The Cartoon Wars Are Over (We Lost)

The Weekly Standard ^ | May 1, 2006 | Duncan Currie

[RWR8189]

 

"EVER SINCE THOSE CARTOONS in Denmark, the rules have changed. Nobody shows an image of Muhammad anymore." When a character on the animated TV show South Park made that avowal a few weeks ago, he could easily have been speaking for media outlets across Europe and North America. This past winter's Cartoon Jihad occasioned far fewer robust defenses of press freedom than it did craven surrenders to the threats of radicals. Now, even South Park, Comedy Central's irreverent powerhouse, has felt the backlash.

Sometime in March, South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker approached network executives with their idea for an episode satirizing the Danish cartoon spat. Could they depict the Muslim prophet Muhammad on screen? No way, came the immediate reply. True, Comedy Central had allowed South Park to broadcast a Muhammad character five years earlier, in the episode "Super Best Friends." But that episode debuted on July 4, 2001--just before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "A lot changed two months later," one source close to the show told me, explaining the network's decision. "It's a vastly different world that we live in right now." Yes: a world where terrorists apparently have veto power over American television.

Stone and Parker did not take Comedy Central's censorship lightly. They made the two "Cartoon Wars" episodes an acerbic rebuke to the network. At the moment Muhammad is poised to appear, the screen goes black, and a brief message announces that Comedy Central "has refused to broadcast" the prophet's image. When the censored episodes aired--on April 5 and April 12--the blogosphere erupted with scathing indictments of the network's pusillanimity. Many conservatives also found a new reason to appreciate Stone and Parker's talents. "I'm not a fan of South Park," wrote Michelle Malkin after the April 5 show. "But the emails I've been getting all day from South Park viewers about last night's episode just might change my mind."

Part I of "Cartoon Wars" begins with Y2K-style pandemonium breaking loose, as South Park natives loot stores and hoard toilet paper before crowding into a community center. It turns out the Fox cartoon Family Guy is set to air an image of Muhammad, sparking riots across the Muslim world and leading a terrorist named al-Zawahri to vow swift retaliation. But at the last minute, Fox censors the Muhammad image, thus averting a showdown.

The four main South Park kids--Kyle, Stan, Kenny, and Cartman--trek to Kyle's house to watch the episode on TiVo. When Kyle's liberal parents catch them, his father smashes the TV with a baseball bat while his mother lectures them about "Muslim sensitivity training." Then the boys get word that Family Guy will be broadcasting another episode with Muhammad--this time, uncensored. Terrorist kingpin Zawahri warns against it, promising a "massive" response.

At a town meeting, South Parkers hear from a university professor. "Our only hope," he says, "is to make the Muslim extremists know that we had no part in the Muhammad episode: that even though the episode aired, we didn't watch it, we didn't hear it, and we didn't talk about it." How do they do that? Simple. "We bury our heads in sand." By enlisting some two dozen dump trucks, the professor explains, they can stockpile enough sand for the whole town. "We can avoid looking like we're responsible for any part of this at all."

The heads-in-the-sand fad soon sweeps the nation. Meanwhile, Kyle and Cartman are racing for Hollywood. Cartman wants the Family Guy episode canned, in hopes that it will bring down the whole show. Kyle wants it to air and strike a blow for free speech. The White House press corps wants to know why President Bush hasn't thrown the Family Guy writing staff in prison. ("Forgive me, Mr. President," one reporter smirks, "but this 'First Amendment' sounds like a lot of bureaucratic gibberygoo.")

Kyle and Cartman both wind up in the Fox president's office just seconds before the episode is due to air. Brandishing a gun, Cartman demands it be cancelled. The Fox boss starts to comply.

"You can't do what he wants just because he's the one threatening you with violence," squeals an exasperated Kyle.

"I can't be responsible for people getting hurt, especially me," grovels the Fox prez.

"Yes, people can get hurt," Kyle admits. "That's how terrorism works. But if you give in to that . . . you're allowing terrorism to work. Do the right thing here."

He's still wavering.

