Southpark - Censored

[SmileOfTheShadow]

Did anyone watch tonight?

For those who don't know, last week South Park featured Mohammed. And they censored out where he would have been drawn but did things like feature him in the back of a u-haul so he could be there and not be seen and then put him in a bear mascot costume so he's "technically not seen" to push the envelope.

At the same time, to show how mild of a treatment it was and how ridiculous it is - they had Jesus and the leaders of other religions as "the Super Best Friends" making fun of the old cartoon the SuperFriends. Jesus swore a bunch and Krishna was snorting lines of cocaine off of a table.

Over the course of the week, radical muslim groups have been threatening the lives of the south park creators.

Well this week was the concluseion - and Comedy Central bleeped out every time the word Mohammed was uttered. They also bleeped out a full minute at the ending that explained things. It was really disappointing.

I found out the bleeping was comedy central's doing. But why air the episode at all? Obviously the south park creators still wrote the same thing, so how are they less offensive to these groups by airing it? If anything, it just shows comedy central's cowardice while still putting the creators at risk.

As of now they won't allow an uncensored version to even stream on the internet.

the ridiculous world we live in.

[babylonlurker]

Did anyone watch tonight?

For those who don't know, last week South Park featured Mohammed. And they censored out where he would have been drawn but did things like feature him in the back of a u-haul so he could be there and not be seen and then put him in a bear mascot costume so he's "technically not seen" to push the envelope.
...

Well this week was the concluseion - and Comedy Central bleeped out every time the word Mohammed was uttered. They also bleeped out a full minute at the ending that explained things. It was really disappointing.

...

As of now they won't allow an uncensored version to even stream on the internet.

the ridiculous world we live in.

I we do not take care this will become a new age of censorship - based on religious grounds - bringin us back to the age of the Inquisition.

That, for me, makes it even more dangerous, it does not matter from which religion the protest comes, though some are more "sensitive" than others - looks like a modern version of the Inquisition.

- And death threats has no place in our modern society, where ever they may come from.

[Doom Shepherd]

That, for me, makes it even more dangerous, it does not matter from which religion the protest comes,

Apparently it does, as South Park has ragged on pretty much every other religion for a long time, and only now with the emphasis on one particular religion does this sort of thing start.

It matters very much.

though some are more "sensitive" than others

I nominate this for "Understatement of the Week." It's in competition with "Fannie and Freddie need to be part of any financial reform legislation."

Threaten to kill someone over comedy? Anyone who would seriously consider that is probably beyond salvation in my book.

[I love Lyta]

In my book it's rediculous enough that comedy central beeps out every occurrance of "shhit" or "fuck" in shows like The Daily Show...

[babylonlurker]

I nominate this for "Understatement of the Week."

Indeed, it was understated, hence the quotation marks

Threaten to kill someone over comedy? Anyone who would seriously consider that is probably beyond salvation in my book.

Could not agree more (and not just over comedy for that matter)

[David Panzer]

Well, it's not the first time this has happened. Back in '06, with the Cartoon Wars 2 parter, Comedy Central refused to show mohammed although they had no problem allowing him on 5 years ago in the Super Best Friends episode.

In the end, it's entirely absurd to demand that non-believers of a particular religion have to respect what they lack a belief in.

[SmileOfTheShadow]

Well, it's not the first time this has happened. Back in '06, with the Cartoon Wars 2 parter, Comedy Central refused to show mohammed although they had no problem allowing him on 5 years ago in the Super Best Friends episode.

In the end, it's entirely absurd to demand that non-believers of a particular religion have to respect what they lack a belief in.

While I understand maybe censoring the image if that's a big deal, that's kinda respectful actually...censoring the word mohammed or a speech about hatred and intimidation is just really a shame in America.

[Jonas]

Apparently it does, as South Park has ragged on pretty much every other religion for a long time, and only now with the emphasis on one particular religion does this sort of thing start.

Yes, but:

a) Other religious groups have made quite a ruckus.
b) Other religious groups are not currently being singled out for profiling, branded as terrorists, and having their countries bombed.

This doesn't justify the death threats even remotely, but we do have to bear in mind the political situation.

[Doom Shepherd]

Yes, but:

a) Other religious groups have made quite a ruckus.

Aside from Scientolgy, I can't think of any that caused a loud enough ruckus to even make the news over South Park.

Scientology, of course, being that other religion with a large amount of ANF (Aggressive Nutball Factor.)

b) Other religious groups are not currently being singled out for profiling, branded as terrorists, and having their countries bombed.

