Commentary on South Park's Defilement of Our Lady

Vivificat! - A Catholic Blog of Commentary and Opinion ^ | 10 December 2005 | Teófilo

[Teófilo]

I appreciate all your feedback. I do have a sense of humor. I did watch Team America twice. Yet, this one attacked my Family.

Up to now I closed my eyes; up to now I was a hypocrite. No longer. Not any more.

I suppose, then, that the Golden Rule applies: "do unto others"...you know the rest.

I would be remiss also if I don't point out the outrageous error perpetrated in the name of "humor" and "satire" by fellow human beings as much in need of healing and salvation as I am.

Sorry if this transgress your tolerance boundaries. But I'll exercise my civil and religious rights without apologies, and without asking permission from anyone. If the South Park do it, so can I.

Like Martin Luther said--and I'm not a Lutheran:

Here I take my stand. I can't do no other.

Cheers,
-Theo

[bikepacker67]

LOL

[prion]

Sorry if this transgress your tolerance boundaries. But I'll exercise my civil and religious rights without apologies, and without asking permission from anyone. If the South Park do it, so can I.

Of course you can. And of course you will. And we will continue to point at you and laugh.

Wha-hey! Everyone tolerance boundaries get transgress sometime.

[Teófilo]

Erratum: if the South Park do it... should read if the South Park crowd does it. I shouldn't write when I'm upset.

As always, blunders, typos, mine.

-Theo

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

And another thing they do is make fun of a group, say the Mormons, in one episode and six or so episodes later, they make the Mormons out to be the heros. For example in one episode they raked the Mormons over the coals. Really made them look ridiculous. But in another episode about heaven, only Mormons were in heaven. They were the only ones who had made it in. So you see they do what's funny to them at the time and it's not personal.

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

you wrote: Isn't there another religion that says they are abouve satire?

Would that be the religion of Abe Foxman?

Should a program that mocked and denied the Holacaust be accepted as just another show, whatever floats your boat?

Ideas expressed even in a "cartoon" have influence over others, especially the young. If Catholics and Christians wish to protest and boycott, then there is nothing wrong with it; actually, that will be laudable. South Park sounds like cultural pollution; oh, I forgot, it's funny, so that means its ok.

[Teófilo]

And another thing they do is make fun of a group, say the Mormons, in one episode and six or so episodes later, they make the Mormons out to be the heros. For example in one episode they raked the Mormons over the coals. Really made them look ridiculous. But in another episode about heaven, only Mormons were in heaven. They were the only ones who had made it in. So you see they do what's funny to them at the time and it's not personal.

Perhaps we should ask the Mormons around here how they feel about it.

Mary occupies a very high position in the long lines of examples and witnesses in the Catholic Church. An attack on her is quite personal and offensive to many of us.

I understand social commentary, believe me, and I do have a thick skin. But this was beyond the pale.

Say, for the sake of argument, that instead of Mary, they would've mocked your own mother? How would that make you feel?

That's how I feel.

-Theo

[ecurbh]

Here we go again...

[HairOfTheDog]

Discussed completely here already:

VIRGIN MARY DEFILED ON “SOUTH PARK”

[Teófilo]

Dude,

Didn't want to offend you. OK? But your tone invited my tart reply. Get off the high horse and save the rhetoric lessons! Now, to answer the question:

Let's get to the real point: What "action" do you want to take? What result do you want to get from that action--a bunch of cartoons that can criticize everyone and everything except what YOU like? Why should the South Park people not express their own opinions? YOU have that freedom--don't they? Knock off the drama--stick to the important issue. What are you trying to do? What do you hope to achieve?

I intend to take the action that Bill Donohue from the CDL suggest we take. Clear as mud?

Peace!
-Theo

[Teófilo]

Discussed completely here already...

Drats! Always late...

-Theo

[prion]

Ideas expressed even in a "cartoon" have influence over others, especially the young.

If people are letting their children watch South Park, it ain't South Park's fault. And they rip on Jews all the time, mainly through the character of Kyle Brovlofsky, who is one. One of the funniest exchanges ever (roughly, from memory):

Cartman: Dude, I'm sorry I called you a Jew.
Kyle (disgusted): Cartman, I am a Jew!
Cartman: No, no...don't be so hard on yourself.

I can't recall if they've ever taken on the Holocaust, but if anything about the retelling struck them as phony, I have every expectation that they would. They don't make fun of things randomly. Broadly, but not randomly.

[HairOfTheDog]

They don't make fun of things randomly. Broadly, but not randomly.

More to the point, they rarely make fun of things that don't deserve it. They make fun of anyone who is silly, regardless of the sensitivities involved. And sometimes the silly person is us.

Flocking to a bleeding statue of Mary, or Jesus, or Elvis for that matter, thinking that it will cure you of disease, is, in most people's opinion, ~silly~. Mary's not silly, Catholics aren't silly, just some ~people~ are.

[Darkwolf377]

"Dude, Didn't want to offend you. OK? But your tone invited my tart reply. Get off the high horse and save the rhetoric lessons!"

"Dude," YOU are the one who needs to get off the high horse. You're the one who does the "Oh, you're attacking me!" crap. I never said a word about the "tartness" of your reply, so stop this bizarre practice you have of inventing other people's motives.

" Now, to answer the question: Let's get to the real point: What "action" do you want to take? What result do you want to get from that action--a bunch of cartoons that can criticize everyone and everything except what YOU like? Why should the South Park people not express their own opinions? YOU have that freedom--don't they? Knock off the drama--stick to the important issue. What are you trying to do? What do you hope to achieve? I intend to take the action that Bill Donohue from the CDL suggest we take. Clear as mud? Peace! -Theo"

Silly me, I thought you could think for yourself. Go march in lockstep, you're not worth debating, or capable of it, apparently.

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

I am not especially fond of censorship and public denunciations of something as is known can actually inadvertently promote it (as Abe Foxman did The Passion)

As for kids watching the program, probably many do so against their parents wishes and others do so out of parental neglect. I believe much of what is "entertainment"
today is in fact cultural pollution. It affects all of us to variable degree, harming whatever is left of our innocence and altruism. It's true that in the 1950s people didnt have easy access to porno, sex humor and biting satire, but ultimately can we really say that Americans in the 21st century are really happier than they were in the 1950s? It is taking more and more to titillate and "entertain" us. Sorry, I know we will disagree here.

I hope though there is something out there even if it's "funny" will cross a line of decency for you, then you will know how others feel here.

[Teófilo]

Silly me, I thought you could think for yourself. Go march in lockstep, you're not worth debating, or capable of it, apparently.

Think what you like. Go watch you show and "enhance" you intelligence and critical skills any way you like. If rolling on dung makes you happy, so be it.

-Theo

[Virginia-American]

Maybe you and the Scientologists can file a class action lawsuit. PETA, Barbra S., the trial lawyers, and NAMBLA could join your class. Have fun!

[EveningStar]

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[LA Conservative]

Yawn

[prion]

I hope though there is something out there even if it's "funny" will cross a line of decency for you, then you will know how others feel here.

It's a rather odd thing to wish on someone, but yes, of course I have found things offensive in my lifetime. Sometimes unpardonably, unforgivably offensive. That's why God made the remote control.