"If you don't show Muhammad," Kyle adds, "then you've made a distinction between what is okay to poke fun at, and what isn't. Either it's all okay, or none of it is."

Finally, the Fox prez agrees to broadcast the episode uncensored. Before Family Guy's Muhammad comes on screen carrying a football helmet, a black slate flashes with word of Comedy Central's prohibition. Then, when the show returns, we see the terrorists' retaliation: a short production by Zawahri, Osama bin Laden, and "al Qaeda Films." The movie shows Americans defecating on each other, and Jesus defecating on George W. Bush and the American flag.

The Catholic League's William Donohue, a perennial South Park scourge, blasted Stone and Parker as "little whores" for the Jesus gag. "They'll sit there and they'll whine and they'll take their shot at Jesus," he told the AP. Donohue missed the point entirely: It wasn't Jesus being mocked; it was Comedy Central. By highlighting the network's double standard--okay to offend Christians, not okay to offend Muslims--South Park, which has averaged nearly 3.5 million viewers per episode this season, affirmed that free expression may at times lead to hurt feelings. But that's no reason to capitulate, especially not when political correctness becomes physical intimidation.

On April 13, Comedy Central issued a statement defending its censorship. "In light of recent world events, we feel we made the right decision." The Cartoon Jihad may be over. But when even South Park is stifled by "recent world events," it becomes clearer than ever who won.

 

Duncan Currie is a reporter at The Weekly Standard.

[Aetius]

They were funny episodes.

[bpjam]

There is just too much defacation humor overall. Without the bathroom humor, its still very funny. I'd really prefer they skip the poop jokes. But boy do they hate the Family Guy people. Jealousy rears its ugly head....

[VOA]

bump

[SaxxonWoods]

How do I know Muhammad when I see him? Anyone got an "official" picture? I need an official picture, one that is for sure Muhammad. Where do I get one, anyone?

[SquirrelKing]

How do I know Muhammad when I see him?

He will "touch" you in a "special" way.

[SaxxonWoods]

You mean like my weird Uncle Harry did when I was six?

That I can do without.

[Ro_Thunder]

More like Michael Jackson 'probably' did to all those boys he paid off over the years...

[Rakkasan1]

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "ISLAMIC LAW AT BELMONT U" by Daniel Pipes (April 24, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: "ISLAMIC STATES PRESS FOR LIMITS ON FREE EXPRESSION" by Patrick Goodenough (April 21, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.net: Cairo - "DENMARK SURVEYS ARAB PUBLIC FOR POLICY CHANGE" by Ayman Qenawi, IOL Staff (April 19, 2006)

DANIEL PIPES.org - Weblog: "DANISH CARTOON AFTERSHOCKS" (April 15, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "'DO THE RIGHT THING! SHOW MOHAMMED'" (April 13, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: Kasur, Pakistan - "BAIL OF PAKISTANI WOMAN ACCUSED OF BLASPHEMY HAS BEEN DENIED" by Sheraz Khurram Khan (April 10, 2006)

PERSECUTION.org - Country Info: "PAKISTAN"

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - blog: "SOUTH PARK AND CARTOON JIHAD" (April 6, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - blog: "MOHAMMED CARTOONS IN PORTLAND" (April 5, 2006)

ATLAS SHRUGS - Blog: "SUDAN GENOCIDE? TOO BAD! BLAME DANISH CARTOON JIHAD!" (April 4, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "A THOUGHT ABOUT THE BORDERS STATEMENT" (April 2, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH (AAP): "EMBASSY ON ALERT FOR CARTOON BACKLASH" (April 1, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "YA MOHAMMED, YOU BETCHA!" (March 31, 2006)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 1131: "'YA MOHAMMED' WEBSITE HOSTED IN THE U.S.: A PART OF THE INTERNET JIHAD" (March 31, 2006)

MEMRITV.org - Video Clip No. 1099 - Transcript: "DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF AL-RISALA TV SCOLDS COUNTERPARTS AT COPENHAGEN DIALOGUE FOR PROPHET MUHAMMAD CARTOONS" (March 31, 2006)

