Sonic Youth Gossip - South Park vs. Muslim Extremists....again.

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South Park vs. Muslim Extremists....again.

You gotta love Matt Stone, and Trey Parker... :o

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-rad...fatwa-muhammad

Quote:

South Park censored after threat of fatwa over Muhammad episode

Extremist group's death warning leads TV network to censor 201st episode, to fans' dismay

South Park, the animation created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, is well known for its satirical attacks. Photograph: Ric Francis/AP

They have depicted the Queen blowing her brains out after a failed attempt by the British army to reinvade America, Saddam Hussein as Satan's gay lover, and Jesus as a trigger-happy superhero. Mormons, Scientologists, Catholics, Jews, politicians and film stars have all been skewered on the razor-sharp wit of South Park.
Now the caustic animated satire appears to have reached its limits within the confines of mainstream US television. Fans and pundits alike were taken aback last night when an episode featuring the prophet Muhammad purportedly dressed in a bear costume had bleeps and "Censored" blocks slapped liberally throughout to remove all audio and visual reference to the prophet.
The censorship followed a warning from a New York-based group of extremist Muslim converts that could be construed as a death threat. The group, through its website Revolutionmuslim.com, had reacted to last week's episode of South Park which first depicted Muhammad dressed as a bear by saying its originators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, "will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh".
To underline the point, the website carried a picture of Van Gogh, the Dutch film-maker killed in 2004 after he made a documentary on the abuse of women in Muslim countries, with his throat cut and a knife in his chest. They also listed the New York headquarters of Comedy Central, the cable television channel that broadcasts the show, and South Park's production company, adding: "You can pay them a visit at these addresses."
In the aftermath of the show's censorship, the chatrooms on South Park's website hummed with the indignation of its fans. "Do you seriously think that will appease the extremists from more terrorism?" one wrote.
As controversy raged, Comedy Central confessed that it was responsible for the cuts. "I can't go into the thinking behind it, but I can confirm it was Comedy Central that inserted the bleeps and not South Park," a spokesman for the station said.
The apportioning of responsibility will come as a relief to devotees of the animation, who have grown accustomed to it treating nothing and nobody as sacred.
The Muhammad furore began last week in the show's 200th episode when the creators introduced the character as a riff on censorship. The joke was that Muhammad was dressed as a bear because he could not be shown as a cartoon in the wake of death threats made against Danish cartoonists by Islamist extremists, who see any depiction of Muhammad as a gross insult to their religion.
In the storyline, the prophet was brought into the show on the demand of previous victims of its satire, led by Tom Cruise, who believed that he could make them immune to further ridiculing. In this week's episode, the bear costume was unzipped to reveal that Santa Claus, not Muhammad, had been inside all along.
This was the second time that South Park had taken on the prophet as a subject. In 2006, soon after violent protests erupted against the Danish cartoons, Stone and Parker produced a double episode that featured the prophet and was also censored by Comedy Central.
In that case, however, there was no pickup from Islamist groups. The latest controversy has cast the light on Revolution Muslim, a group of probably fewer than 10 extremists based in New York who hand out leaflets outside the moderate 96th-street mosque.
It was founded by Yousef al-Khattab, a former secular Jew born Joseph Cohen who ran a bicycle pedicab in New York until he relocated to Morocco. He is shown in one photograph on the site carrying a machete with what look like suicide bombs strapped around his waist. The group has a record of making extremist statements, which it tempers with disclaimers that it is nonviolent to avoid legal trouble. One member, Younus Abdullah Muhammad, told CNN last year that the 9/11 attacks had been justified.
At other times, its website has called for wrath to fall "on the Jewish occupiers of Palestine. Please throw liquid drain cleaner in their faces."
"Many groups would be afraid to act like this for fear of arrest, but they clearly don't care," said Yehudit Barsky of the American Jewish Committee, which monitors the group.
Revolution Muslim put out a long statement in which it insisted that it was in favour of a rational dialogue with non-Muslims. But it accused South Park of having mocked the prophet, and cited Islamic scholars who ruled that "whoever curses the messenger of Allah must be killed".
Abdullah Muhammad, 30, defended the web posting by his group to Reuters.
"How is that a threat?" he told the news agency. "Showing a case study right there of what happened to another individual who conducted himself in a very similar manner? It's just evidence."
It is not clear whether Parker and Stone will feel the need to show they are unbowed by returning to the Muhammad theme next week. They are famous for putting the show together at the last minute to make it sharply topical.
But the controversy could deepen. Fans of the show on Wednesday posted in chatrooms on South Park's websites several Muhammad cartoons that would be far more offensive to Muslims than the animation itself. They included a drawing of Muhammad crying in a baby's nappy and saying: "Stop it! You hurt my feelings.""

fucking assholes and their fetish for Mohammed. they really want to suck his flea-ridden asshole HARD. fucking stupid extremist fucks. HATE THAT SHIT
so stupid. I want to start a massive campaign where we post pictures of Mohammed (actually just shots of Ron Jeremy assfucking a tranny with a caption pointing to ron jeremy labeled MOHAMMED)
and see what that does for their fucking sensibilities.

