04-23-2010, 02:44 AM
I seldom start threads on the Lounge, but I'm surprised this topic hasn't been mentioned over the past week. It originally had me laughing, but now I'm a bit irked...
Last week, Comedy Central aired the 200th episode of South Park, aptly named "200". It dealt with the censorship of the Prophet Muhammad, and took plenty of jabs at the idea of not being able to depict him on the show. Eventually it gets to the point where they have someone dressed up in a bear mascot costume claiming that is Muhammad (in disguise, because to actually show him would be WAY out of line). It was one of their bait episodes where the absurdity sparked in the real world is half the fun (kind of like the outrage on the WoW forums after it was featured). I've always gotten a kick out of the social response to those.
It took no time at all for the New York based "Revolution Muslim" to denounce them, using language that didn't exactly make a death threat... but got close enough. Kind of like how they never really showed Muhammad, but danced around the idea of it.
I went to my DVD shelf and pulled the 2001 episode "Super Best Friends" just to see if I remembered correctly. Apparently, back in 2001, it was allright to show Muhammad. By the way, he has mastery over the element of fire, in case you were wondering.
Fast forward to this Wednesday (4/22/10), when "201" plays. Hey, wait... that's not the version they submitted to Comedy Central...
Comedy Central took it upon themselves to censor out Muhammad, and mention of the name Muhammad, and THREE SPEECHES given at the end. The traditional "I've learned something" speech was bleeped in its entirety and never had a single mention of Muhammad or Islam. Apparently even Santa Claus had some nasty things to say and Comedy Central felt it would be best to bleep them.
When I first watched the episode, I figured it was all a joke. Then I saw the official statement from Trey Parker and Matt Stone:
In the 14 years weâve been doing South Park we have never done a show that we couldnât stand behind. We delivered our version of the show to Comedy Central and they made a determination to alter the episode. It wasnât some meta-joke on our part. Comedy Central added the bleeps. In fact, Kyleâs customary final speech was about intimidation and fear. It didnât mention Muhammad at all but it got bleeped too. Weâll be back next week with a whole new show about something completely different and weâll see what happens to it.
Now, I'm not learned enough in the realm of Islam to know the passages in the Quran that outline what a grievous act it is to depict Muhammad in any way. I also don't understand how this was allright in 2001, but is suddenly worth death threats in 2010.
If someone cares to enlighten an old Lurker or throw his/her two chipped gems into the fray, please do. In the meantime, those who are not whipped into a frothing frenzy by depictions of Muhammad should look at this picture. Is that so bad?
Last week, Comedy Central aired the 200th episode of South Park, aptly named "200". It dealt with the censorship of the Prophet Muhammad, and took plenty of jabs at the idea of not being able to depict him on the show. Eventually it gets to the point where they have someone dressed up in a bear mascot costume claiming that is Muhammad (in disguise, because to actually show him would be WAY out of line). It was one of their bait episodes where the absurdity sparked in the real world is half the fun (kind of like the outrage on the WoW forums after it was featured). I've always gotten a kick out of the social response to those.
It took no time at all for the New York based "Revolution Muslim" to denounce them, using language that didn't exactly make a death threat... but got close enough. Kind of like how they never really showed Muhammad, but danced around the idea of it.
I went to my DVD shelf and pulled the 2001 episode "Super Best Friends" just to see if I remembered correctly. Apparently, back in 2001, it was allright to show Muhammad. By the way, he has mastery over the element of fire, in case you were wondering.
Fast forward to this Wednesday (4/22/10), when "201" plays. Hey, wait... that's not the version they submitted to Comedy Central...
Comedy Central took it upon themselves to censor out Muhammad, and mention of the name Muhammad, and THREE SPEECHES given at the end. The traditional "I've learned something" speech was bleeped in its entirety and never had a single mention of Muhammad or Islam. Apparently even Santa Claus had some nasty things to say and Comedy Central felt it would be best to bleep them.
When I first watched the episode, I figured it was all a joke. Then I saw the official statement from Trey Parker and Matt Stone:
In the 14 years weâve been doing South Park we have never done a show that we couldnât stand behind. We delivered our version of the show to Comedy Central and they made a determination to alter the episode. It wasnât some meta-joke on our part. Comedy Central added the bleeps. In fact, Kyleâs customary final speech was about intimidation and fear. It didnât mention Muhammad at all but it got bleeped too. Weâll be back next week with a whole new show about something completely different and weâll see what happens to it.
Now, I'm not learned enough in the realm of Islam to know the passages in the Quran that outline what a grievous act it is to depict Muhammad in any way. I also don't understand how this was allright in 2001, but is suddenly worth death threats in 2010.
If someone cares to enlighten an old Lurker or throw his/her two chipped gems into the fray, please do. In the meantime, those who are not whipped into a frothing frenzy by depictions of Muhammad should look at this picture. Is that so bad?
See you in Town,
-Z
-Z