Though I'm many days late and several dollars short, I wanted to weigh in on the "Cartoon Wars" episode of South Park, which I finally got to see in reruns this week. I read all about it in April when we were in Germany, but I realized I didn't fully understand the episode until I saw it for myself. Sorry if this is really old news for people.
Apparently at the height of insanity over the Danish Mohammad cartoons, Comedy Central told Parker and Stone that they couldn't show Mohammad no matter what. So they built an entire episode around Comedy Central's lack of backbone. They included this brilliant speech:
Freedom of speech is at stake here, don't you all see? If anything, we should all make cartoons of Mohammed and show the terrorists and the extremists that we are all united in the belief that every person has a right to say what they want. Look people, it's been really easy for us to stand up for free speech lately. For the past few decades, we haven't had to risk anything to defend it. One of those times is right now. And if we aren't willing to risk what we have now, then we just believe in free speech, but won't defend it.
At which point the people of South Park all bury their heads in the sand. Literally. Parker and Stone are not allowed to show Mohammad just standing there, but Comedy Central has no problem with Jesus pooping on the American flag.
Nothing I read about the episode back in April really did it justice until I had seen it for myself. I'm quite surprised that Comedy Central let themselves look like such tools. And I'm sad that once again Parker and Stone show the world for what it truly is.
Posted by Sarah at July 14, 2006 09:59 AM | TrackBackComedy Central (and the U.S. TV networks in general) are fucking tools.
And by the way Sarah, good use of the word 'tool.' You aren't so old after all.
Posted by: Will at July 14, 2006 03:56 PMOld? You think I'm old? Why, how old are you?
Posted by: Sarah at July 14, 2006 04:03 PMUm.. I'm 24. I have a BFa. I'm a professional. But yeah, I'm 24. But hey, I'm sure you still know how to throw back a couple of Heinekens and pretend to get wild. So there's hope for you yet. I mean, you watch South Park, which used to be cool, but that's still something. You promote Superman instead of the infinitely cooler Pirates 2, but that's forgivable. You probably don't know what Myspace is, and if you do, you probably think it's a waste of time. On July 4th, instead of doing all sorts of drugs and getting a piggy back ride from a random stranger, you pretty much went to a baseball game. My parents might have been there too. I don't know. Maybe one day you'll go to a club again. I can't say for certain. Probably not. Just don't let it slip away without a fight. That's all I'm saying. Peace.
www.myspace.com/filamentdespair
Posted by: Will at July 14, 2006 09:27 PM