Tuesday, March 14, 2006

South Park vs. Scientology

Isaac Hayes, who has voiced Chef since the series' inception, has quit South Park. He has described how he cannot be associated with the attacks on religion he sees in the show. It appears, as is noted by the Reuters report, that the problem is more specific and related to the show's recent attack on Mr. Hayes' religion, Scientology.

The episode was brutal, featuring long sections describing the bizarre beliefs of Scientologists but the inclination of those who run the religion to sue those who publically question it rendered the religion a fine target for important satire. South Park is in its tenth series and Mr. Hayes has taken part in shows where entire episodes have been devoted to mocking Christians, Jews and Mormons. If there has ever been a show which can fairly use the defence of mocking all equally it is South Park. Being so selectively offended completely undermines the moral case Mr. Hayes attempts to deploy.

8 comments:

Dave Cole said...

The argument you give is, as we have come to expect, logically sound and to a very large extent I agree with it. It is perhaps worth putting Chef's point of view. It may be that he accepts that it is necessary (and right) to be able to criticise religions, including his own. However, the emotional attachment he feels to his religion might be such that, while he is able to criticise other religions and can accept, from other, criticism of Scientology, he does not feel able himself - whether the concept or the particular be right or wrong - to associate himself with a criticism (and it is worth remembering that South Park tears strips off its targets) in that medium of his own religion. It may be inconsistent but it is understandable. While it would be great (and socialist) if we were rational creatures, we are largely governed by out emotions and to criticize him, in terms, for that seems unfair.

xD.

Dave Cole said...

You may have been a good debater but now you're bantha fodder, ha ha ha.

:)

xD.

Matthew Sinclair said...

I'm not going to accept the steady assault on the rational individual being mounted by the left.

Martin said...
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Martin said...

Good. I shall now boycott Isaac Hayes along with the work of those other scientologists Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Mel Gibson too of course, for numerous offenses. Makes my cultural diet more refined.

Martin said...
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Dave Cole said...

Rationality is a two-way process, Matt; you have to understand others' rationality to be able to act in a rational manner yourself based on an appreciation of what their likely actions will be.

xD.

Matthew Sinclair said...

I'm not saying I cannot understand his behaviour but that, however he has got there, he is wrong and his argument is weak.