MEMRITV.org (Note: View Video Clips Here.)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "DENMARK GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE" (MARCH 31, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.net - Live Dialogue - Subject: "Back from Denmark: Ask IOL" (March 30, 2006)

THEFIRE.org - Press Release: "NYU SURRENDERS TO THE HECKLER'S VETO IN MOHAMMED CARTOON DISPUTE" (March 29, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - Weblog: "LAUGHING AT CARTOON JIHAD" (March 26, 2006)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "MINNESOTA PRESTIDIGITATION" by Lloyd Billingsley (March 24, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (TheLocal.se): "SWEDISH EMBASSIES THREATENED AFTER SWEDISH PARTY PUBLISHED MUHAMMAD CARTOONS" (March 23, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - Weblog - "THE DANISH IMAM's BOMB THREAT" (March 23, 2006)

AGAPE PRESS: "FORMER COLLEGE PAPER EDITOR FIRED FOR REPRINTING MUSLIM CARTOONS MAY SUE" by Jim Brown (March 22, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "CARTOON JIHAD COMES TO UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA" (March 22, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "CARTOON JIHAD, ROUND TWO" (March 22, 2006)

GlobalTerrorAlert.com: "COMMUNIQUE FROM THE ALGERIAN SALAFIST GROUP FOR PRAYER AND COMBAT (GSPC)" (March 22, 2006) (pdf)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: Lahore, Pakistan - "CROSS SKETCHED ON PAKISTAN UNIVERSITY'S FLOOR" by Sheraz Khurram Khan ) (March 21, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP via KHALEEJTIMES.com): New Delhi - "INDIAN COURT LETS OFF MINISTER WHO PUT BOUNTY ON DANISH CARTOONISTS" (March 20, 2006)

BRUSSELS JOURNAL.com: "MUSLIMS TAKE CARTOON CASE TO UN's 'ALLAH' COMMISSION" (March 18, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.net: "DANISH CARTOONS: Trying to Understand" (Last update March 20, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com: "RELIGION OF PEACE AND TOLERANCE WATCH" (March 17, 2006)

AGAPE PRESS: "CANADIAN STUDENT NEWSPAPER IN HOT WATER OVER CONTROVERSIAL CARTOON OF CHRIST" by Jim Brown (March 16, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: Mansehra, Pakistan: "RADICAL ISLAMISTS TERM BUSH 'ENEMY OF MUSLIMS'" by Sheraz Khurram Khan (March 16, 2006)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com (THE AMERICAN THINKER): "MUHAMMAD'S DEAD POETS SOCIETY" by James M. Arlandson (March 15, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (TimesOnline.co.uk): "FIVE ARRESTED OVER LONDON CARTOONS PROTEST" (March 15, 2006)

JAMESTOWN.org - Terrorism Focus: "DANISH CARTOONS FOCUS THE JIHADI LENS ON HISTORY" by Stephen Ulph (March 14, 2006)

AFTENPOSTEN.no/english: "KREKAR CLAIMS ISLAM WILL WIN" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: ""Osama bin Laden is a good person," Krekar said. He claimed Osama bin Laden is considered a terrorist simply because he lacks his own state.") (March 13, 2006)

BRUSSELS JOURNAL.com: "'THE WAR IS ON'" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Yesterday (Thursday) Mullah Krekar, the alleged leader of the Islamist group Ansar al-Islam who has been living in Norway as a refugee since 1991, said that the publication of the Muhammad cartoons was a declaration of war. "The war has begun," he told Norwegian journalists. Mr Krekar said Muslims in Norway are preparing to fight. "It does not matter if the governments of Norway and Denmark apologize, the war is on.") (February 3, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: "PROFESSOR FEARS RETRIBUTION OVER MOHAMMED CARTOONS" by Nathan Burchfiel (March 13, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.com: "RECONCILIATIONS URGED BETWEEN WEST & MUSLIM WORLD" (March 11, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org - DHIMMI WATCH (TheFire.org): "MINNESOTA PROF CENSORED FOR POSTING MOHAMMED CARTOONS" (March 9, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (NEW ENGLISH REVIEW): "BYNUM: MUSLIM CARTOON CONTROVERSY HITS NASHVILLE" (March 8, 2006)

