'South Park' aims at censors, hits Bush, Jesus
Yeah, yeah, South Park was controversial, people were offended, etc. In other news, the sky is blue and water is wet. But this time, Comedy Central 
would not let them show a depiction of the prophet Mohammed, despite the fact that they have already done it once before (that's him on the right). People are getting a bit sensitive these days, huh?
But the part I like best from the article is this line from William Donohue of the anti-defamation group Catholic League:
"The ultimate hypocrite is not Comedy Central -- that's their decision not to show the image of Mohammed or not -- it's Parker and Stone," he said. "Like little whores, they'll sit there and grab the bucks. They'll sit there and they'll whine and they'll take their shot at Jesus. That's their stock in trade."A little judgmental for a good Christian, isn't he?
11 comments:
BellCurve says, "People are getting a bit sensitive these days, huh?"
To be fair, we should note that it is specifically some muslims who are getting "a bit sensitive"--it's not everyone. Comedy Central was not offended; they caved in.
CNN and MSNBC carried the same story. The ultimate hypocrite and media whore is, of course, William Donohue. That news organizations quote him at all is a sign of their lazines... I mean, why bother to get an intelligent opinion from a respected, neutral party when you can just grab an outrageous soundbite from a fanatic?
My favorite comedian used to make jokes about Christianity until one day after a gig in Alabama, three very large men confronted him after a show where they told him (in a threatening manner) they didn't like his jokes about Jesus Christ. He asked them to forgive him.
// posted by Siddharthawolf
Hmm. I would guess that Donohue has never watched South Park. They consistently show Jesus as a sympathetic character, earnestly trying to stand his ground and protect compassionate principles against today's base society. Stone and Parker regularly skewer the hypocrisy in organized religion, but they don't make fun of Jesus.
In fact, there are only two tv shows that I am aware of that depict religion as a regular part of people's lives - South Park and The Simpsons.
// posted by Spiny Norman
I'd add King of the Hill to tbe list, though it is a lesser theme in the show. There are a couple of really excellent episodes - the one where a woman pastor comes to the church, and of course, "Luanne Virgin 2.0," which is about born-again-alleged-virginity.
As for South Park, I am inordinately fond of the episode with the Magical Mormon Musical Tour. While it's highly irreverent, the conclusion of the episode is surprisingly gentle.
-Seventh Sister
// posted by Anonymous
I loved watching South Park - the early episodes before I got sort of bored of it- but I often found many of the portrayals of Jesus as offensive. He is sometimes portrayed there as a wimp or a naive simp. Other times, I agree, the portrayal is sympathetic. But who cares what I think! I don't want Jesus to become impossible to talk about in public except among radical fundamentalists who never stop talking about him. It's also about free speech, plain and simple. I'd be a little scared if I liked every depiction of my religion on television - what kind of a country would I be living in then?
// posted by LTG
I should add that Comedy Central's decision not to show a Mohammed cartoon, particularly one that it previously showed, is dangerous and despicable. Donohue is right in a sense - if it's okay in America to have fun mocking Jesus, and of course it is, it's sure as hell okay to show a picture of Mohammed now and again.
// posted by LTG
I agree. People's level of sensativity cannot be the changing in ill difeined boundary of other people's liberty.
// posted by Raised By Republicans
I'd like to point out that beyond South Park, there was the show, "The Book of Daniel", on NBC that as canceled after 3 weeks. It was the show where the man was talking to Jesus all the time and Jesus would materialize on a regular basis. The show also showed clergy in an unappealing light- for instance with mob connections. Conservatives claimed that NBC's Jesus was did not do justice to the Jesus portrayed in the Bible. Liberals liked the "cool" Jesus that the show portrayed. Even some Muslims, who honor Jesus as a great prophet, chimed in, agreeing with more conservative Christians.
In the same vein, NBC dropped plans for an episode of "Will & Grace" where Britney Spears was set to spoof Christian TV by hosting a "Cruci-fixin's" cooking show. The show would have aired on Holy Thursday, just in time for Christians to commemorate the Last Supper.
No matter what, you are going to offend someone. The irony is that the same people who oppose such portrayals of Jesus are the ones that want Him pasted all over our schools and courthouses. The people that oppose Jesus being shown in the public sphere are the same ones that keep putting him there. So I think I shall, for once, listen to my mother's advise- when in mixed company avoiding talking religion, politics, and doctors. (This last one apparently was the cause of much strife at home).
// posted by USWest
FX's "Rescue Me" has Jesus as a mooching roommate who gives sage advice to the main character while making sandwiches and hanging out in the bath room in a creepy way. Jesus also has a dysfunctional relationship with Mary Magdelan in "Rescue Me." I wonder if the Christian Enforcement League are just too square to know about it.
// posted by Raised By Republicans
I never saw "Book of Daniel", but it did surprise me when it got cancelled due to pressure from the right. I'd'a thought they'd like more Jesus on the screen. Heck, they loved "Joan of Arcadia".
Maybe we don't really have to worry about prayer in schools, because they'll fight amongst themselves about what prayer's the right one until they get it cancelled.
// posted by Bob
The problem is that locally individual churches tend to dominate so at the school district level there is less debate than at the national level.
These purveyors of what Jefferson called, "The Tyrrany of the Mind" are most sinister and dangerous at the local level.
// posted by Raised By Republicans
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