Jihad Watch reader Dan has kindly sent me the response he received from Comedy Central to his inquiry about why they censored images of Muhammad. And the reason, of course, is that they feared violent reprisals from Muslims -- a consideration that clearly never stopped them when it came to lampooning Christians and others. I expect Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR will be contacting them forthwith, indignant over their Islamophobia: why, the very idea that Islam might make its adherents more inclined to violence than followers of other religions is appalling!
Memo to Comedy Central: I couldn't care less about your 15-year track record of trashing Christianity. That is utterly irrelevant. Your much-vaunted commitment to free speech is now shown to be null and void, because you kowtow when it becomes risky not to do so. You are accepting responsibility for the fact that lunatics and fanatical ideologues might murder innocent people because of your actions, when in fact you should be standing up and saying, To kill innocent people over cartoons is insane, and it is solely the responsibility of the lunatics and fanatical ideologues in question. We are not thereby going to be intimidated into silence, for then we have placed ourselves at the mercy of those lunatics and fanatical ideologues, and the consequences in the future will be far more severe for all free societies than some backlash today.
But instead, you punted. And the ranks of those willing to take the risks to defend freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and the ideas of the universal dignity and rights of all human beings -- all of which and more are imperiled in this present conflict -- grows ever smaller.
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
I got the same email.
What a cop out.Meanwhile at Caliphate Central another tick is added to the page of Western weaknesses.
No more comedy central for me. If they cannot keep up with the times and bow down out of fear, i'll go get my laughs elsewhere. From my tiny island things bleak when we get messages like that from the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
Where are you America in our hour of need? Is dhimmitude gotten to your very soul?
I always hated Comedy Central - Bill Maher and Chris Rock spell out why. Somehow, that station has never struck me as a comedy station.
Not at all surprised.
Our National Anthem states in the last two lines of the first verse -
"Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"
Well, that star-spangled banner is more and more being removed and I'm not sure if this is still the land of the free and with the way our media is going, it's definitely not the home of the brave!
It's time to take back OUR country from all the wimps and cowards!
PANTHER PISS!!!
Comedy Central just copped out on the 1st Amendment! They allowed themselves to be intimidated by a bunch of humorless hypocrits that probaly never watch South Park nor Comedy Central anyway! Who cares if Muslims riot? Not me. South Park made it's reputation by poking fun at everybody no matter the issue.
I have this one question, Why do you think the 1st Amendment is immediately followed by the 2nd Amendment? As a Bible believer that loves Jesus, if I saw an episode of South Park that I deemed offensive or insulting, I just turn the channel! I don't riot in the streets, burn, pillage, rape, and murder people that have nothing to do with the issue. So what if muslims feelings are hurt. BIG deal. May be Comedy Central hasn't been keeping up with current events, but Muslims are attacking Christians and Bible believers all over Islamofecesland without remorse or fear of retribution. Muslims are not worried about how we will react because they know that psuedo-Christians will always try to reason things out before doing anything drastic. Bible believers and Christians are always expected to be the "peace makers-peace keepers. But even Jesus said,
"Think not that I am come to send peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34.
This is Jesus talking!!!
Bible believers and Christians are also instructed by the Word of God to, "Live peacibly with ALL men if at all POSSIBLE." I do not have the exact location of this writ of scripture, but it is there in the Word. Muslims have no wish to live peacibly with anyone including other Muslims!!!
Comedy Central has lost a lot of crediblity with a lot of Americans. I really don't hink that they can honestly do another anti-Christian, anti-Catholic, or anti-anything from this point on. Censoring South Park as far as the pedeophile, phalse prophet, child molestin' Muhammad, has rendered Comedy Central null-and-void. I'll never watch Comedy Central again until they air the Muhammad piece. I'd rather watch the watered down South Park on regular t.v. than on Cowardly Central.
May the Wings of Liberty
Never lose a Feather!
"Comedy Central's belief in the First Amendment has not wavered, despite our decision not to air an image of Muhammad..."
"which is why we gave them carte blanche in every facet but one: we would not broadcast a portrayal of Muhammad." from Comedy Central's statement above...
should read "Comedy Central's belief in the First Amendment has one glaring exception, we believe in the First Amendment as long as you don't threaten us, otherwise we'll go hide under a rock and whimper"
"... 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. "
Prudent... they did it too... whine whine whine... we're not any worse than they are....
whine whine whine...
The word 'prudent' coming from Comedy Central is what really reeks. When someone says the first syllable of the word 'prudent' have you ever noticed how their mouth looks like a rectum?
Appalling. Cringing servitude. But they're right about one thing: as they say, times have indeed changed if this passes for free speech. But not for the better.