News.BBC.co.uk: "YEMEN EDITOR 'FACES DEATH CALLS'" (March 8, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - Weblog: "CARTOON HYPOCRISY IN CANADA" (WARNING: Obscene, Evil Material) (March 8, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (REUTERS): "AL QAEDA's ZAWAHRI CALLS FOR STRIKES AGAINST WEST...and joins into cartoon rage." (March 5, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com: "HATE DENMARK, CRUSH AMERICA, LOVE PROPHET, SAVE ISLAM" (March 5, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "CARTOON JIHAD HOAX" (March 4, 2006)

ATLAS SHRUGS - Blog: "FIRST LOOK SUPPORT DENMARK RALLY NYC" (March 3, 2006)

News.BBC.co.uk: "PAKISTAN BLOCKS BLOGS ON CARTOONS" (Last updated March 3, 2006)

DAWN.com: Islamabad - "BLASPHEMOUS WEBSITES BE BLOCKED, ORDERS SC" (March 2, 2006)

MEMRITV.org - Video Clip #1073: "MEMRITV.org: "EGYPTIAN PERFORMER SHA'BAN ABD AL-RAHIM SINGS AGAINST DENMARK AND THE AVIAN FLU, AND TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE AND CONVICTIONS" (Dream2 TV (Egypt) - 3/1/2006)

News.BBC.co.uk: "WRITERS ISSUE CARTOON ROW WARNING" (Las Updated March 1, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - Weblog (JYLLANDS-POSTEN): "A MANIFESTO AGAINST ISLAMISM" (February 28, 2006)

JIHADWATCH.org (THE DETROIT NEWS): "MUSLIM GROUPS CRITICIZE MSU FOR ONLINE CARICATURES" (February 28, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (IRAN FOCUS): "SENIOR IRAN CLERIC SAYS ATTACKS ON EMBASSIES PERMISSIBLE" (February 28, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "DANISH CARTOONS 'UNVEILED' AT UC IRVINE" (February 28, 2006)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): Lahore, Pakistan - "COPS HINDER CARTOON PROTEST IN PAKISTAN" (February 26, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "LIFE IMITATES ART IMITATING LIFE" (February 25, 2006)

NEWSMAX.com - Wires: Islamabad, Pakistan - "CARTOON PROTESTERS DEFY RALLY BAN" (February 24, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - Weblog: "NO MOSQUE DEPICTIONS ALLOWED" (February 23, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG (NEFA FOUNDATION.org): "VIDEO OF ANTI-DENMARK PROTEST IN LONDON" (February 23, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: "VIRGIN MARY CARTOON STIRS DEBATE OVER FREEDOM TO OFFEND" by Patrick Goodenough (February 22, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "SETON HALL LAW PROFESSOR CALLS FOR PROSECUTION OF MUHAMMAD CARTOON EDITOR" (February 22, 2006)

JURIST.law.pitt.edu - Forum: "A DANISH TROJAN HORSE: LAW AND THE MUHAMMAD CARTOONS" - by Guest Columnist Bernard Freamon (February 19, 2006)

THE FIRE.org: "MOHAMMED CARTOON CONTROVERSY SWEEPS THE ACADEMY"  (February 22, 2006)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "A TALE OF TWO NEWSPAPERS" by Sol Stern (February 22, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN via LGF): "CAIR BOARD MEMBER: RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH IS NOT ABSOLUTE" (February 22, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: "MUSLIM LEADERS WANT UN TO OUTLAW 'DEFAMATION'" by Patrick Goodenough (February 21, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (MetroSpy): "HATE MAIL AND DEATH THREATS TARGET SELLER OF MOHAMMED CARTOON T-SHIRTS" (February 21, 2006)

"www.shopmetrospy.com/cgi-bin/cNc/showPage.plx?db=shopmetro&pid=70"

MICHELLE MALKIN - Weblog: "NEW BLACK PANTHER FOLLIES: TAKBIR" (February 21, 2006)

