This past week South Park concluded a two-part series to commemorate their 200th episode. They endeavored to bring back 200 characters that they have ripped on over their 14 seasons. And in true South Park fashion ended up stirring much controversy. But this time it was more serious as warnings of violence were made against the creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker by a Muslim extremist website.
In the first episode the boys are on a field trip to a chocolate factory. Here they meet Tom Cruise who is literally packing fudge into boxes. They call him out for being a 'fudge packer', no pun intended. In response, he threatens to sue the whole city of South Park. The city freaks out because it will bankrupt them. So Stan and Randy go back to Tom Cruise to beg forgiveness. He says that he will drop the lawsuit if they can get him the prophet Muhammed. Tom Cruise, and his gang of celebrities - a group that includes everyone the show has singled out from Paris Hilton to Russell Crow - want Muhammed for his 'goo' which prevents him from being ridiculed.
Stan says he can get Muhammed for Tom Cruise, so he goes to the den of the 'super best friends'. Here the legitimacy of handing over Muhammed and showing him is debated by the super best friends Jesus, Buddha, etc. They say that Muslims will be offended and "blow things up" if Muhammed is depicted.
As they are handing over Muhammed, who is in a bear suit to not offend Muslims and risk violence, the limo where he is being escorted explodes. It turns out that this bomb was a plot by the gingers. This group of freckled, orange haired children warns of more violence if Muhammed is not delivered to them. Obviously the gingers are after his 'goo' as well. Randy and the towns elders call Tom Cruise to tell him that the have to hand over Muhammed to the gingers, or risk more violence. Cruise's reaction is to get violent as well, calling upon Mecha-Streisband, a mechanized Godzilla Barbara Streisband from way back in Season 1. And the episode ends.
Following this episode a warning of violence was posted on the website Revolutionmuslim.com. “We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh for airing this show. This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them... It's not a threat, but it really is a likely outcome... They're going to be basically on a list in the back of the minds of a large number of Muslims. It's just the reality."
Throughout the episode Muhammed is shown as a black box with the word "censored" in it. So while not depicting him, they subtly take a shot at the Muslim attitude towards their prophets portrayal in the media. Frankly I suspect that Matt Stone and Trey Parker knew that there was to be controversy surrounding this episode. But they are not cowards and are very experienced in this arena. Every episode of South Park is a rip on a different person, or group of people. For example, take this ginger kid's video that went viral:
In response to the warnings of violence from this Muslim website, comedy central decided to censor the second-part of the episode. Every time somebody said Muhammed it was bleeped. And at the end of the episode, the 'lessons learned', as said by Stan, Jesus and Santa Claus was completely bleeped out. This was extremely cowardly, and if I was Matt Stone and Trey Parker I would be livid. Everything they have worked for over the 14 seasons was lost this past wednesday night. South Park is an icon, not because they stay within social conventions, but because they break them down. By the way, in the episode Buddha is shown snorting lines of cocaine. Did anybody read of Buddhists threatening violence? If you have, let me know, lol.
Check out the Comedy Central statement:
The nation of Islam needs to get over itself. How is violence a reasonable response to the the depiction of your lord. If you do not like South Park, feel free to not watch it. If you are offended by their message feel free to speak out against it. Sure the show is at times petty, and yes it takes low blows at everyone. But often the underlying message of the show is real and worthwhile. We should all take the message from this South Park to heart, especially those Muslims who would dare threaten violence. Perhaps it is time that moderate Muslims the world-over - and I know they are the majority - speak up against the few extremists.
For the record, here are two Palestinian cartoons depicting Israelis. This kind of anti-semitism is commonplace in Islamic countries and sends a clear message of hatred and intolerance. At least the South Park message was for free speech.
Ariel Sharon, former Prime Minister of Israel
A Jew is telling the parrot George W. to say, "I hate Arabs". And he obliges.
That video is hilarious, I feel for that kid, but even more than that I think he is furiously funny.
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