RIP Free Speech

[insixdays777]

http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/04/south-park-censorship-.html

Its a very sad day when you can no longer make fun of a child molesting rag head camel lover.

RIP Free Speech.

[Ando]

Wow...Talk about BS. I hope Parker and Stone just walk away from CS for this.

I can't stand these radical Islamic tools. They use violence to get what they want which causes more problems for their religion. I hope Parker and Stone get the law involved.

[teufelhunden]

That really is bogus.

They should do an episode in the mold of the *poop* episode and just replace it with mohammed. Counter and all.

[leloup]

You are also talking about a culture that is both very strict and has lots of guidlines to live by. In many muslim coutries, you could be severly punished for posessing alcohol, killed for repeat offences. They are harsh by our standards for sure, but not without reason.

I do think that people need to be more respectful of other's religions. "We" may think it a joke, but it is a grave offence in their culture. What happened to being a good decent person? If you didn't like people making fun of your prophets (don't care if you really do or not), wouldn't you be a little upset? I am not saying I agree with their methods or being so mean about it.

Lastly, sorry for the rant, is this whole "free speech" bs. You don't have the right to say what ever you want with out any consequence. You have the right to say what you want, and then accept ALL consequences of your actions. You said something bad you are going to get into trouble. We also have the right, as Americans, to sue any one for just about any reason (not that you would win, but you can still do it). After all, some lady sued McDonalds for having hot coffee!

[DevilMan]

It's true... and at the same time the threatening persons should be shut down and arrested and everything else for making a threat of bodily harm.. Since it is a written statement by them. They should what ever can be pushed to them by legal means.

I don't care if you make fun of any religious character, my family, me, or anyone else on this planet. That's your right. meh... bunch of sissy hosers if you ask me.

DM

[Lohman446]

I don't see where the government was involved in the censorship? No government involvement, no free speech issues.

[DevilMan]

You are also talking about a culture that is both very strict and has lots of guidlines to live by. In many muslim coutries, you could be severly punished for posessing alcohol, killed for repeat offences. They are harsh by our standards for sure, but not without reason.

This is NOT a muslim country.

I do think that people need to be more respectful of other's religions. "We" may think it a joke, but it is a grave offence in their culture. What happened to being a good decent person? If you didn't like people making fun of your prophets (don't care if you really do or not), wouldn't you be a little upset? I am not saying I agree with their methods or being so mean about it.

And the same people need to understand that not everyone has a religion. If you can't stand to have someone talk about your religion then maybe you should believe a bit more. Since I don't know too many that aren't about teaching tolerance.

Lastly, sorry for the rant, is this whole "free speech" bs. You don't have the right to say what ever you want with out any consequence. You have the right to say what you want, and then accept ALL consequences of your actions. You said something bad you are going to get into trouble. We also have the right, as Americans, to sue any one for just about any reason (not that you would win, but you can still do it). After all, some lady sued McDonalds for having hot coffee!

No this ^^^^ is BS.

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak without censorship and/or limitation. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations, such as on "hate speech".

The right to freedom of speech is recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ICCPR recognizes the right to freedom of speech as "the right to hold opinions without interference. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression".[1][2] Furthermore freedom of speech is recognized in European, inter-American and African regional human rights law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech

The freedom extends to point of slander and defamation. It's NOT illegal to say that someone is a bank robber if they have been convicted of robbing a bank, it's not illegal to call someone a murderer if they have been convicted of the crime. It's not illegal to put out that businesses have poor customer service. They have the freedom to pick their god. And everyone else has the freedom to chose as well. What is said/done/thought about the other is of no right of theirs to control.

DM

[DevilMan]

I don't see where the government was involved in the censorship? No government involvement, no free speech issues.

Tis true. The network chose to adjust it's programming. However I would also try and press charges of threat to cause bodily harm and see if some heat could be put onto the other party. Nothing more than a bully action on their part.

DM

[DevilMan]

I don't recall "having the right to sue" as being something that is covered in the founding documents of this country.

DM

[Lohman446]

Tis true. The network chose to adjust it's programming. However I would also try and press charges of threat to cause bodily harm and see if some heat could be put onto the other party. Nothing more than a bully action on their part.

DM

I would think it falls under the assault category personally, but did not see the threat. Did not look for it, read it, or anything else, not denying its existence.

[insixdays777]

I don't see where the government was involved in the censorship? No government involvement, no free speech issues.

The term "Free Speech" was used in its broadest sense. An inalienable right I believe every human being on the face of the planet has.

I am sorry but that is exactly the opposite purpose of the constitution and the founding father's beliefs as to the roll of government.

The government does not exist to grant rights or take them away. It can do no such thing as rights are inalienable.

Government is here only to PROTECT and DEFEND our inalienable rights as described by the constitution.

At what point does it become it become "free speech" issue?

Comedy Central decided that the word muhammad was offensive and inappropriate, what would they do if Parker and Stone decided from this point forward to begin and end every spoken line in the the show with the word muhammad? They would likely pull the show. The episode was barely understandable with all the bleeping and black boxing as it was.

Why shouldn't/cant Comcast Cable decide that the word "constitutional" is offensive and inappropriate? All shows that say the word "constitutional" should at the very least be edited if not thrown off the air.

What if newspapers decided that they are not going to print any sentences with the presidents name or reference in them that also contain any words that have negative meanings?

[Lohman446]

In a free market it would be the owners right. Parker and Stone (assuming they are not under contract) would be free to go elsewhere. Viewers who did not like it would be free to go elsewhere. Freedom of speech also means freedom to not speak (and if you are the broadcaster . newspaper this means you). More people need to remember that sometimes too.

[SCpoloRicker]

A public owned corporation decided to exhibit creative control over their property.

Methinks op needs to reconsider what "free speech" means.

/ironic that there are several highly political threads going on currently?

[Frizzle Fry]

You are also talking about a culture that is both very strict and has lots of guidlines to live by. In many muslim coutries, you could be severly punished for posessing alcohol, killed for repeat offences. They are harsh by our standards for sure, but not without reason.

Comedy Central isn't broadcast to those countries.

Most Muslims in the US don't care about this South Park issue, and didn't care last time they did it... It's just the handful of outspoken extremists who make violent threats.

Since when do we kowtow to violent extremists and terrorists? What ever happened to "If you don't like it, don't watch it"? I mean, people are paying to receive Comedy Central; you have the choice to not even receive it on your TV. It's not like they censored the content of the episode, either, they just bleeped out some names and words. The meaning is still there and is completely apparent, which just makes the networks actions seem more silly if they're genuinely doing this to avoid controversy.

[Frizzle Fry]

/ironic that there are several highly political threads going on currently?

Hey hey hey, this isn't political, it's religious! Totally different