[Steel Wolf]

Censorship is necessary for civilization. Those barbarians should have been placed in the stocks long ago, rather than given a podium on cable and later broadcast TV, lots of cash, and bootlickings from the Last Men who, when faced with matters of ultimate importance, can but giggle and point.

Well said, Torquemada. Here's why I disagree. Making fun of people who seek bleeding statues to worship is fine. Those people are not 'the average Christian'. They are fanatics. In small numbers, fanatics are amusing. In large numbers, they are dangerous.

Statements like yours, for instance, are interesting to ponder, but if it was the official position of my government, it would probably mean that I live in Iran. It's a nice sentiment, but I'll take my chances without the firm hand of government looking out for my spiritual well being. Fanatics may growl at the occasional 'Emepror's got no clothes' moment that South Park brings (like the scientology episode), but let em. If their faith is so weak that they can't tolerate teasing, and they want to impose limits on what we can say, then they probably need to be teased some more.

[Dumb_Ox]

. Making fun of people who seek bleeding statues to worship is fine. Those people are not 'the average Christian'. They are fanatics. In small numbers, fanatics are amusing. In large numbers, they are dangerous.

Veneration of statues and images only looks weird to Protestants and Muslims. It's quite typical of historical Chistianity. Christian Fanatics, by and large, are just moderates who aren't in power. "Moderation" is a cheap facade, which is why it is so often employed.

Statements like yours, for instance, are interesting to ponder, but if it was the official position of my government, it would probably mean that I live in Iran.

Or pre-1960s Boston! Anti-Blasphemy laws are still on the books of many states and obscenity is theoretically allowed to be censored even in ultra-liberal Supreme Court Jurisprudence. Censorship is as American as apple pie and anti-Communism. In fact, I seem to recall that the commies were big on undermining anti-obscenity laws...

Just kidding. Like Red-hunting, the reductio ad al-Qaedam is a silly and dishonest tactic to be avoided.

South Park, for all its irreverent pretenses, is actually quite banal. The episodes I was unfortunate enough to see ended with stupid praise for diversity, tolerance, and religious skepticism. Its creators went to my alma mater CU-Boulder a few years before I matriculated. Even while attempting to offend they mouth the platitudes of Boulderite sensitivity training: Don't offend those obsessed with race, class, or gender issues. But it's open season on Christianity!