I HATE how more people are not up in arms about this bullshit. everyone is scared of terrorists but pretends not to be. fucking liars. so many asshoels actually defended the people who put a death threat on the dutch newspaper that printed those editorial cartoons

I mean, look at these irrational fucks. just fucking go die already and choke on your fucking bullshit religions

You must spread some fatwas around before placing one on Rob Instigator again.

after speaking to a young muslim of my age, he told me the extremists take it way too far: muslims aren't allowed to show muhammed, but it shouldn't be a problem for non-muslims, since they are of a different religion. DUH.

it is true ploesj. However, like many christians, many muslims do not distinguish between what is prescribed for their belief and what they feel is prescribed for ALL to believe.
fucking assholes.

fuck all their shit.

Ron Jeremy deserves better!!! Now Cheney ass-fuckin Dubya would be a better fit don't ya think?

but cheney looks so damn surly. at least ron jeremey enjoyed hisself

FUCK RELIGION.
anyone who propagates it at this point in history is a fucking twat.

for the most part, people who get offended about anything need to grow the fuck up.

Alternative interpretation: an easy way to get publicity for a lame cartoon.

also easy way to get publicity for a lame religion. think about that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

also easy way to get publicity for a lame religion. think about that.

Done.
Almost everyone in Europe has heard about Islam (for historic reasons).
Almost everyone in the USA has heard about Islam (Irak, Afghanistan).
South Park is far below on the fame level.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

but cheney looks so damn surly. at least ron jeremey enjoyed hisself

that's because you never seen him behind closed doors...

Speaking of Cheney raise your hand if you think he accidentally shot Harry Whittington on the hunting trip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gualbert

Done.
Almost everyone in Europe has heard about Islam (for historic reasons).
Almost everyone in the USA has heard about Islam (Irak, Afghanistan).
South Park is far below on the fame level.

but we are not talking mainstream Islam here. we are talking about extremists pushing a middle ages rhetoric.
and frankly, most people (50%+) in the USA know jack shit about islam other than it exists.

Re-instate the Caliphate, I say.

We should definitely get rid of religions on the basis of a ridiculously small fraction of them being pricks. Fuck it, let's kill everyone on that basis.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gualbert

Alternative interpretation: an easy way to get publicity for a lame cartoon.

Lame cartoon? More like one of the best examples of widely-known, modern American satire there is. They're on their 14th season, and still kicking ass. I hope South Park sticks around for at least another decade.

Sure blows the hell out of some of the cartoons worshipped around here...a la The Simpsons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gualbert

Done.
Almost everyone in the USA has heard about Islam (Irak, Afghanistan).
South Park is far below on the fame level.

This is clearly an overstatement. Apparently you don't know Americans very well.

I was thinking about Van Gough when I saw this title.
http://img407.imageshack.us/i/04110350242theovangoghals6.jpg

Most Americans do not realize how powerful some speech is. To question others religion is to chip away at what they have built up as sacred.

The murder of Van Gogh was really ballsy. He was after all in his own country.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Eugene Felikson

To me, all they do in SP is swearing (it fits with the current thread), but I never watched an episode entirely..
And I love the Simpsons, but I won't argue, it's a matter of taste. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

fuck the "sacred"

Really though? Doesn't everyone hold something sacred? The American constitution, for instance, or your love of 'real' instruments. There's a difference of order, of course, but no real difference in the hallowed status of certain things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gualbert

Alternative interpretation: an easy way to get publicity for a lame cartoon.

Ditto.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gualbert

To me, all they do in SP is swearing (it fits with the current thread), but I never watched an episode entirely..
And I love the Simpsons, but I won't argue, it's a matter of taste. :)

You're thinking of '97 SP, back when the show was still burying it's roots. They've been much more political lately, without firmly leaning towards either side. The show is notorious for taking the piss out of everyone, and everything; and doing so at a blindingly quick rate due to their production techniques, often only days after an issue strikes.