I will give Comedy Central credit for this much (and only this much): They cited the threat of violence, and not "respect for Islam" as their reason for not depicting Mohammad. That is a grade better than much of the media, though a grade less than those brave outlets who published the Mohammad cartoons in defence of free expression.
Well, they have lampooned (or as Robert says, trashed) Christianity for the past 15 years. How about they spend the next 15 lampooning Islam?
I watched the recent scathing attack on South Park on scientology. There was no ambiguity here. It was a total trashing of scientology.
I am not a scientologist(in fact, I write for psychiatric medications for patients daily), but I was I felt their show on Tom Cruise "in the closet" went a bit over the top. But isn't that what comedy is? The writers of South Park did not cave, the network apparently did. I watched the extremely lame, milk toast Islam show--and it did not compare to the vitriol as opposed to the attack on scientology(which was quite funny).
My point, everybody treats Islam with kid gloves. It is disgusting. What, are the Muslims going to burn a cartoon? At least Cartoon Central was upfront with their caving in. They were scared. The subtext: look, we now we're dealing with nuts without a sense of humor, we're caving. But since scientologists, or Christians or Jews are big boys, who won't kill when provoked, those people will nail.
Dear Comedy Central,
Your were courageous for fifteen years when there was no risk to your safety.
Now that there is risk, you are silent.
Il Toscano
Dear Comedy Central,
Freedom isn't free
It costs folks like you and me
And if we don't all chip in
We'll never pay that bill
Freedom isn't free
Now there's a have to hook'in fee
And if you don't throw in your buck 'o five
Who will?
-- Trey Parker
Calling the readers "loyal viewers" at this point assumes rather a lot, wouldn't you say?
I guess if you don't like Comedy Central (and the MSM at large) has to say, threaten their safety and they'll back down.
What a bunch of gut-less turds.
So Comedy Central caught on to what we knew for years now.
They now understand that Muslims are predisposed to violence and hypersensitivity to riot over the slightest perceived offense to their idol the Misognyistic/pedophile/warrior/killer/liar/paranoid/Prophet of Peace .
Hooper just doesn't get it, when Islam uses violence to force freedom loving people to submit(Islam in Arabic) to censorship, then you forfeit the right to claim you practise a faith of peace and Tolerance.
Plus, killing people that offend your religion of peace doesn't make for a very good selling feature for open-house meetings at Mosques on Islam and Islamophobia.
If Muslims and CAIR hate the West so much, then nobody is forcing them to stay here , there are lots of utopic Islamic Nations using Sharia-law and have very few religious minorities that would offend them and Allah.
CAIR should set up a booth at all the Airport and tell Arabs and Muslims to "Go Back" "Go Back" it's an oppresive Country, there's too much freedom and human rights.
Go back,the book"To Serve Muslims" s a cookbook
not a sensitivity guide for Islamophobes.
GO BACK.........
I, for one, was not at all happy about Comedhimmi Central's caving in. But I can't say I really blame them or would do any differently in their situation. After all, They are not made up of a platoon of Marines to defend against the impending retribution, as unjustified and barbaric as it would be.
But until our government is willing to step up and defend ourselves against this growing cancer and call this war what it really is - a war on ISLAM - how can we expect little guys like a paltry cable network to rise to the challenge? (As refreshing as that would be.)
Sites like this and FaithFreedom.org at least have the advantage of semi-anonymity to not fear attacks so much.
Co-dhimmi Central's "track record" of denigrating Christianity and common decency is well-recognized, but their "courage" is non-existent. I used to catch a program here and there on their network (mostly South Park), but I cannot bring myself to even surf through it anymore.
If the South Park creators have any integrity, they're planning to take their wares elsewhere.
Q- Why did the chickens cross the road?
A- Because their Islamic Overlords ordered them to.
(Comedie turned to come die.)
This has to be unprecedented, first the mo-toons and now this. I doubt there has ever been a time where western media organizations actively self-censor out of fear of violence from a certain section of society. Comedy Central, instead of just brushing it off, should take it to the government and explain the situation. Tell GW that his noble religion of peace is a serious threat to their freedom of expression and that employee safety is now under threat if they ever make a wrong step when it comes to representing Islam in any way.
Shoudn't this be a bigger deal over there in the land of the free? Or is everyone just getting used to this whole encroaching dhimmitude thing?
Here's a exerpt from a BBC story about Iraq geting so bad even GAYS miss Saddam's iron fist control on violence.
*************************************************
I don't want to be gay anymore. When I go out to buy bread, I'm afraid. When the doorbell rings, I think that they have come for me."
That is the fear that haunts Hussein, and other gay men in Iraq.
They say that since the US-led invasion, gay people are being killed because of their sexual orientation.
They blame the increase in violence on the growing influence of religious figures and militia groups in Iraq since Saddam Hussein was ousted.