Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Christians 'are easiest target for TV satire'
Electronic Telegraph ^ | 29/12/2003 | Tom Leonard, Media Editor

Posted on 12/28/2003 5:22:32 PM PST by 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."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: antichristianbias; freeperbigotry
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last
To: Cosmic Shaft
There is plenty of hypocrisy to go around, Christians don't have a monopoly on it. In fact if you assume that you have none, that is a pretty strong indication that you are wallowing in it.

If there is anything distinctively Christian about being accused of hypocrisy, it is the fact that Christians are taught that we should be careful about falling into it. It's in the Bible, in the words of Christ.

Leftists think that accusing a Republican of being "like Hitler" automatically defeats any arguement the Republican may have made. And atheists likewise tend to think that accusing a Christian of hypocrissy automatically shuts him up. Some places it might--but not on this forum.

41 posted on 12/28/2003 6:29:41 PM PST by conservatism_IS_compassion (Belief in your own objectivity is the essence of subjectivity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: aculeus
Just like in the Sudan...Christians are an easy mark because they don't seek vengeance for
for ugly remarks or outright lies against them...
They don't assassinate their critics or blow up buildings filled with people they don't like...or those who insult them
The social commentators haven't got the cajones to insult Muslims...regardless of what evils Muslims reek
42 posted on 12/28/2003 6:33:01 PM PST by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cosmic Shaft
are you e.e. cummings? Why is it you trolls don't use capital letters? I guess you're allergic to capitalism and Christianity. Go back to your religion of peace mosque at DU and discover the values of blowing other people up for fun. You are the ultimate hypocrite.
43 posted on 12/28/2003 6:38:32 PM PST by mplsconservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Paul Atreides
The reason why the Vermin Left so afraid of offending Muslims is two-fold: 1) Islam is the antithesis of Christianity in many ways, and 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'; and 2) they're too afraid that a Fundamentalist will send them a letter bomb if they dare to offend their almighty Allah.

Maybe if more Christians knocked off the 'turn the other cheek' behavior and loosened a few teeth, they'll start to practice all that 'tolerance and diversity' horsesh!t that they like to preach to the rest of us.

44 posted on 12/28/2003 6:45:32 PM PST by Viking2002
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002
we only have two cheeks. Third time is becomes "money changer" time!
45 posted on 12/28/2003 7:16:45 PM PST by longtermmemmory (Vote!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: nothingnew
"Don't you just love it when the most dysfunctional collection of human beings on this entire planet purports to tell others how to live?"

The best response to these people is a great big horselaugh. They really reeeaaally hate that! Believe me...they really hate that and leaves them deflated.
==========================

True, but another very good tactic that doesn't anger them as it unnerves them is to say (and do) nothing.

1) They say "Blah..blah...blah..." Let them finish. Don't interrupt no matter how tempted.

2) Don't get angry, don't laugh at them; don't try for a smart retort. Just look at them. Do it in a vague cavalry-to-infantry attitude, keeping your expression as bland as possible. You know, eye lids somewhat closed, as if to say "Oh. I see." But don't say a word!

3) After a few seconds of watching them sweat you can either turn and walk away; or, if they start mouthing off again (and many do as a form of defense) I, myself, just wait till they come to the end of their spiel, go "hummm.." and then walk away.

It shakes them to the core every time.

46 posted on 12/28/2003 7:46:14 PM PST by yankeedame ("Oh, I can take it but I'd much rather dish it out.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: aculeus
INTREP - RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
47 posted on 12/28/2003 7:49:09 PM PST by LiteKeeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paul Atreides
Don't you just love it when the most dysfunctional collection of human beings on this entire planet purports to tell others how to live?

Politicians? Cops? Preachers?

48 posted on 12/28/2003 8:15:31 PM PST by WackyKat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Gorzaloon
gorzaloon,know anymore that one was pretty funny. Lets start a muzzy joke thread
49 posted on 12/28/2003 8:26:29 PM PST by Kewlhand`tek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: WackyKat
So-called "entertainers."
50 posted on 12/28/2003 8:26:30 PM PST by Paul Atreides (Is it really so difficult to post the entire article?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: aculeus
It's not so much anti-Christian attitudes that cause this lopsided result in what is evidently a count of humorous depictions - not depictions as villains (which might provide slightly different results).

For one thing, to be successful as a satire, it is necessary that the audience have a fairly good grasp of the "original" which is being satirized. American and European audiences know Christianity well, but might be baffled at what the joke is in a satire of something Islamic.

And another reason is that, frankly, there's reason to be afraid that just one Islamist will take sufficient umbrage at any unflattering depiction to do somebody harm (a la Salman Rushdie).

51 posted on 12/28/2003 8:53:51 PM PST by DonQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: prairiebreeze
It reminds me of my dog, smelling buts.
52 posted on 12/28/2003 9:02:11 PM PST by chicagolady (Jesus, Be my Magnificent Obsession)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Cosmic Shaft
You know what I think is Halarious? New Freepers who get ZOTTED!!
53 posted on 12/28/2003 9:04:01 PM PST by chicagolady (Jesus, Be my Magnificent Obsession)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cosmic Shaft
Gaze in the mirror and weep then.
54 posted on 12/28/2003 10:01:02 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cosmic Shaft; firebrand
Mr. Cosmic,

You're very very wrong. But hey. Welcome to Free Republic. May you have an enjoyable stay.


BG
55 posted on 12/28/2003 10:08:15 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Happy Birthday, Jesus!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: dubyaismypresident
...can you dig it?
56 posted on 12/28/2003 10:12:48 PM PST by stands2reason
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: aculeus
You know, for all the jokes about how Jews like money, people forget we've been a non=prophet religion for 2500 years... bada bing!

Seriously, Christians are the biggest target for religious satire because wel... most people like to joke about themselves. Since most Americans are Christian, most satire is Christian-- just like most non-satire symbolism is Christian too (note how many movies have Christ-figures).

57 posted on 12/28/2003 10:22:39 PM PST by ChicagoHebrew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paul Atreides
Bingo! from secularists of two religions that first come to mind.
58 posted on 12/28/2003 10:25:40 PM PST by wardaddy ("either the arabs are at your throat, or at your feet")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ChicagoHebrew
You are quite right but still miss the point.
59 posted on 12/28/2003 10:26:09 PM PST by wardaddy ("either the arabs are at your throat, or at your feet")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: rface
Is this another new rule?? First we have the new OPUS rule, and now we have this new 2nd or 3rd post rule? (sigh)...I never get these memos

You probably didn't know about the 60 days of double secret probation for newbies did you?

I finish mine in three more days, then I am going to start posting some threads!

60 posted on 12/28/2003 10:38:24 PM PST by Holly_P
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson