Post by Nate Nytro on Apr 15, 2006 15:37:03 GMT -5
I don't know if any of you had the pleasure of watching South Park's newest episode; a two part epic entitled "Cartoon Wars". It was fucking hysterical. However, it would appear my paranoia has been confirmed.
In the second part of the cartoon, when they decide to air the Family Guy episode displaying Mohammad uncensored at the last minute, a blank screen comes up with text along the lines of, "In this scence, Mohammad hands Peter a sandwich. Comedy Central will not show an image of Mohammad." My original thought was it was a joke by Matt and Trey, to poke fun at television stations who have banned all religious icons from their shows; that the text I was reading was their doing.
Well...I was half right...the text was their doing, just not their choice.
"Now 007, I always tried to teach you two things...first, never let them see you bleed."
"...and the second?"
"Always have an escape plan."
Let's give these terrorists what they want.
In the second part of the cartoon, when they decide to air the Family Guy episode displaying Mohammad uncensored at the last minute, a blank screen comes up with text along the lines of, "In this scence, Mohammad hands Peter a sandwich. Comedy Central will not show an image of Mohammad." My original thought was it was a joke by Matt and Trey, to poke fun at television stations who have banned all religious icons from their shows; that the text I was reading was their doing.
Well...I was half right...the text was their doing, just not their choice.
In an interview Thursday evening, South Park Executive Producer Anne Garefino revealed to me that the show was faced with two options: deliver the episode as written and animated with Mohammed shown and then allow Comedy Central to censor it, or edit out the disputed scene and write their own language explaining why Mohammed was not being shown and whose decision it was. “We wanted everyone to understand how strongly we felt about this,” said Garefino. Although the decision to omit Mohammed was not theirs, they wanted the language of the censorship disclosure to be their own.
Along with South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker (who are also Executive Producers of the show), Garefino was heavily involved in the negotiations with Comedy Central. She made clear that the reason for Comedy Central’s decision was “fear”: “We were happy that they didn’t try to claim that it was because of religious tolerance.” She thought that South Park’s arguments and influence might have had something to do with the candor of Comedy Central executives on this point...
Along with South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker (who are also Executive Producers of the show), Garefino was heavily involved in the negotiations with Comedy Central. She made clear that the reason for Comedy Central’s decision was “fear”: “We were happy that they didn’t try to claim that it was because of religious tolerance.” She thought that South Park’s arguments and influence might have had something to do with the candor of Comedy Central executives on this point...
Dear Viewer,
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the "South Park" episodes
entitled "Cartoon Wars." We appreciate your concerns about censorship and
the destructive influence of outside groups on the media, entertainment
industry and particularly Comedy Central.
To reiterate, as satirists, we believe that it is our First Amendment right
to poke fun at any and all people, groups, organizations and religions and
we will continue to defend that right. Our goal is to make people laugh and
perhaps, if we're lucky, even make them think in the process.
Comedy Central's belief in the First Amendment has not wavered, despite our
decision not to air an image of Muhammad. Our decision was made not to mute
the voices of Trey and Matt or because we value one religion over any other.
This decision was based solely on concern for public safety in light of
recent world events.
With the power of freedom of speech and expression also comes the obligation
to use that power in a responsible way. Much as we wish it weren't the
case, times have changed and, as witnessed by the intense and deadly
reaction to the publication of the Danish cartoons, decisions cannot be made
in a vacuum without considering what impact they may have on innocent
individuals around the globe.
It was with this in mind we decided not to air the image of Muhammad, a
decision similar to that made by virtually every single media outlet across
the country earlier this year when they each determined that it was not
prudent or in the interest of safety to reproduce the controversial Danish
cartoons. Injuries occurred and lives were lost in the riots set off by the
original publication of these cartoons. The American media made a decision
then, as we did now, not to put the safety and well being of the public at
risk, here or abroad.
