South Park joke won't air in Sweden

The Swedish affiliate of broadcaster Comedy Central has said it will not show two controversial episodes of US satirical cartoon show South Park depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad in a bear costume, Aftonbladet reports.

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"Comedy Central has decided not to air these two episodes of South Park. It is a decision we've made with great reluctance. Comedy Central believes strongly in creative freedom of expression; when unique and deeply insightful creative talents like those behind South Park are able to express themselves freely, we all benefit.

"However, the safety of our employees is our unquestioned number one priority, and therefore we have decided to take these precautionary measures," the broadcaster explained in a statement released to Aftonbladet.

Spokesman Peter von Satzgerl told the Svenska Dagbladet daily that the decision came as a result of "international directives" from the channel's parent network in the United States.

The Muhammad joke formed part of a 200th anniversary episode screened in the US on April 14th, prompting threats of retribution from an Islamist group directed towards the notoriously irreverent show's creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker.

The warning, posted on the website revolutionmuslim.com and interpreted as a direct threat in much of the US media, cautioned Stone and Parker that they "will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh", a Dutch filmmaker murdered in 2004 after making a film critical of Islamic society.

The pair appeared to heed the warning last week when the second part of the centenary show was aired, with the word Censored appearing after the Muslim prophet's name was mentioned, and with the bear-suited Muhammad replaced by Santa Claus.

The first episode contained typically mocking depictions of several religious figures and assorted celebrities, with Buddha at one point being chastised by Jesus for snorting cocaine. It is not the first time that Muhammad and other religious figures have featured on the show, having previously put in an appearance in the fifth season episode Super Best Friends.

The 200th episode tells the story of a class action suit filed by all the celebrities who have been mocked on the show. Tom Cruise promises to end the law suit if the town can produce the Muslim prophet Muhammad.

The South Park townsfolk in the end decide to hand Muhammad over to a group calling itself the Ginger Separatist Movement, to avert a threatened bombing of the town.

The original broadcast of the show was watched by 3.33 million US viewers but, following the Comedy Central decision, Swedish viewers will now have to find other ways to access the controversial episode of the smash hit show.

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You should see the commentaries under the article: http://www.thelocal.se/26366/20100429/

This is only going to encourage the makers of Southpark to do more jokes about Mohammed. I think the best course of action for muslims would have been to ignore this. All the attention showered on it only encourages more of it.

Disgusting anti-religious propaganda where the abuser presents himself as the abused.

The most easy way to deliver evil is to present it as innocent and there is nothing more innocent
than laughter.

And the most evil thing is ignorant that presents itself as truth. The creators of south park are so
dangerous not because they are evil in the classical sense of the word but rather because they
are so horribly ignorant.

It is however the task of western society to ask itself why the voices of ignorant people are so
highly appreciated.

Pygoscelis, this is true. However, sadly I think that these line of action has things from
both sides.

That is, actually the Muslims around the world do ignore this nonsense as is indeed the
appropriate comment. However, the media is very much looking for other comments on
the subject - and, if I may say, might artificially generate them in order to further destroy
Muslim image in the non-Muslim world.

I think that the right course of action would be to feed them with their own medicine and
for Muslim's to make humorous comments on the secular way of living (which is actually
indeed really funny and satirical when one thinks about it - I wonder if when a mirror
would be put in front of their eyes in an intelligent way they would find themselves so
smart and funny ) - Now this is one TV show I would love to see

The problem with "giving them a taste of their own medicine" is that they don't share the same mindset or values of hings holy that muslims do. You can make fun of secular things and you can lambaste atheism all you want and I'll never get offended (so long as you stick to the ideas that is). I actually find evolution a fertile ground for jokes for example. Its hard to get the same level of offense on people who don't hold anything holy. I think this TV show you suggest, where you put the mirror in front of them, may actually turn out to be a big hit with them (the opposite of what I think you're looking for)

Well. It is indeed hard but not entirely impossible.

I agree. Evolution is indeed a funny thing.

I think it falls under the category of apes imitating man.

The whole idea of the evolution theory grew out of an attempt of secular
man to explain their existence. The blueprint for that was interpretations
secular people gave to religious ideas.

