Muhammed on South Park

[DarkSun]

People handle criticism differently, I know many Pagans, Christians, Atheists et al, who don't handle criticism of their belief, very well either.

Islam is a very serious religion, its practioners, if you haven't noticed, take it very seriously. The whole world knows this, why would any decent person then, in all sense of reasoning, want to make fun of it, or turn it into a mockery?

Fully knowing the Islamic reaction to this, I would say it boils down to three probabilies, a) either the producers of the show are just as silly as the show itself b) they needed publicity c) they wanted to project anti Islamic prejudice into the wider community.

I have no idea how serious the death threats were, if they are serious or just words of passion, it does appear though the producers of the show have taken them seriously.

I think you missed the part where they were paying out all the major world religions equally. By putting Muhammad in a bear suit, they were actually showing favouritism to Islam by not giving Him a human portrayal. That, in itself, is showing inequality right there.

 

[DarkSun]

Nor does it revolve around people who like to watch South Park, or those with an anti-Muslim agenda.

The world revolves around people of different beliefs, and wherever possible, this should be done in respect to all concerned.

There was no anti-Muslim agenda. They were expressing their opinion about every organised belief system, not just Islam, and an extremist group made a vague death threat on them... because they couldn't take a joke. How could you possibly side against Parker and Stone for that? They've done absolutely nothing wrong.

 

[*Anne*]

Freedom of free speech has never been an issue. The creators of South Park had their free speech, then some members of the Islamic community obviously had their free speech.

The original episode was censored. That, to me, is squashing free speech. Comedy Central shouldn't have done that.

Death threats are not protected under the 1st Amendment. Does anyone know what the law is in New York? Would a death threat fall under verbal assault?

 

[Rainbow Mage]

The fact is this is people who think with a carnal frame of mind. They believe that by people saying things about someone, it makes it so, or it's an insult on their prophet. You have to become impervious to mocking and demeaning words. South Park also insulted Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, and Confucius, all four of these figures I respect, but you don't see me getting mad and making death threats. Know why? It's just a cartoon, it's just words. If Muhammad be a prophet of Allah, and Muslims believe Allah is so powerful, let Allah defend Muhammad, otherwise leave it alone.

 

[footprints]

I think you missed the part where they were paying out all the major world religions equally. By putting Muhammad in a bear suit, they were actually showing favouritism to Islam by not giving Him a human portrayal. That, in itself, is showing inequality right there.

LOL do you mean they were being fair and sharing ridicule equally.

Multiple wrongs doesn't somehow make it right.

 

[Revoltingest]

note that definition of infidel is not "the one who does not believe", though it contains them too

I go by the dictionary.com definitions. I hear the connotations of the word when used by believers. Such usage does not strike me as respectful.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Infadel does not mean unbeliever. Infadel is associated with the Arabic word kaffir, literally: "one who covers up the truth."

 

[Rainbow Mage]

People of other religions are never called infadels in the Koran: Jews are called Banai Israel, Christians are called Nazarenes, Mandaeans are called Sabeans, and Pagans are called Mahusheen- "Polytheists"

 

[Revoltingest]

People of other religions are never called infadels in the Koran: Jews are called Banai Israel, Christians are called Nazarenes, Mandaeans are called Sabeans, and Pagans are called Mahusheen- "Polytheists"

Since I don't read the Koran, I wasn't referring to it. The word "infidel" is used in popular speech, more so than kafir.
But this doesn't really matter, does it? I'd say that we all hold views which will offend someone else, yet we may tolerate
each other without death threats over artistic offenses.

What word would you use for an atheist?
Would the Koran have you treat atheists any differently from Muslims, Christians, Jews or Hindus?
(I've heard others speak about this, but I'm interested in your views.)

 

[Revoltingest]

LOL do you mean they were being fair and sharing ridicule equally.
Multiple wrongs doesn't somehow make it right.

It's not about being "right".
It's about being both allowed & even-handed.

 

[footprints]

There was no anti-Muslim agenda. They were expressing their opinion about every organised belief system, not just Islam, and an extremist group made a vague death threat on them... because they couldn't take a joke. How could you possibly side against Parker and Stone for that? They've done absolutely nothing wrong.

The whole world knows, some Muslims don't take kindly to jokes pertaining to Muhammad.

