while KC is not a very religious or bible thumping type city, nothing like what I have seen in southern metros, the metro has more than its fair share of diehards. IHOP, this group etc. Liberty, southern JoCo etc have just massive mega churches all over the place. So compared to the DC area, KC seems far more religious, or at least has such areas very close by.

But KC already kind of has a "flyover" country/Midwest and yes bible belt image. Out here, I am constantly having to tell people that KC is not like that. I can't see it getting much worse.

[MidWestCityNative]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Is KC even mentioned in the documentary?

KMBZ Radio is heard during the opening sequence of the film.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by MidWestCityNative

KMBZ Radio is heard during the opening sequence of the film.

But most people don't even know that KC is in Missouri, let alone that some random city called "LEE'S SUMMIT" which sounds like a southern Missouri place, is a suburb of KCMO.

[MidWestCityNative]

Originally Posted by kcmo

But most people don't even know that KC is in Missouri, let alone that some random city called "LEE'S SUMMIT" which sounds like a southern Missouri place, is a suburb of KCMO.

Judging from the reviews I've read for this film (both professional and amateur), I'd say a fair amount of people know Lee's Summit is part of Kansas City.

Just the thought of KC being synonymous with this film makes me feel...blecch.

BTW, when people think of IHOP, they immediately think of pancakes, not a kook-fringe group based out of KC

[MOKAN]

Originally Posted by MidWestCityNative

Do you think "Jesus Camp" has ruined KC's image?

Only to people who hate. How is steering away people who don't have respect for people different than themselves or otherwise ignorant any loss?

[MOKAN]

Originally Posted by kcmo

But most people don't even know that KC is in Missouri, let alone that some random city called "LEE'S SUMMIT" which sounds like a southern Missouri place, is a suburb of KCMO.

If this were on the Kansas side, somehow I think you'd be singing a different tune.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by MOKAN

If this were on the Kansas side, somehow I think you'd be singing a different tune.

Like I said, most people don't think of Kansas City when they hear Missouri, however when they hear Kansas they do.

Westboro Church and the state education department evolution issues probably effect KC's image more than things that happen closer to KC on the Missouri side, even though those things have nothing to do with KC (even the KS side of KC).

Like I said, the vast majority of people outside of KC do not associate KC with Missouri.

We all know that outstate MO and KS are not really all that different. I actually think much of Rural MO is far more conservative bible belty than rural Kansas. But that's not the image of KC. The image of KC outside about 100 miles of KC is whatever Kansas stereotypes people might have.

[ProspectiveTransplant]

If anything, I believe the movie is more associated with North Dakota in the public's mind; but let's not get carried away. It was a popular documentary, but still one seen by a fraction of American people, and many of those even so would not have made the KC-connection. To say that this event would "ruin" KC's reputation seems to be quite a stretch.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by ProspectiveTransplant

If anything, I believe the movie is more associated with North Dakota in the public's mind; but let's not get carried away. It was a popular documentary, but still one seen by a fraction of American people, and many of those even so would not have made the KC-connection. To say that this event would "ruin" KC's reputation seems to be quite a stretch.

yea, that was my point. I have never seen it and I tend to somehow watch anything that has something to do with KC. But even those that have would probably not connect it to KC unless they already know the area.