For instance we believe in something that happened a long time ago - that
is - in the prophethood of Muhammad. However, we do not know that it happened.
We believe in it (which is something much stronger than knowing). And this
is where the confusion began.

A Muslim doesn't know anything about the past (just as nobody else does) - he
believes.

This is the one of the differences between secular people and religious people.
Religious people believe in things about the past and aspire to strengthen their
belief in every going day.

Secular people think they really know things about the past (and they stretch this
thought or rather belief) very very far - hence the theory of evolution. I find
it hilarious that somebody can be completely convinced in the validity of this theory
yet not even know the name of his grand grand father. Now isn't that comical?

Clarification : By saying that we do not know I mean that it is impossible to know anything
about the past as it has already happened. Even about my own life I do not really know things
but rather believe that my memory does not deceive me.

In fact, the things we can really know (and when I say know I mean in the sense secular people
give to the word) are very limited. When one thinks about it - human existence is much much more
about believing things than knowing them.

Gabriel Ibn Yus said:

Clarification : By saying that we do not know I mean that it is impossible to know anything
about the past as it has already happened. Even about my own life I do not really know things
but rather believe that my memory does not deceive me.

In fact, the things we can really know (and when I say know I mean in the sense secular people
give to the word) are very limited. When one thinks about it - human existence is much much more
about believing things than knowing them.

Click to expand...

I disagree.

While 100% certainty in anything may be impossible - after all, there /might/ be a ninja hiding behind my chair - it /is/ possible to achieve 99.9999999% certainty in some things, based on previous evidence, and that level of certainty is good enough to make predictions about the future, and to make decisions about what to do to adjust the future into a form more to one's liking. For example, I can predict that if I shove my glass of juice off my table, that it will fall to the floor and spill, possibly crack, and possibly shatter; and that since I don't want to clean up sticky juice and broken glass, that it would be a good idea to avoid that initial shove, and just finish drinking my juice already.

A few years ago, I came into physical contact with a bat, and so my doctors decided that I should go through rabies vaccinations. There was no way of knowing whether or not the bat had infected me with rabies; but if it had, then there was an extremely high probability that without vaccinations I would die, and even if it hadn't, the vaccinations themselves would cause little harm beyond the pain of the injections, and so it was possible to make a decision based on evidence and knowledge, rather than "belief".

This isn't a matter of philosophy, or even of science, but the purely practical matters of engineering; of getting things /done/.

As food for thought, I give you one of Rudyard Kipling's works on a closely related subject:

Kipling said:

The Sons of Martha

The Sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part;
But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the careful soul and troubled heart.
And because she lost her temper once, and because she was rude to the Lord her Guest,
Her Sons must wait upon Mary's Sons, world without end, reprieve, or rest.

It is their care in all the ages to take the buffet and cushion the shock.
It is their care that the gear engages; it is their care that the switches lock.
It is their care that the wheels run truly; it is their care to embark and entrain,
Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by land and main.


They say to mountains, 'Be ye removed'. They say to the lesser floods, 'Be dry'.
Under their rods are the rocks reproved - they are not afraid of that which is high.
Then do the hill-tops shake to the summit - then is the bed of the deep laid bare,
That the Sons of Mary may overcome it, pleasantly sleeping and unaware.


They finger death at their gloves' end where they piece and repiece the living wires.
He rears against the gates they tend: they feed him hungry behind their fires.
Early at dawn, ere men see clear, they stumble into his terrible stall,
And hale him forth like a haltered steer, and goad and turn him till evenfall.


To these from birth is Belief forbidden; from these till death is Relief afar.
They are concerned with matter hidden - under the earthline their altars are;
The secret fountains to follow up, waters withdrawn to restore to the mouth,
And gather the floods as in a cup, and pour them again at a city drouth.


They do not preach that their God will rouse them a little before the nuts work loose.
They do not teach that His Pity allows them to leave their work when they ****-well choose.
As in the thronged and the lighted ways, so in the dark and the desert they stand.
Wary and watchful all their days that their brethren's days may be long in the land.