DANIELPIPES.org (NEW YORK SUN): "THOSE DANISH CARTOONS AND ME" by Daniel Pipes (February 21, 2006)

ARAB-EUROPEAN LEAGUE: "WHO WAS BEHIND THE 'DANISH' CARTOONS?" (February 21, 2006)

JAMESTOWN.org - Global Terrorism Analysis: "HOW THE CARTOON CONTROVERSY MAY SPUR TERRORISM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA" (February 21, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog (TWINCITIES.COM/PIONEERPRESS): "HANDS ARE OK" (February 21, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: "CHRISTIANS TARGETED AS BLOODY CARTOON VIOLENCE CONTINUES" by Patrtick Goodenough (February 20, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: "MUSLIM ANGER OVER CARTOONS INCREASINGLY DIRECTED AT US" by Patrick Goodenough (February 20, 2006)

WTOP.com (AP): Copenhagen, Denmark - "DANISH FM: AL-QAIDA WILL EXPLOIT UPROAR" (February 20, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - Weblog: "CARTOON JIHAD IN SWEDEN" (February 20, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - Weblog: "CENSORED IN SWEDEN" (February 10, 2006)

"www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1570478/posts/9#9"

JIHAD WATCH.org (GulfNews.com): "SAUDI TABLOID CLOSED FOR PRINTING CARTOONS" (February 21, 2006)

LastingNews.com - Blog: "CARTOON RIOTS AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF CARICATURES OF MUHAMMAD" (updated on February 20, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: Sukkar, Pakistan - "TWO CHURCHES TORCHED IN PAKISTAN" (February 20, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP): "INDIA: COURT ISSUES DEATH FATWA ON CARTOONISTS" (February 20, 2006)

HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE.com: "COLONEL SANDERS MIA AFTER CARTOON RIOTS" -Commentary by Mac Johnson (February 20, 2006)

MEMRITV.org - Video Clip (with Transcript) #1049: "FILM SEMINAR ON IRANIAN TV: Tom and Jerry - A Jewish Conspiracy to Improve the Image of Mice, because Jews Were Termed "Dirty Mice' in Europe"  ("Iran, Channel 4 - 2/19/2006")

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "TRACKING THE CARTOON JIHAD" (February 19, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "WORLD ON FIRE: ISLAMISTS GONE WILD" (February 19, 2006)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "DENMARK'S MUHAMMAD CARTOONIST HAS NO REGRETS" (February 19, 2006)

AMERICAN THINKER.com: "APPEASEMENT UNTO DEATH" by Vasko Kohlmayer (February 18, 2006)

THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.org: "STANDING UP TO TERROR" by William Tucker (February 13, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.net: Doha - "DOHA FORUM URGES BETTER US-ISLAMIC TIES" (February 19, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.net - Cairo: "MUSLIM YOUTHS TO PAY 'KNOW-PROPHET' VISIT TO DENMARK" (February 18, 2006)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): "MUSLIMS TARGET U.S. EMBASSY IN INDONESIA" (February 19, 2006)

PERSECUTION.org: "INDONESIA"

TRAVEL.STATE.GOV - Travel Warning: "INDONESIA"

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "PAKISTANI MISSIONARY SCHOOLS BEING TARGETED DURING CARTOON PROTESTS" by Sheraz Khuram Khan (February 18, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "TURKISH REPORTER ATTACKED BY CARTOON MOB" (February 18, 2006)

TURKS.US: "JOURNALIST STONED FOR NOT WEARING A HEAD-SCARF" (February 12, 2006)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): Maiduguri, Nigeria - "15 DEAD IN NIGERIAN MUSLIM PROTESTS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Nigerian Muslims protesting caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad attacked Christians and burned churches on Saturday, killing at least 15 people in the deadliest confrontation yet in the whirlwind of Muslim anger over the drawings" (February 18, 2006)

PERSECUTION.org (COMPASS): Abuja, Nigeria - "STATE IN NIGERIA ACCUSED OF SEEKING TO TRAIN JIHADISTS Government accuses Kano of trying to turn vigilantes into parallel police force" by Obed Minchakpu (February 17, 2006)