I can partially dig older episodes of the Simpsons, and I know most of the main cast by name...but it's like beating a dead horse these days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glice

the constitution and analog instruments are not sacred. they are revered by me, but sacred means untouchable and implies infallibility. the moment anyone decrees that this or that is "sacred" they are exerting control over the thoughts and actions of those who do not view it as sacred or sacred yet.

I just don't see the point of disrespecting people simply to upset them, and it seems that South Park does this alot.

being "offended' is ussually the first step in honestly questioning what one believes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

I'm talking about South Park, and you are talking about Islam.
But what's the point about dissing Islam?
People who are raised in islamic countries join Islam because they're told to.
Eventually they'll quit later.

People who are raised in another religion, and later join Islam, like Cat Stevens, probably know more about it than you and me..

---

Do you seriously think that a dude with a big beard, living in north Africa, can have an influence on the content of a cartoon made by americans, for ameicans??

That's true. I think they take the wrong approach personally, though, and just end up really making people feel angry and aggressive.

Edit- in regards to Rob's post

Quote:

Originally Posted by gualbert

I am talking about idiot's reactions to a TV show they do not watch, whether they are muslim or fucking scientologists, it does not matter,. they are fuckheads.

I am down with "dissing" any and all religions. fuck em all. (anti-theism for humanity's win)

Obviously, a dude with a big beard, living 800 years ago, spouted some rhetoric which was turned into a religion which in turn has influenced the content of a cartoon made by americans for americans. It happened.

rather than let the furor start, comdey central (or viacom or whoever of the three large corporations that own all broadcasting owns it) decided to, without the knowledge or input of the shows creators or poducers, alter the show in case some fuck with a homemade bomb up his ass was watching and got mad, or just heard about it and got mad.

I think Paramount owns CC. But, SP's attacks aren't pointless. They even sum up the moral intent of the subject matter at the end of each episode. The entire series truly is brilliant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flophousefloozie

That's true. I think they take the wrong approach personally, though, and just end up really making people feel angry and aggressive.

Edit- in regards to Rob's post

You have just defined why every satirist from Swift to Twain to South Park have been decried and ridiculed and why they SHOULD continue doing what they do. fuck people if they can't take a joke.

paramount and all they own and control are actually owned and controlled by Viacom.
as of 2008 this is what Viacom owns
MTV
MTV2
mtvU
AtomFilms
Addicting Games
Gamerailers
Harmonix
MTVN International
MTV TR3S
Neopets
Parents Connect
Quizilla
Rhapsody
Shockwave
VH1
VH1 Classic
VH1 Soul
Virtual Worlds
XFIRE
Nickelodeon
Nick Jr.
BET
BET J
Nick at Nite
TV Land
NOGGIN
VH1
Spike TV
CMT
Comedy Central

Paramount Pictures
Paramount Home Entertainment
Dreamworks Studiis
Paramount Vantage
MTV Films
Nickelodeon Movies
Home Entertainment

and all the output of all those media companies are controlled by one rich old white guy and a board of directors of maybe 12-20 people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

You have just defined why every satirist from Swift to Twain to South Park have been decried and ridiculed and why they SHOULD continue doing what they do. fuck people if they can't take a joke.

I agree to disagree. Yes, I think it would be good if more people could learn to take a joke, but some people are just sensitive, due to whatever circumstances in their life have brought them to be that way.

I think there are other approaches than to just keep hatrid spinning in an endless, circular battle. Muslim Extremists could mellow out, and not take everything so personally. South Park could stop stabbing at open wounds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

IObviously, a dude with a big beard, living 800 years ago, spouted some rhetoric which was turned into a religion which in turn has influenced the content of a cartoon made by americans for americans. It happened.

Bullshit.
Tell some islamic-algerians that you are american, and you allow them to eat pig, it will have the same influence: almost none.

edit: Eugene, I stopped watching the Simpsons at season 13.
You may agree that it was a good show before it?..

Quote:

Originally Posted by gualbert

Bullshit.
Tell some islamic-algerians that you are american, and you allow them to eat pig, it will have the same influence: almost none.

yr comparing apples and oranges.

let some algerian TV show start making little jokes about Jesus, and then let some right wing fanatics start threatening the algerians with death for airing such a cartoon. THEN your comparison would hold water

I didn't know Viacom was above Paramount. Damn.

There are THREE corporations that own every single "major" record label in the whole country.

hell, ONE corporation, clearchannel, owns 95% of the FM radio stations in the USA

I blame Bill Clinton for passing the FCC act,.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gualbert

edit: Eugene, I stopped watching the Simpsons at season 13.
You may agree that it was a good show before it?..

...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Eugene Felikson

I can partially dig older episodes of the Simpsons, and I know most of the main cast by name...but it's like beating a dead horse these days.