Raise ye the stone or cleave the wood to make a path more fair or flat:
Lo, it is black already with blood some Son of Martha spilled for that:
Not as a ladder from earth to Heaven, not as a witness to any creed,
But simple service simply given to his own kind in their common need.


And the Sons of Mary smile and are blessed - they know the angels are on their side.
They know in them is the Grace confessed, and for them are the Mercies multiplied.
They sit at the Feet - they hear the Word - they see how truly the Promise Runs:
They have cast their burden upon the Lord, and - the Lord He lays it on Martha's Sons.

Click to expand...

and this 0.00000001% is the remarkable place where belief kicks in. And if you think of it - that what makes the whole difference.

Its 0.0000000000001% X Infinity probable that the solar system would look like it looks.

Its 0.0000000000001% X Infinity probable that our eyes would function like they do.

Its 0.0000000000001% X Infinity probable that we would be able to read and write.

Yet all these things, and actually, everything around us - happens. It is unpredictable.
And it is this 0.000000000001 X Infinity percent of miracle (in fact, if you sum all these
miracles together you get to 100% of miracle) which makes life what it is.

If you think of it - one of the most unpredictable things is that life would even have laws
to begin with!

You know, if they aired an episode depicting the Holocaust and claiming that it really took place, I bet you that the US Government would lynch Matt Stone and Trey Parker - in public.

Gabriel Ibn Yus said:

and this 0.00000001% is the remarkable place where belief kicks in. And if you think of it - that what makes the whole difference.

Its 0.0000000000001% X Infinity probable that the solar system would look like it looks.

Its 0.0000000000001% X Infinity probable that our eyes would function like they do.

Its 0.0000000000001% X Infinity probable that we would be able to read and write.

Yet all these things, and actually, everything around us - happens. It is unpredictable.
And it is this 0.000000000001 X Infinity percent of miracle (in fact, if you sum all these
miracles together you get to 100% of miracle) which makes life what it is.

If you think of it - one of the most unpredictable things is that life would even have laws
to begin with!

Click to expand...

Er... no. Just... no. I don't want to derail this thread into the whole evolution vs creationism debate, but you are repeating some oft-debunked creationist canards, and you are doing your cause no good by trying to use such nonsense to back it up. If you wish to educate yourself on /why/ the points you just described are false, then you should check the Index to Creationist Claims' entries about probability or odds, such as CB010. If you wish to continue this aspect of the conversation, then I would suggest that it be moved to a thread of its own, so that this thread can continue to be about the South Park issue.


Thank you for your time,
--
DataPacRat
lu .iacu'i ma krinu lo du'u .ei mi krici la'e di'u li'u traji lo ka vajni fo lo preti

Cyph0n said:

You know, if they aired an episode depicting the Holocaust and claiming that it really took place, I bet you that the US Government would lynch Matt Stone and Trey Parker - in public.

Click to expand...

Do you /really/ want a list of the references to, and jokes about, the Holocaust which South Park has already made?


Thank you for your time,
--
DataPacRat
lu .iacu'i ma krinu lo du'u .ei mi krici la'e di'u li'u traji lo ka vajni fo lo preti

DataPac I do not understand what your agenda is.

Personally I do not care about evolution because it is just a stupid theory.

If you want we can speak about more interesting things like Newton's physics, Theory of
relativity and secular economical systems - that I can show you are downright wrong or at
best imperfect.

In short - secular people just drive themselves into believing in nonsense. The formula is very
simple - turn your back into believing in the universal truth and you would get a fragmented
picture in everything else you do

p.s I do not understand why you say it is not related to the South Park issue. We started a discussion about the South Park joke and naturally got to this issue. Discussions are much like life - they naturally evolve and shouldn't follow artificial formulas which limit them.

Also, I do not understand the issue with the Holocaust. Many people died and its sad. That's the end
of it. I really do not understand why we care so much if at this office or the other they were written
as Jews. Hitler didn't seem to like Jews for what ever random reason he was and this Psychopati seemed
to really sink in into Europe at that time for reasons which are quite clear (they where spiritually empty people
at that time - we still have people like that in many places around the world today). The only conclusion I can draw
from that is that history is sad and painful as it still is today.

Gabriel Ibn Yus said:

DataPac I do not understand what your agenda is.

