On Censoring and Double Standards
This business with Comedy Central, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and censorship is completely ridiculous. I wonât discuss the whole thing, Powerline has up a post, Bleeping Muhammad, that has some great things to read. I want to comment on two things: 1) how cowardly Comedy Central is, and 2) the Muslim double standard.
In an age where people over use “Freedom of speech” to mean they can say whatever they want, it is surprising how quickly Comedy Central folded. I am glad that in the US we do have freedom to say what we want (while I do think many take that freedom too far), and usually media giants love to tout their freedoms. But under a little pressure Comedy Central couldnât uphold that freedom any more. What is the most sickening is not even that they would censor parts poking fun at Muhammad, but that they censored a speech about standing up to intimidation and fear. What is that crap? That speech is exactly the thing that I would want my students (many of whom I KNOW watch South Park) to hear. The irony is ripe: Comedy Central is intimidated so they censor a speech about fighting against intimidation? Lovely.
The reason Comedy Central caved is because of a glaring double standard. Mock Christians and Jesus all you want, but Muhammad and Islam are off limits. What bunk. Imagine a Christian objecting (even threatening life) to someone mocking Jesus. They wouldnât be taken seriously at all; no one would care. Could you ever imagine Comedy Central censoring jokes about Jesus of Christians? I wouldnât think so because they donât and they mock all the time. Why is this double standard allowed to persist? Christians have to just deal with mockery (which I am fine with, God can handle it), but Muslims can just cry “Youâre being mean!” and suggest someone might go the way of Theo Van Gogh and Muhammad becomes untouchable. Ridiculous.
Go read Powerlineâs post as well as Newsbusterâs “Jon Stewart Notes Blatant Double Standard on ‘South Parkâ Mohammed Censorship” and Mark Steynâs “Not Too Hip and Edgy for Censorship”. And if you were so inclined, you could take part in the Everybody Draw Mohammad Day on May 20th.
Ugh and double ugh. This double standard has been driving me nuts for years. It shows up in art quite a bit. Trash Christian symbols but donât touch Islamic symbols. Personally, I think you can do whatever you want — free choice and all. Godâs not up there going, “why are they making fun of me? *whine*”
This has been a long standing frustration of mine, probably since middle school. Itâs the same thing as schools being able to teach about every religion except Christianity. Completely ridiculous.