Christians 'are easiest target for TV satire'

Electronic Telegraph ^ | 29/12/2003 | Tom Leonard, Media Editor

[aculeus]

Comedians and dramatists delight in "pouring scorn" on Christianity but are "timid" about mocking Muslims, a broadcasting watchdog chief said yesterday.

Islam was accorded far more respect on television and radio than other religions because satirists were "cautious" and "self-censoring" when faced with the prospect of causing offence to Muslims, said Lord Dubs, chairman of the Broadcasting Standards Commission.

"In portraying Muslims they have held back, they have censored themselves, they are timid," the Labour peer said. "I have seen them pour scorn on Christianity more than on other religions. Christianity is an easier and more acceptable target followed, to a lesser extent, by Jews and Hindus."

His remarks come on the eve of an announcement by the BSC that it is to impose one of the stiffest penalties it can draw on after Channel 4 re-broadcast a remark by Jamie Oliver about "Jesus —ing Christ".

The BSC had already upheld a complaint that the comment, made by the celebrity chef in an episode of the fly-on-the-wall series Jamie's Kitchen, was offensive to Christians. The regulator was angry when the offending remark was aired again in an unedited repeat of the programme.

A spokesman for Channel 4 said the repeat went out later than the original programme, at 10pm rather than 9pm, and it had been thought that the audience at the later time would not be offended.

In a rare intervention of this kind by the BSC, Channel 4 will be forced to broadcast the commission's new adjudication on air and have it published in a newspaper.

The commission is subsumed from today into the new super-regulator Ofcom. Lord Dubs admitted that the BSC had also shown bias in favour of Muslims. "We have tried to treat the religions equally. I doubt we have succeeded. I think we have shaded a bit on the side of Islam," he said.

The Right Rev Richard Holloway, the former Bishop of Edinburgh and a member of the BSC board, said Oliver's remark would never have been aired had it been about the Prophet Mohammed.

"There is much more sensitivity to disturbing Islam," he said. "It is partly because the Muslim community does not have a tradition of humour about religion, although Christian leaders will stand up for things that are fundamentally important."

[aculeus]

It's understandable why muslims aren't satirized.

There is nothing about their beliefs, traditions or religious practices that encourages ridicule.

(Just kidding.)

[firebrand]

Also, they blow up people they don't like.

[buffyt]

How sad.....

[Paul Atreides]

"There is much more sensitivity to disturbing Islam," he said.

And, an intense hatred of Christianity, in the entertainment community.

[FormerACLUmember]

No satire of IslamoFascist moonbats by the liberals? Yep there is noting in their treatment of women, children, Christians, Jews, Hindus, innocent civilians or civilization itself that merits the slightest criticism.

[Radix]

Islam was accorded far more respect on television and radio than other religions because satirists were "cautious" and "self-censoring"

It likely has nothing to do with the fact that Islamics carry knives, and generally have no respect for human life.

I could be wrong, but you can't prove it to me.

[prairiebreeze]

There is nothing about their beliefs, traditions or religious practices that encourages ridicule.

Oh I don't know, those pictures of dozens of men in mosques kneeling on prayer rugs with their heads down low always looks pretty funny to me.

Prairie...yes, I'm stirring the pot a bit ;^D

[Cosmic Shaft]

why would these people make fun of christians; there's nothing funny about hypocrisy.

[firebrand]

The short reign of Cosmic Shaft . . .

[Uncle Hal]

Hollywood and the liberal media loves to make fun of and ridicule white, male, Christian, heterosexuals and nobody will criticize them.

[mountaineer]

Channel 4 re-broadcast a remark by Jamie Oliver about "Jesus —ing Christ".

Whatever was the context of such a remark, I wonder?

[rface]

.....I think we have shaded a bit on the side of Islam," he said.

pretty funny stuff

[thiscouldbemoreconfusing]

Comedians and dramatists delight in "pouring scorn" on Christianity but are "timid" about mocking Muslims, a broadcasting watchdog chief said yesterday. Islam was accorded far more respect on television and radio than other religions because satirists were "cautious" and "self-censoring" when faced with the prospect of causing offence to Muslims,

Christians turn the other cheek, muslims send their kids, strapped with bombs, to your house.

[Old Professer]

You signed up just to cast stones?

[Old Professer]

Maybe it was on the order of inspecting freshly-made horseshoes.

[semaj]

"...there's nothing funny about hypocrisy."

Of course being the resident expert, you would most certainly know all about hypocrisy. Bye, bye loser.

[Paul Atreides]

Did you derive your name from Bill Clinton's favorite scifi porn movie?

[nothingnew]

And, an intense hatred of Christianity, in the entertainment community.

Paul, IMHO, that community is the least of our worries...I worry much more about our own government, be it dem or pub...Time to put the full armor on, and a "stillsuit" wouldn't hurt.

Christianity has always been hated, and His Son told us to expect it.

Be Prepared with all your worldly weapons, but always wear the full armor.

FMCDH

[yankeedame]

A spokesman for Channel 4 said the repeat went out later than the original programme, at 10pm rather than 9pm, and it had been thought that the audience at the later time would not be offended.

The assumption being that we (Christians) -- being such hopelessly unhip, boring, conservative squares -- go to bed at 8:30 pm or so. You know, right after we wind the clock and drink a nice glass of warm milk...