Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Comedy Central Cowers Before Jihadists While Mocking Christians

07 May, 2010

Comedy Central Cowers Before Jihadists While Mocking Christians « The American Catholic

10 comments:

Lady Janus07 May, 2010
When people without a sense of humor have already proven that they are willing to kill indiscriminately in "defense" of their "religion," you bet the comedians will back off! That doesn't make them cowards.

Everyone who knows nothing about my religion feels free to mock it. And some of them do it from their pulpits. Should I kill over it?

Would you?
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Anonymous08 May, 2010
Hi Tim,

So what are christians arguing for:

a) Mocking a religion should be an equal opportunity sport (i.e. it should apply to christianity and islam equally)?
b) Neither christianity nor islam should be mocked and both should be treated with kid gloves?
c) Ony islam should be mocked?

I get that they don't want christianity mocked, and that they see a double standard in the left's treatment of islam, but how is it that they would like us to treat other religions?

From my point of view - no religion should be above criticism - whether that criticism be in the form of a scholarly, popular or humorous form (islam included).

In fact, if christians are really afraid of an islamic hegemony, then they should be moving quickly to shore up the concept of separation of church and state instead of attacking that separation. An open and secular society is the only durable protector of religious tolerance and freedom in the long run.

Cheers...Martin
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Fr. Tim Moyle08 May, 2010
Martin: First, let me begin by stating that it is a hallmark of any civilized society that there are some topics which just shouldn't be mocked (at least in the public media). That being said, I take offense that they would not seem willing to mock one faith (out of fear - not respect) while slagging another.

So, I guess it's more my sense of politeness and manners that are more offended than is my religious beliefs. For me, it's not a sign of advancement to see our society becoming coarser and more insulting to issues that are close to peoples hearts as their faith.

Hope you're not getting blasted with the blizzard that's hitting Mattawa today. It's not fit for man or beast outside here today (or so my dog told me this morning after his very short trip outside to accommodate his 'toilet needs'. It will most certainly be a small crowd at church today!

Tim
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Fr. Tim Moyle08 May, 2010
P.S. I was just as offended when they satirized Scientology a few years ago for the same reasons.
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Lady Janus08 May, 2010
"So, I guess it's more my sense of politeness and manners that are more offended than is my religious beliefs. For me, it's not a sign of advancement to see our society becoming coarser and more insulting to issues that are close to peoples hearts as their faith."

You just explained my feelings in a very neat nutshell! It's the lack of courtesy that bothers me, not the lack of "respect" for anyone's religious beliefs. I wonder why I didn't figure that out sooner myself...

But now that I know the what, I think I also know the why...personal space.

Being an introvert, I have a much more urgent psychological need for personal space, and I have wider boundaries for it than most people. So I'm exquisitely sensitive to being crowded, and when I am being crowded, my instinct is to react with defensive anger -- "Hey! I'm living here!" kinda thing. And this personal space is not just physical, it's also intellectual and emotional.

Courtesy has always been a big thing with me. I can be in complete disagreement with anyone about anything, and still work side-by-side with and be courteous to them as long as they are courteous with me. It's not the same as respect -- that has to be earned. But courtesy in an over-crowded, urban society is essential for our continued cooperative existence. Without it, we would kill one another.

We take the first step towards killing when we disregard courtesy for the sake of one-upmanship that, in the end, means absolutely nothing to the multiverse we occupy. The deliberate dropping of courtesy is a provocation to someone's personal space.

But...the wild overreaction to the invasion of that personal space with threats of murder and even outright actual murder -- that's insane. It's not religion-based. It has nothing to do with Islam proper. It does have to do with mob mentality. Somebody's personal space got ruptured and he wants the whole world to feel his anger, so he whips a mob into violence in order to feel better on a personal level. It's an unbalanced reaction.

That's pretty rough, but the idea just popped into my head and I wanted to capture it in print before I lost it. It needs smoothing and finishing, but it's a beginning. Comments, anyone?
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Fr. Tim Moyle08 May, 2010
Lady Janus: I agree completely with the way you've framed the issue as one of courtesy. Your thoughts remind me of the writings of Desmond Morris (The Naked Ape).

As our world population grows and our cities etc. become more congested, courtesy is ESSENTIAL for the maintenance of good conduct. Just look to the Japanese to see this in action. They have developed through the centuries a social code of conduct that serves as the framework for their entire culture.

I am saddened and fearful of what is happening to our Canadian culture as fewer and fewer children are being taught the 'niceties' of manners and courtesy and as a result our culture is suffering.

Clearly the producers at Comedy Central are among those who suffer this lack in their formative years and thus believe that it is OK to invade the inner sanctuary of a persons belief to mock or satirize the convictions of others - so that they can sell their product.

Fr. Tim
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Lady Janus09 May, 2010
'Sfunny you should mention the Japanese, Tim. I kept thinking of James Clavell's book, Shogun, while I was putting that comment together. I actually learned how to "tune out" a lot of things that happen right in front of me, thanks to Clavell and that book. My awareness goes on automatic pilot, and unless I'm in danger, I am essentially alone. He was a terrific writer on eastern cultures, and I miss looking forward to his next book.

But I understand that comedy and humor is a different matter. That is entertainment, not to be taken seriously. Mocking and satire are parts of humor. Not to everyone's taste, but there ya go. I tell Witch jokes. They're funny to me and to most people who hear them, even cowans, if they know the background for understanding. There are a couple of people to whom I won't tell such jokes, because they do not find them funny. But that's a matter of personal taste, and one learns when such things will be appreciated and when they will not.

However, not being familiar with Comedy Central, I may be missing the point of your comment on mocking and satire...
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Anonymous09 May, 2010
Hi Tim and Lady Janus,

Well since we are discussing comedy, I thought I might offer this quote, which kind of sums up my view on religious respect:

H. L. Mencken:
"We must respect the other fellow's religion,but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart."

Cheers...Martin
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Fr. Tim Moyle09 May, 2010
L.O.L.!!!

Thanks for the smile!

Tim
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Lady Janus09 May, 2010
Mencken was no dummy! :biggrin:
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