It's a hell of a note when the only people with the BALLS to stand up for free speech in the United States are Cartman, Stan, Kyle & Kenny...Yes, after the Battle of Scientology, where the beloved Chef fell victim to the nefarious doings of Tom "Meet My Stepford Wife!" Cruise, SOUTH PARK dared addressed the Cartoon Jihad.
This from the Volkh Conspiracy:
In Wednesday's episode, part II of "Cartoon Wars," Kyle (one of the boys of South Park) persuades the President of Fox TV to run a Family Guy episode with a short scene including Mohammed. Kyle lectures the head of FOX about the importance of free speech:Here's more from Michelle Malkin, with videos:
"You can't do what he wants just because he's the one threatening you with violence. . . .
Yes, people can get hurt. That's how terrorism works. But if you give in to that, Doug, you're allowing terrorism to work. . . .
Do the right thing, Mr. President. . . .
If you don't show Mohammed, then you've made a distinction between what is OK to make fun of and what isn't. Either it's all OK or none of it is. Do the right thing."
At the point in the South Park episode where Mohammed is about to be shown handing a football helmet (with a salmon on top of it) to the Family Guy, the screen shows these words:
"In this shot, Mohammed hands a football helmet to Family Guy."
The next screen shows these words:
"Comedy Central has refused to broadcast an image of Mohammed on their network."
***Update: Stephen Spruiell reports at The Media Blog..."I just got off the phone with a Comedy Central spokesman. I asked him about last night's episode of South Park in which, at a moment right before the prophet Mohammed was supposed to make a cameo, the words, "Comedy Central has refused to broadcast an image of Mohammed on their network" appeared on the screen. I asked him whether this truly was Comedy Central's decision or whether this was just another gag (with South Park, you never know). He said: 'They reflected it accurately. That was a Comedy Central decision.' Just in case there was any confusion, that settles it. Comedy Central censored the image."***Okay, yes, I'm playing this for laughs, but it's very, very real. Heavenhelp us all, but Kyle is right...it's either all okay to make fun of, or none of it is. And if none of it is...then we've lost the First Amendment...
And if we've lost the First Amendment, we haven't just lost a battle...we've lost the war.
I do agree that Comedy Central should grow some balls and show the thing. But I would like to also point out that only a government can truly oppress free speech. A TV network can't. Comedy Central has the same free speech rights as the producers of South Park, and is within their rights to show, or not to show, whatever they want.
ReplyDeleteThey're still pussies, though.
I am sure some other TV network would be glad to run the show. If I were one of the South Park producers, I'd start shopping around. And even if they are under contract, a good legal team might be able to break that when the network, by not running the show, fails to live up to its end of the bargain.
"And if we've lost the First Amendment, we haven't just lost a battle...we've lost the war."
ReplyDeleteMichael Bane
Don't be so negatiive!
Then the Second Amendment becomes First.
Wow ! Comedy Central can be oh so In your face when it comes to American or Right wing sensibilites. Guess they lost there Street cred. Wonder if John Stewart will crawl with them or mention this.
ReplyDeleteI never thought I would praise the "south Park" creators, but they made some great points in the show
ReplyDeleteComedy Central should just say - We will continue to put on our network bold and cutting edge Comedy except anything the Muslims or the Scientologists do not like.
ReplyDelete