Other Crap

The N.Y. Times offers its take: After Warning, South Park Episode Is Altered

The oddest thing about this entire episode is that there were no threats, at least not as far as I can see. Comedy Central caved in to analysis, not threats. The nutbags simply said that Matt and Trey were following a course that could lead them into Theo van Gogh territory. I might have made that same point myself, because it is true, but the act of noting that they were placing themselves in danger is not the same as threatening them. Comedy Central really overreacted.

By the way, I would not have made that point, accurate as it may be, because if I had said that the more radical elements of Islam could react violently, I would of course have been accused of stereotyping them and expressing hatred against Moslems. Why do I care about such accusations? Probably because they ARE dangerous and violent, and I am a chickenshit. In other words, radical Islamic factions will protest against "unfair" accusations that that they are violent and intolerant by being violent and intolerant.

I have never studied the Arabic language, but I'm pretty sure there is no word for "irony."

Anyway, here is the deal, as I see it. There is one thing and only one thing that makes America truly different from any other developed democracy. No, not just different, in fact, but better. It is the fact that America is the only significant nation on earth where the government is constitutionally forbidden from telling its citizens which opinions they may or may not express in public. In all other countries, including the other major English-speaking nations, some opinions are defined as "hate speech" and are thus criminalized. Why is this bad? Because as soon as the populace turns over to government the authority to ban some forms of opinions, then the people's right to express an opinion depends on who they vote for. Sure it seems kind of OK that Germany makes pro-Nazi speech a hate crime - until you realize that in the 1930's ANTI-Nazi speech was a hate crime. And it could be that way again, as long as the government has the right to decide that some opinions are not protected.

Free speech is the cornerstone of America. It is, in fact, precisely what makes America America in the first place. Therefore, if you want to be here, you must recognize that everyone around you has the right to ridicule your beliefs. I have to accept this every day when people make fun of me just because I belong to a religion which worships former baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Well, that and my deformed toes. Anyway, if you belong to a group that does not recognize the universal right to free speech, which includes mockery, you do not belong in America, and you should leave. There are many great countries which will imprison people just for saying that your religion or lifestyle sucks. You should go there, because they are very similar to America in all other respects, except that they truly believe that restricting so-called "hate speech" is the proper pathway towards public order and decency. Who knows? They may be right. And they are truly great countries.

But this is not one of them.