Appeasing Cartoon Jihad

Most of you have probably heard about the recent over-the-top measures to censor the show South Park on the part of Comedy Central, after backlash from an extremist Muslim group with regard to the show’s recent depiction and satirical portrayal of the prophet Muhammad. Rather than ranting about it myself, one of my roommates, who is far more knowledgeable and opinionated about this matter, asked to have a short opinion piece published here. Here’s what he had to say:

William F. Buckley once pondered, “is the day imminently ahead when Muslim influence expresses itself here as vigorously as it is doing in Europe?” The question now seems answered, evident by the recent censorship of the South Park episode “201.” Like the controversy surrounding the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons in Denmark, the threats directed at the creators of South Park and Comedy Central illustrate the growing headway a small minority of Muslim extremists have gained surrounding issues of censorship and free speech.

For the 14 years of South Park’s existence, the television show has maintained its status as an equal opportunity offender towards all religious groups, whether they are Christians, Jews, Mormons, or Scientologists. Yet the poignant satire directed towards these religions has never sparked violence, threats, or even censorship. A civil society like ours does not exist on such illiberal lines, and if offense is taken people respond in a mature adult manner – by boycott, peaceful protest, or simply tuning out. The infantile actions of a small extremist group have taken the opposite route, and ironically its demands and interests have been appeased at the public’s expense.

And while it is understandable to take such threats seriously, the fact is that Comedy Central in its censorship of South Park has merely pushed this issue further down the road, where it will surely arise again. Their concession has given these Muslim radicals, formerly confined to their small niche within the dark corners of the Internet, a level of influence and power they should never have. This power to effectively make threats and intimidate leaves no legitimate criticism of Islam in the media safe, and guarantees more threats will be made on the whim of a few Muslim fundamentalists. This vicious cycle is Tocquevillian: The greater level of accommodation given, the more whetted the petitioners’ demands become. Where is the line drawn? When do free citizens uphold and defend their rights to offend, speak, and promote their ideas freely?

It is an even greater sad state of affairs when on the South Park website, Parker and Stone, the creators of the show, noted, “Kyle’s customary final speech was about intimidation and fear. It didn’t mention Muhammad at all but it got bleeped too.” Evidently, Comedy Central has no concept of where to drawn the line on accommodation, and instead did great disservice to the right of free expression to avoid offending Muslims. When even civil discourse becomes self-inhibited and opinion muted, a civil society has indeed done severe harm to itself. As Buckley noted, “the laws asserting the freedom of the press, like most laws, depend for their fortitude on public backing.” But rather then provide such needed support and allow for a public dialogue (of which many people in the world have no privilege of), Comedy Central lost an opportunity Americans (and the West) still need to confront between the clashing of Islam and liberalism. South Park’s network sadly opted for avoidance and appeasement, and the liberties and civil discourse we all enjoy have been tarnished because of it.