PERSECUTION.org: "NIGERIA"

INTELLIGENCE-SUMMIT.blogspot.com (ISN SECURITY WATCH): "NIGERIAN MILITANTS DECLARE OIL WAR" (February 17, 2006)

TRAVEL.STATE.GOV - TRAVEL WARNING: "NIGERIA"

FOX NEWS.com (AP): Tripoli, Libya - "10 KILLED IN LIBYAN CARTOON RIOTS" (February 18, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "DANISH CARTOONS: NEW POLITICAL TOOL" (February 18, 2006)

MEMRI.org - Search Term: "LIBYA"

TRAVEL.STATE.GOV - Public Announcement: "LIBYA"

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - Weblog: "KILL THE CARTOONISTS" (February 17, 2006)

NEWSMAX.com: "CLERIC OFFERS $1M CARTOON FATWAH BOUNTY" with Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com staff (February 17, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: 'PRINTING CARTOONS LIKE SHOUTING 'FIRE,' SAYS RELIGIOUS LEADER" by Monisha Bansal (February 17, 2006)

"www.novatv.nl/index.cfm?ln=nl&fuseaction=artikelen.details&achtergrond_id=8350&CFID=2735238&CFTOKEN=57221010"

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "CARTOON JIHAD IN NEW YORK" (February 17, 2006)

"CARTOON DANISH PROTEST - A photoset on Flickr" -Created by El Marco ("February 17, 2006 in front of the Danish Consulate near the United Nations in New York")

JIHAD WATCH.org: New York - "'Responsible editors must be punished'" (February 18, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: New York - "'Allah's wrath is on its way'" (February 18, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: New York - "'Islam will dominate'" (February 18, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: New York - "JIHAD AT GROUND ZERO" (February 7, 2006)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com - War Blog: "FLIMFLAMMABLE" (February 17, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "CLINTON IN PAKISTAN: CONVICT CARTOON PUBLISHERS Says press should not be allowed to criticize other faiths" (February 17, 2006)

TERROR TRACKER.co.uk: "ONLINE JIHAD FUELS ANGER" -posted by Neil Doyle (February 16, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "ANOTHER PROTEST LED BY DANISH IMAM AHMED ABU LABAN" (February 16, 2006)

"i15.photobucket.com/albums/a365/alqa3edah/f3f32013.gif"

Google - Search Term: "alqa3edah"

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "SCENES OF PEACE AND TOLERANCE" (February 16, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "NORWAY AND SWEDEN ENFORCE SHARI'A" (February 16, 2006)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "CARTOONS, LIES AND FAKE SUBMISSIONS" by Sharon Lapkin (February 15, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - Weblog: "THE ISLAMISTS' WAR ON THE INTERNET"  (February 15, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "SAUDI ARABIA, IRAN AND SYRIA'S HOLY PARTNERSHIP IN THE CARTOON JIHAD" (February 15, 2006)

MINSTRELBOY.blogspot.com: "PERFECT TIMING FOR CARTOON JIHAD" (February 14, 2006)

TOWNHALL.com: "AMERICAN NEWS MEDIA: LITTLE COURAGE AND LITTLE HONESTY" -Commentary by Dennis Prager (February 14, 2006)

AGAPE PRESS: "COMPARING ISLAMIC FASCISTS TO CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVES" -Commentary by Rev. Mark H. Creech (February 13, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "NEXT, THEY CAME FOR KFC" by Michelle Malkin (February 14, 2006)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "HOW THE CARTOON PROTESTS HARM MUSLIMS" by Daniel Pipes (February 14, 2006)

OFF-TOPIC-INTERNET-HAGANAH.com (TIMES ONLINE.co.uk): "THE BREWING BACKLASH AGAINST THE MUSLIM BACKLASH AGAINST CARTOONS AND OTHER IMAGINED INSULTS Public anger at Muslim Protesters" (February 14, 2006)