Other religious groups and their Fundamentalists aren't major parties to a large percentage of the world's ongoing conflicts, and known for making these sorts of "make fun of my religion and I'll murder you for it" sorts of threats.

[JoeD80]

I found out the bleeping was comedy central's doing. But why air the episode at all? Obviously the south park creators still wrote the same thing, so how are they less offensive to these groups by airing it?

I was kind of wondering because the previous episode didn't bleep out the name. A statement from Matt & Trey, which I hope they don't mind me quoting:

In the 14 years we've been doing South Park we have never done a show that we couldn't stand behind. We delivered our version of the show to Comedy Central and they made a determination to alter the episode. It wasn't some meta-joke on our part. Comedy Central added the bleeps. In fact, Kyle's customary final speech was about intimidation and fear. It didn't mention Muhammad at all but it got bleeped too.

[DGTWoodward]

As a religious person myself, I can understand a strong belief in your faith. I can also understand making a strong vocal defense of your faith. As a Jehovah's Witness, you can guess that I've done that quite a bit over the years! But to threaten people with death/murder? That I do not undertand.

Also, Williestealandhow, I prefer to look at it this way...even if I do not share the same faith as everyone else, I can respect that they too have their own faiths. It does not however, mean that I have to go along with it. But I can respect the position. To say that you do not have to show respect for something that you yourself do not share, well, no you don't really but is that not...rather harsh? You can respect it without subscribing the meta-dogma.

Also, in the same way, I can respect the JMS stance of "I'll believe it when I see it" because the truth is, yes it is hard to put your trust in things you have not seen for yourself.

One of the areas where I do have a problem though, is when these sorts of things happen, it is usually done under the banner of overall freedom and freedom of speech and protection that these such ones surprisingly claim to hate so strongly!

But threats of murder and terror? No way.

[Marsden]

As a religious person myself, I can understand a strong belief in your faith. I can also understand making a strong vocal defense of your faith. As a Jehovah's Witness, you can guess that I've done that quite a bit over the years! But to threaten people with death/murder? That I do not undertand.

Also, Williestealandhow, I prefer to look at it this way...even if I do not share the same faith as everyone else, I can respect that they too have their own faiths. It does not however, mean that I have to go along with it. But I can respect the position. To say that you do not have to show respect for something that you yourself do not share, well, no you don't really but is that not...rather harsh? You can respect it without subscribing the meta-dogma.

Also, in the same way, I can respect the JMS stance of "I'll believe it when I see it" because the truth is, yes it is hard to put your trust in things you have not seen for yourself.

One of the areas where I do have a problem though, is when these sorts of things happen, it is usually done under the banner of overall freedom and freedom of speech and protection that these such ones surprisingly claim to hate so strongly!

But threats of murder and terror? No way.

Nice post! I'd like to add to it but I'm not very articulate about things.

[Jan]

Somebody here (probably in the Rampant, Irresponsible Religion thread from a long time back) once pointed out something that had never occurred to me before: that in some cultures/beliefs/sects religion is dominant to just about everything, all day every day. To me, that's just completely foreign. But I can just barely understand how, if religion was that integral to my life, that I'd be much more likely to take any perceived insult to it very, very personally because it would be like insulting me/my family.

On the other hand, I don't take any insult that seriously. For me to get violent it would require actual injury.

Jan

[David Panzer]

Also, Williestealandhow, I prefer to look at it this way...even if I do not share the same faith as everyone else, I can respect that they too have their own faiths. It does not however, mean that I have to go along with it. But I can respect the position. To say that you do not have to show respect for something that you yourself do not share, well, no you don't really but is that not...rather harsh? You can respect it without subscribing the meta-dogma.

Respecting the right to believe does not mean I have to respect what one believes.

Taking that point to an extreme, if someone has racist beliefs, they have a right to have those beliefs. I do not have to respect those racist beliefs.

[Jonas]

Aside from Scientolgy, I can't think of any that caused a loud enough ruckus to even make the news over South Park.

Umm, Christianity? Plenty of people have gotten death threats from so-called Christians for making statements that opposed their religion. It's almost considered normal by now. Death threats, book burnings, that sort of thing barely makes the news anymore. And if you think they don't follow up on those threats, try being a doctor who performs abortions...

The same could certainly be said of Hinduism, and Judaism as well.

Other religious groups and their Fundamentalists aren't major parties to a large percentage of the world's ongoing conflicts, and known for making these sorts of "make fun of my religion and I'll murder you for it" sorts of threats.

And you think this is solely because of their religion, and has nothing to do with geography and resources? And do you really think it's wise to equate the fundamentalists with everyone else? Furthermore, can you tell me the last President of the United States who did not claim to a fervent Christian?