Cartoon Double Standard Has a Silver Lining
John on April 13, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Lots of talk today about the most recent episode of South Park and Comedy Central’s decision to ban a cartoon depiction of Mohammed.
Several bloggers have noted that the episode concludes with a depiction of Jesus which is less than flattering. Thanks to Michelle Malkin I’ve now seen the clip and I have to say that in context the joke is aimed more at Islamofascists than at Christians. The context is as part of a film produced by Al Qaeda which mocks America and Jesus. Tasteless, yes. But intended to offend Christians, well, not exactly. Honestly I thought it was funny in exactly the absurdist way the show often is.
Nevertheless, it’s striking that Comedy Central seemed comfortable with this clip but not with the Mohammed clip. Ultimately I think there is some educational value in exposing this blatant double standard. Not all religions are the same. In fact, there is really no point in discussing “religion” as some abstract concept. There is Islam and there is Christianity and the outcomes and behaviour for those who accept these faiths are very different. Even Comedy Central can see that now.
Category: Religion & Faith |
“Nevertheless, it’s striking that Comedy Central seemed comfortable with this clip but not with the Mohammed clip. Ultimately I think there is some educational value in exposing this blatant double standard.”
Personally, I feel that was the entire point of including that clip. The South Park creators knew they risked the wrath of ComCent if they actually showed Mohammed in the episode, so they included that as a way of poking all the Christians and Republicans in their audience with a really big stick. That whole clip is basically Stone and Parker saying to their audience: “See? Comedy Central doesn’t think THIS is offensive! Now what does that tell you about what they think of YOU?”
[Michael, I think you might be right. Not that I think South Park's creators care much for Christianity either, but I agree that they at least seem bothered by the double standard at play.]
April 14, 2006 @ 10:38 amContext is key.
April 14, 2006 @ 2:01 pmi know i am four years late, but actually i think it was sort of performance art aimed at comedy central. i think they knew they were going to be censored on that front, so they decided to make the most offensive images possible involving the flag, jesus and George Bush, to say, “see what is okay with them?”
They openly stated they did similar stuff in their movie. they were so annoyed at what they saw as the doubel standards on violence and sex, that they made the most horrifically violent stuff possible to lampoon the fact that this was okay, but not dirty stuff. this is just a more extreme example, because this time it isn’t a private rating system–essentially market self-censorship–but suppression by violence. but i suspect a similar impulse in their minds.
May 6, 2010 @ 12:17 pmHmm it might surprise you to note that Muslims in fact believe that Jesus (like Muhammed SAW) was a prophet of God as well. So was Adam, the first man created, David, Moses and the list goes on. As we feel for Muhammed SAW so too would we feel for Jesus and all other prophets of Islam. Meaning, under no circumstances would we ever degrade/mock/insult ANY prophet of Islam. Further, Al Qaeda, (a body supposedly involved in extremist acts) has time to produce movies whilst ‘planning/creating attacks’ on the world. Wow don’t I wish I had time they did since it obviously doesn’t involve much time in generating such sophisticated “attacks” (that “America” with all their state of the art technology cannot find). This brings us to a new thought, does “Al Qaeda” even exist, or are they a phantom group created by American Government for some form of publicity/sympathy. Questions questions, where do we start. To me it seems like the people attacking Muslims are scared and insecure at the rate Islam is growing. But nonetheless, Islam is about peace, unity and justice and in the end it will prevail. Thanks. May the Peace and Blessings of God Almighty be upon you all. Amen!
May 18, 2010 @ 12:59 pmNabeela, your prophet died and stayed in his grave, Jesus didn’t. Your prophet never claimed to be God in human flesh, ours did. There is a world of difference between Islam and Christianity. We don’t have people blowing up innocents or a network like Al Qaeda that has declared jihad on America. If you don’t believe that Al Qaeda exists then I have a bridge to sell you. You may be a peace loving Muslim, but your side was awfully quiet when it came to 9/11 or the other terrorists acts that your peace-lovings friends have carried out. You sound like a nice person, but unfortunately, you also sound like a gullible person.
May 18, 2010 @ 3:55 pm