[Crescens]

CONTENT WARNING - this post contains references to the cartoon South Park, a very controversial cartoon on Comedy Central that generally does not hold anything back.

Since the riots over the Danish comics of Muhammad, TV networks and other media even as far away as America have been reserved about any satire on the Islamic religion.

When South Park aired an episode that was intended to show the Muslim prophet Muhammad, described in the episode as an image of the prophet "just standing there", Comedy Central censored it. In the same episode, Jesus was shown defacating on icons symbolic of the United States, a very offensive image of the Christian son of God. This illustrates both the bias of the network and a severe consequence to freedom of speech.

Should networks such as Comedy Central have the right to allow their own biases against the United States and against Christianity under the guise of fear of retribution to prevent freedom of speech? In essence, isn't freedom of speech important enough to defend rather than caving into pressure like this?

Comedy Central normally thrives on controversy, but when push comes to shove they back down and protect some extremists just because those extremists might riot; effectively further hurting those that have already had their embassies attacked and seemingly assisting those that cannot accept the simple satire of a secular world.

Begin debating.

[NOTE: Background on the Danish Caricature Comics of Muhammad and the events that followed can be found at http://www.secularhu...n=fi&page=index. The Magazine in question also intends to release those comics to the public, but is being barred from doing so by bookstores not stocking the issue.]

[Res]

It's tough. Because if a fan of the show gets offended byan image they see, the network can always just reply "Don't watch it if you don't like it."

No, I don't believe CC should be allowed to air such offensive images such as those you stated.

Mohammed cannot even be shown, correct? Because it is offensive to the Islam religion, right?

Therefore, it is my personal thought that the depiction of Jesus doing those acts should not be shown, seeing as how it is offensive to the Christian religion.

[Kaezion]

channels like CC are wholly and only influenced by their viewership. since parodying Christianity and other religions with the exception of Islam has shown to be a crowd-pleaser, cartoons exploit religious satire to its fullest extent. CC simply chooses to censor satire on Islam since Muslims tend to be more fanatical in attitude toward their religion than do members of other religions, and CC doesn't want any trouble.

think about it this way:

do you know that kid who always tries to be funny by pulling rude practical jokes on other people? would he be more likely to prank someone known for his violent behavior, or someone who is relatively calm and nonviolent?


it's simply because Christian people are pretty passive about the satire. i'm sure that if Christian people started rioting about parodies on Christianity that these TV networks would think twice about showing Christian satire.

it's cowardly and hypocritical on their part, but they've got to make a living too.

[Neraphym]

CC, as far as I know, is a private enterprise. They can censor anything they wish to, though they lose a lot of my respect when they do so. I have absolutely no respect for religious laws and have no remorse in breaking them. I'll draw a picture of Muhammad if I want to. Muslims have no basis on which to complain. The restriction of freedom of speech is by far one of the most heinous acts in my opinion, and any act to restrict religious satire would be a breach of this, our most fundamental freedom.

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. -Voltaire

Freedom of Speech > Laws Against Making fun of Religions

[Crescens]

So just because a group of people riots because another utilizes the whole freedom of speech right means that only those that are humble enough and respect the right of freedom of speech have to endure harsh satire? That's a great way to encourage people to be more confrontational, violent, and generally less respecting of others' views. If you defend your views to the point of causing chaos, is it really preserving your own or simply persecuting anyone who doesn't agree with you?

People are free to practice religion under the First Amendment and its equivalent in other countries. But people are also free to speak their mind and disagree. People shouldn't riot in the Middle East over a bloody comic.

[Kaezion]

are you exploding on me because i gave a pragmatic view of the situation? we all know what the ideal is - that people respect each others' opinions and right to express those opinions and stop {expletive Chuck Norris'd by Cspace}ing. but that's never going to happen as long as ignorance rules the world which it unfortunately will for quite awhile (maybe even until the end).

i'm not encouraging Christians to be violent. i'm saying that because Christians are generally nonviolent, they unfortunately suffer from satirism more than the Muslims do.

Comedy Central has got to be in one way or another culturally offensive because it helps the ratings, so who is CC going to parody? the ignorant, self-righteous, yet nonviolent Christians or the dangerous Muslims who have once before caused riots over a comic? obviously, CC will take the course of action that is going to produce less severe consequences. again, they're using double standards, but we're talking about money here! who in America gives a {expletive hax0rd by Cspace} about morals or ideals when it comes to MONEY?!

[Res]

we're talking about money here! who in America gives a {expletive hax0rd by Cspace} about morals or ideals when it comes to MONEY?!

But hey! You forgot that... Umm...

What about... Uhh..

Who am I kidding , we all know you're right on that. And it's a sad, sad fact.

[Crescens]

Sad but true. I definitely agree.

[Res]

It's a darn shame, because even if a few people still do the opposite, and put others before material benefits, it's still such an insignificant amount because of how many other people put money over the beliefs of others.

If we had some Christian extremists attack CC for that, I'm sure they would stop. But it's against us.

"Love thy neighbor" and such.

[asyluman]

Ugh. Religion causes so many problems.


Lighten up.

[Neraphym]

It's a pity that there are so many people out there that can't practice their religion without killing/oppressing innocent people in the process.

[Kaezion]

religion does cause problems.
so does greed
so does hatred

we are the cause

it's a pity that the only solution to the problem is to destroy the very ones for whom the problem should be solved.

[Crescens]

Destruction is not going to solve anything.

I don't think South Park actually *wanted* to poke fun at Jesus but only did it to make a point at the hypocrisy of the network. While that doesn't change the fact that what they did is extremely disrespectful, it successfully makes the point. Is it okay to respect one religion but not another? As the episode so bluntly put it, "either it's all okay, or none of it's okay."

The first amendment guarantees people the right to freedom of speech. The network's insistence on its own power undermines this right while simultaneously showing severe disrespect for an entire religion.

Way to go, Comedy Central. For a network that generally thrives so much on political (and other) controversy, and regards itself as so much in favor of freedom of speech, you clearly illustrate your hypocrisy the minute someone's views differ from yours.

[Zziggywolf5]

I have never liked CC that much, this just adds to my list. They've always fed on controversy. Now people expect it, so it gets more extreme, whether racist, religious, sexist, etc.
ex: 'Oh yeah, well, you're a whore' *laugh track*

This post has been edited by Zziggywolf5: 25 April 2006 - 12:25 AM