JAMESTOWN.org: "MUJAHIDEEN CONSIDER CARTOON CRISIS A MOMENT TO RE-DEFINE ISLAM..." by Stephen Ulph (February 14, 2006)

JAMESTOWN.org: "...AND SET COURSE OF ACTION AGAINST DENMARK" by Stephen Ulph (February 14, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "ISLAMIST HACKER SITE MOVES TO DALLAS" (February 14, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "ISLAMIST HACKER SITE 3ASFH.NET/.COM - DOWN" (February 8, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "HOW THE BROTHERS ATTACKED THE WEBSITE OF JYLLANDS-POSTEN." (February 7, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "SEATTTLE-AREA WEBSITE FOR GIRLS CLUB HACKED BY ANGRY MUSLIMS AND NOBODY CARES (edited)" (February 13, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "CARTOON ROW: IMAGE OF CROSS PRINTED ON FOOTBALL (SOCCER BALL) PATCHES IN PAKISTAN" by Sheraz Khurram Khan (February 14, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "TWO KILLED AS PROTESTS OVER CARTOONS IN PAKISTAN TURN VIOLENT" by Sheraz Khurram Khan (February 14, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "ANTI-CHRISTIAN AND ANTI-SEMITIC BOOKS ON DISPLAY AT CAIRO INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR: LAWSUIT PENDING" by Jeremy Reynalds (February 13, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: Islamabad, Pakistan - "CALL FOR ANTI-CARTOONS RALLIES IN PAKISTAN ON MARCH 3" by Sheraz Khurram Khan (February 12, 2006)

"www.jihadwatch.org/archives/2006/02/010188print.html" (February 12, 2006)

BRAIN-TERMINAL.com: "SHARIA LAW COMES WEST" -Column by Evan Coyne Maloney (February 13, 2006)

BRAIN-TERMINAL.com: "FREEDOM IS THE ENEMY" -Column by Evan Coyne Maloney (February 13, 2006)

WTOP.com (AP): Philadelphia - "MUSLIMS PROTEST DRAWING IN PHILLY PAPER"  (February 11, 2006)

OSINT.INTERNET-HAGANAH.com (WeeklyStandard.com): "THE CARTOON JIHAD - THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD'S PROJECT FOR DOMINATING THE WEST" by Olivier Guitta (February 11, 2006)

PoliPundit.com: "UNC CHAPEL HILL STUDENT PAPER PRINTS MUHAMMAD CARTOON" (February 10, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (NEW YORK TIMES): "CARTOON RAGE PLANNED AT OIC MEETING" (February 10, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "REBORN EXTREMIST SECT HAD KEY ROLE IN LONDON PROTEST" (February 11, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (YNET NEWS): "BRITISH MUSLIM GROUP DECLARES NEW JIHAD" (January 9, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "BRITISH MUSLIMS CALL FOR LAWS TO PROTECT MUHAMMAD, AND PROTEST DANISH CARTOONS" by Jeremy Reynalds (February 10, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "THE WAR ON THE FREE PRESS The Cartoon Jihadists are winning..." (February 9, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "MUSLIM NEWSPAPER RAN CARTOONS 4 MONTHS AGO No outrage when Egyptian publication headlined drawings on Ramadan cover" (February 9, 2006)

TOWNHALL.com: "THE CARTOON INTIFADA" -Commentary by Clifford D. May (February 9, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP): Kandahar, Afghanistan - "TALEBAN SAY 100 ENLIST FOR SUICIDE ATTACKS OVER CARTOONS" (February 9, 2006)

DAILY TIMES.com.pk: Islamabad - "TALIBAN OFFER 100kg GOLD FOR KILLING CARTOONIST" (February 9, 2006)

MEMRITV.org - Video Clip No. 1032 - Transcript: "HIZBULLAH SECRETARY-GENERAL HASSAN NASRALLAH: BUSH AND CONDOLEEZZA RICE SHOULD SHUT UP.  WE WILL DEFEND OUR PROPHET WITH OUR BLOOD" (February 9, 2006)

