MOHAMMAD and the CC

[Hilasophy]

Okay, I know it's a touchy subject but seriously folks...Comedy Central not airing the image of Mohammad on that episode of South Park? I think this is getting a little out of hand...what does everybody else think?

As usual I'm with Trey and Matt on this one. I love me their Libertarian ideals.

[TheLuckyOne]

What bothered me the most is that Comedy Central found it necessary to censor Mohammad, but found it perfectly acceptable to instead depict Christ defecating on the American flag. Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with the censorship at all (I might have just left the room or something when the Christ part came on), but what's even worse is to have such a double standard about it. So it's okay to offend Christians, as long as it's not Moslems? What kind of bullcrap is that?

-D

[Spiderdancer]

I'm a Christian, and I think it's time I get up, take a stand, etc., and say for everyone to see that I am not touching this one with a long stick.

...Except to say: Note to everyone who has anything to do with television broadcasting:

Get over yourselves.

[pfrsue]

I'm a Christian, and I'm going to side with Drew. The double standard is completely out of line. If a decision is made to avoid offending followers of Islam, the same respect should be accorded to Christians, Orthodox Jews, Buddhists, B'Hai, etc. etc. Yes, even Scientologists. Mock one, mock all. Or vice versa.

Having said that, I've only seen one episode of South Park in my life. I believe it was a Christmas episode, and I was so incredibly and horribly offended by it (particularly the way they depicted Jesus Christ) that I've never watched it again. In fact, I will not allow it to be seen in my house. Ever. It's very, VERY rare that I take a stand like that - especially on the strength of just one episode - but to my eyes, the show struck me as extremely mean-spirited, and that took all the potential humor out of it for me.

Sue

[blinkfan]

I am also a christian and also a huge fan of south park I just ignore the episodes when they make fun of christianity or religion in general.

[Head Mutant]

Well, Comedy Central's stance on the episode is that they fully admit to censorship out of fear, not political correctness or playing to one religion over another.

Which makes them more pansies than bigots, but still. Pansies.

Apparently, they gave the SP team a choice: either they'd censor it or they'd let SP censor it the way they wanted to. SP chose to retain that little slice of control and created the title card that said "Comedy Central chose not to let a picture of Muhummad air" or something of the sort.

In a way, it really punctuates the episode's point: that either you're for free speech or not... there's precious little middle ground. Safety is an issue, yes, but when they or other sources refuse to air something just because they're scared of extremists getting... well, more mad than usual, then they've played into their hands. To quote the cliche, they let the terrorists win.

It's not about Islam, for there were many muslims who didn't get outraged over the cartoon controversy or even if they were mad, wouldn't participate in the riots or hurt or kill others for it. We can even make mention that their holy scripture, the Koran, does not forbid images of Muhummad (although I've always wondered why they don't mind so much images of Jesus, who muslims consider to be one of the most holy prophets who ever lived).

In much the same way that Christian fanatics who bomb abortion clinics or scream hatred from KKK rallies do not represent the true Christian church, these people who would be the source of "fear" that CC bowed to do not represent Islam. Just fanaticism.

I think it was surprising that after all CC has done in free speech, saying whatever they want, offending whoever they wanted, they'd suddenly become cowards in this one respect. It honestly disgusts me -- not that I want them to offend anyone, really (I have long since given up watching CC for its vile nature that takes precedent over any actual comedy), but because it exposes them as hypocrites and ninnies.

[Spiderdancer]

You know, the "Bigot Pansies" would be a pretty good band name.

[Head Mutant]

Heh, I almost forgot about this... South Park has ALREADY aired an episode with Muhammad in it -- the "Super Best Friends" episode, which has been in syndication ever since. That makes all of this even more lame.

[Hilasophy]

Yeah that's right Justin. I thought they had showed Mohammad before.


I'm not going to defend my adoration of south park but I would like to explain myself, since I too am a practicing Christian. I think they take the whole making fun of Christians a little too far sometimes but I can usually laugh it off because the pros of the show outweigh the cons these days. When I say that I mean that their political messages in this day in age really warm my heart. Their episode on the Shrivo case and most recently these Mohammad episodes really strike a chord with me and despite their crassness I remain an avid fan.

At a Bigot Pansies concert (band members being the heads of The CC) Trey and Matt would be boooing super loud with signs.