You and I know South Park is just a heap of garbage, full of worthless knowledge and expression of values. It becomes funny simply because it is so twisted and inane. Unfortunately, in this life, some people think shows like south park give credible and valuable knowledge, this then, becomes a very serious problem.

Parker and Stone may not have broken any legal codes, they have certainly breached any moral and ethical codes, of intelligent human beings. However I personally believe they do this with every episode.

 

[footprints]

The original episode was censored. That, to me, is squashing free speech. Comedy Central shouldn't have done that.

Death threats are not protected under the 1st Amendment. Does anyone know what the law is in New York? Would a death threat fall under verbal assault?

Abuse should always be censored, just not required for decent human beings. Humans already know how to abuse people, without shows like South Park showing people how to abuse people properly. Then again, with shows like South Park, if they censored all abuse, there wouldn't be anything left to show. And that might not be a bad idea either.

 

[Revoltingest]

The whole world knows, some Muslims don't take kindly to jokes pertaining to Muhammad.

You and I know South Park is just a heap of garbage, full of worthless knowledge and expression of values. It becomes funny simply because it is so twisted and inane. Unfortunately, in this life, some people think shows like south park give credible and valuable knowledge, this then, becomes a very serious problem.

Parker and Stone may not have broken any legal codes, they have certainly breached any moral and ethical codes, of intelligent human beings. However I personally believe they do this with every episode.

Is it ironic that you find South Park's writers to be wrong for their disrespect for Islam, yet you may describe their show as "garbage", "twisted" & "inane"?
Are you not wrong for disrespecting our value of free speech? You say their show is full of "worthless knowledge", yet that is the view I hold of the Koran.
Just as I don't read the Koran, Muslims should perhaps not watch South Park. We should not seek out things at which to take offense.

Frankly, I find South Park to be worse than offensive....it's boring. The solution....I don't watch it.
(I heard that they mocked atheists once. Did any of us send them death threats?)

 

[*Anne*]

Bringing up moral and ethical codes is interesting.

I don' contest that South Park is obnoxious. They once dedicated an episode to what I do for a living, and I was far from flattered.

But when you bring up moral and ethical in terms of what's offensive, where do we draw the line? What if scantily clad women on TV suddenly become seriously offensive? Or gay characters? Or unwed mothers?

I'm not arguing here. I'm trying to look ahead and see what ramifications could come from giving in on this issue.

 

[Revoltingest]

Bringing up moral and ethical codes is interesting.

I don' contest that South Park is obnoxious. They once dedicated an episode to what I do for a living, and I was far from flattered.

But when you bring up moral and ethical in terms of what's offensive, where do we draw the line? What if scantily clad women on TV suddenly become seriously offensive? Or gay characters? Or unwed mothers?

I'm not arguing here. I'm trying to look ahead and see what ramifications could come from giving in on this issue.

That's the concern of many. How far in accommodating the wants of the easily offended should we go? Will they get their way by threats,
or will legislation eventually enforce their wishes? Would Muslims expect that the west should be more like Islamic countries? It would
suggest Islamic hegemony, but I don't know how representative the Muslims posting here are of their larger community.

 

[Andal]

I think it's hilarious that some muslims think they have the right to threaten creators of a cartoon because they put Mohammad in a bear costume. It's funny because you don't see Buddhists threatening them and it was far more offensive to see the Buddha snorting lines of coke in that episode than the jokes about not being able to see Mohammad.

I'm sorry but everyone's religion gets made fun of by some one, some where, at some point.

 

[Commoner]

Abuse should always be censored, just not required for decent human beings. Humans already know how to abuse people, without shows like South Park showing people how to abuse people properly. Then again, with shows like South Park, if they censored all abuse, there wouldn't be anything left to show. And that might not be a bad idea either.

You know, there is such a thing as a remote control. Don't like it, change the channel or turn it off. Neither you nor I get to decide what other people like.

Tell me, footprints, who would you appoint as censor, who would you let decide for you what you can read and watch and what you may not? And name one show that does not offend anyone...there is no such thing.

 

[*Anne*]

Well, here comes the backlash. This should help.

 

[fantome profane]

(I heard that they mocked atheists once. Did any of us send them death threats?)

Yes, as a matter of fact I have sent several death threats to Kenny over the years.

 

[Commoner]

Yes, as a matter of fact I have sent several death threats to Kenny over the years.

It all makes sense now!