As a viewer of "South Park," you know that over the course of ten seasons
and almost 150 episodes the series has addressed all types of sensitive,
hot-button issues, religious and political, and has done so with Comedy
Central's full support in every instance, including this one. "Cartoon
Wars" contained a very important message, one that Trey and Matt felt
strongly about, as did we at the network, which is why we gave them carte
blanche in every facet but one: we would not broadcast a portrayal of
Muhammad.
In that regard, did we censor the show? Yes, we did. But if you hold
Comedy Central's 15-year track record up against any other network out
there, you'll find that we afford our talent the most creative freedom and
provide a nurturing atmosphere that challenges them to be bold and daring
and places them in a position to constantly break barriers and push the
envelope. The result has been some of the most provocative television ever
produced.
We would like nothing more than to be able to look back at this in a few
years and think that perhaps we overreacted. Unfortunately, to have made a
different decision and to look back and see that we completely
underestimated the damage that resulted was a risk we were not willing to
take.
Our pledge to you, our loyal viewers, is that Comedy Central will continue
to produce and provide the best comedy available and we will continue to
push it right to the edge, using and defending the First Amendment in the
most responsible way we know how.
Sincerely,
Comedy Central Viewer Services
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the "South Park" episodes
entitled "Cartoon Wars." We appreciate your concerns about censorship and
the destructive influence of outside groups on the media, entertainment
industry and particularly Comedy Central.
To reiterate, as satirists, we believe that it is our First Amendment right
to poke fun at any and all people, groups, organizations and religions and
we will continue to defend that right. Our goal is to make people laugh and
perhaps, if we're lucky, even make them think in the process.
Comedy Central's belief in the First Amendment has not wavered, despite our
decision not to air an image of Muhammad. Our decision was made not to mute
the voices of Trey and Matt or because we value one religion over any other.
This decision was based solely on concern for public safety in light of
recent world events.
With the power of freedom of speech and expression also comes the obligation
to use that power in a responsible way. Much as we wish it weren't the
case, times have changed and, as witnessed by the intense and deadly
reaction to the publication of the Danish cartoons, decisions cannot be made
in a vacuum without considering what impact they may have on innocent
individuals around the globe.
It was with this in mind we decided not to air the image of Muhammad, a
decision similar to that made by virtually every single media outlet across
the country earlier this year when they each determined that it was not
prudent or in the interest of safety to reproduce the controversial Danish
cartoons. Injuries occurred and lives were lost in the riots set off by the
original publication of these cartoons. The American media made a decision
then, as we did now, not to put the safety and well being of the public at
risk, here or abroad.
As a viewer of "South Park," you know that over the course of ten seasons
and almost 150 episodes the series has addressed all types of sensitive,
hot-button issues, religious and political, and has done so with Comedy
Central's full support in every instance, including this one. "Cartoon
Wars" contained a very important message, one that Trey and Matt felt
strongly about, as did we at the network, which is why we gave them carte
blanche in every facet but one: we would not broadcast a portrayal of
Muhammad.
In that regard, did we censor the show? Yes, we did. But if you hold
Comedy Central's 15-year track record up against any other network out
there, you'll find that we afford our talent the most creative freedom and
provide a nurturing atmosphere that challenges them to be bold and daring
and places them in a position to constantly break barriers and push the
envelope. The result has been some of the most provocative television ever
produced.
We would like nothing more than to be able to look back at this in a few
years and think that perhaps we overreacted. Unfortunately, to have made a
different decision and to look back and see that we completely
underestimated the damage that resulted was a risk we were not willing to
take.
Our pledge to you, our loyal viewers, is that Comedy Central will continue
to produce and provide the best comedy available and we will continue to
push it right to the edge, using and defending the First Amendment in the
most responsible way we know how.
Sincerely,
Comedy Central Viewer Services
both quotes from www.michellemalkin.com/, a few articles down
"Now 007, I always tried to teach you two things...first, never let them see you bleed."
"...and the second?"
"Always have an escape plan."
Let's give these terrorists what they want.