Personally I do not care about evolution because it is just a stupid theory.

If you want we can speak about more interesting things like Newton's physics, Theory of
relativity and secular economical systems - that I can show you are downright wrong or at
best imperfect.

In short - secular people just drive themselves into believing in nonsense. The formula is very
simple - turn your back into believing in the universal truth and you would get a fragmented
picture in everything else you do

Click to expand...

My agenda is simple: I want to know what the truth is, and to believe the truth, whatever that truth may be. As simple as it sounds, in order to accomplish that goal, I've had to teach myself about philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology and more just to get to the point where I can even have a decent understanding of what 'truth' is in general, let alone what any specific truths are.

As for the 'stupid theories' you mention, you seem to mistake their purpose. They do not claim to be the absolute truth in any way, shape, or form; the only claim they have to any sort of truth is that, according to the evidence which is available, they are able to make better and more accurate predictions than any other theory. The theory of evolution allows us to understand how multi-drug resistant diseases arise, and how to combat them; Newton's physics are a special case of the theory of relativity, and, within their domain, make predictions that are about as accurate; the theory of relativity allows us to predict the adjustments we have to make to the clocks of GPS satellites in order to allow your car's GPS to know where you are.

Just because you don't understand such theories doesn't mean they don't save lives.


Thank you for your time,
--
DataPacRat
lu .iacu'i ma krinu lo du'u .ei mi krici la'e di'u li'u traji lo ka vajni fo lo preti

Gabriel Ibn Yus said:

p.s I do not understand why you say it is not related to the South Park issue. We started a discussion about the South Park joke and naturally got to this issue. Discussions are much like life - they naturally evolve and shouldn't follow artificial formulas which limit them.

Click to expand...

I have read a number of forums, and a near-constant is that any thread in which a discussion about evolution-vs-creationism is allowed to proceed ends up becoming entirely about e-vs-c, with anything else that thread may have been talking about completely drowned out. Thus my suggestion that such discussion be moved to a thread of its own.

Also, I do not understand the issue with the Holocaust. Many people died and its sad. That's the end
of it. I really do not understand why we care so much if at this office or the other they were written
as Jews. Hitler didn't seem to like Jews for what ever random reason he was and this Psychopati seemed
to really sink in into Europe at that time for reasons which are quite clear (they where spiritually empty people
at that time - we still have people like that in many places around the world today). The only conclusion I can draw
from that is that history is sad and painful as it still is today.

Click to expand...

... but I'm too /young/ to mutter about "kids these days".

If you /really/ don't understand why the Holocaust is such a big deal: It involved the killing of, according to the best estimates, millions of people who had not caused anyone else any harm. This is considered to be a Bad Thing to have done, and is generally reviled these days. But the /important/ lesson is that the Germans of the time weren't some evil separate species, or mind-controlled, or the like... they were, pretty much, just ordinary people, just like you and me... which means that countries full of ordinary people, like yours and mine, are just as capable of doing massive evil as Nazi Germany ever was: as the saying goes, "It /can/ happen here." Your country might become the next Nazi Germany; or mine; or someone else's. As another saying goes, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."


Thank you for your time,
--
DataPacRat
lu .iacu'i ma krinu lo du'u .ei mi krici la'e di'u li'u traji lo ka vajni fo lo preti

Saving lives is important. Saving souls is more important.

I appreciate your purpose very much - the blend of seeking knowledge and wanting
it to be beneficial for society is the way to go.

Once a person is opened to the idea that he has a soul a new "science" is being
opened to him and we refer to this science as "religion" or "Islam" (if you wish
to connect yourself to other religions you are of course welcome, however, since
Islam is the only religion which is open to receive the correct things from the other
religions while the other religions are currently not Islam is perfect and hence is
the right place to go to).

Once one extends his point of view from an attempt to predict physical things
to an attempt to understand, to the best of his ability, spiritual things the benefits
are quite uplifting.

I did not say that the holocaust itself is not a big deal - and this is not what is implemented from what I say.

I say that the question of wether the people who died in the holocaust were Jews or not is, at best, meaningless.

They were people. That's the end of it.