MEMRITV.org

FOX NEWS.com (AP): " RICE: SYRIA, IRAN INFLAMED VIOLENCE" (February 8, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "IRANIAN PAPER PLANS HOLOCAUST CARTOONS" by Jeremy Reynalds (February 8, 2006)

TOWNHALL.com: "CALVIN AND HOBBES -- AND MUHAMMAD" -Commentary by Ann Coulter (February 8, 2006)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 1089 "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Responds to Cartoons of Prophet Muhammad: Whoever is Angered and Does Not Rage in Anger is a Jackass - We are Not a Nation of Jackasses" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In a February 3, 2006 Friday sermon, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, who is head of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, president of the International Association of Muslim Scholars (IAMS), and the spiritual guide of many other Islamist organizations across the world (including the Muslim Brotherhood), exhorted worshippers to show rage to the world over the Danish paper Jylland Posten's publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. The sermon was aired on Qatar TV on February 3, 2006.") (February 9, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "U.N., EU TO APOLOGIZE TO ISLAM FOR CARTOONS" (February 8, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS, FREE SPEECH RIGHTS UNDER PRESSURE FROM RADICAL ISLAM Intimidation factor is real following riots and death threats" by Mark Ellis (February 7, 2006)

Off-Topic.INTERNET-HAGANAH.COM: "YEAH, THAT'S A PAROLE VIOLATION...(February 7, 2006)

News.BBC.co.uk: "CARTOON PROTESTER WAS DRUG DEALER" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A Muslim demonstrator who imitated a suicide bomber in London to protest over cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad is a convicted drug dealer. Omar Khayam, 22, of Bedford, was jailed in 2002 and released on licence last year after serving half of his sentence for dealing heroin and cocaine.") (Last updated February 7, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "'MUHAMMAD CARTOON' PROVED FAKE Imam added 3 especially provocative images to fuel outrage" (February 8, 2006)

MilitantIslamMonitor (TELEGRAPH.co.uk): "MUSLIMS CLERICS WHO 'DIALOUGED' WITH DANES WENT TO MIDDLE EAST TO INCITE VIOLENCE WITH FAKED MOHAMMED CARTOONS" (February 7, 2006)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 1087: "HAMAS LEADER KHALED MASH'AL AT A DAMASCUS MOSQUE: THE NATION OF ISLAM WILL SIT AT THE THONE OF THE WORLD AND THE WEST WILL BE FULL OF REMORSE - WHEN IT'S TOO LATE" (February 7, 2006)

TrackingAlQueda.blogspot.com: "FEBRUARY 13, 2006 THE NEW EMBASSY BURNING DAY" (February 7, 2006)

TrackingAlQueda.com: "2/10/2006 - Embassy Burning Day" (February 4, 2006)

"www.mohajroon.com/vb"

JAMESTOWN.org - Terrorism Focus: "INTERNET MUJAHIDEEN REFINE ELECTRONIC WARFARE TACTICS" by Stephen Ulph (February 7, 2006)

DANIELPIPES.org (NEW YORK SUN): "CARTOONS AND ISLAMIC IMPERIALISM" by Daniel Pipes (February 7, 2006)

DANIELPIPES.org (NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE): "THE CLASH TO END ALL CLASHES?  Making sense of the cartoon jihad" by Daniel Pipes (February 7, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.net - Title: "ARE VIOLENT PROTESTS AGAINST ANTI-PROPHET CARTOON ACCEPTABLE?" (February 7, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs - Weblog (TELEGRAPH.co.uk): "RADICAL CLERIC: CARTOONIST SHOULD BE EXECUTED" (February 6, 2006)

Google - News Search: "OMAR BAKRI [Mohammed]"

JIHAD WATCH.org (SA via News24.com): "'We swear to God, if we catch one of their citizens in Iraq, we will cut him to pieces, to take revenge for prophet'" (February 6, 2006)

JPOST.com - JERUSALEM POST: "IRANIAN PAPER RUNS HOLOCAUST CONTEST" (Updated February 6, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (ABC.net.au): "TWO KILLED IN AFGHAN ANTI-CARTOON PROTEST" (February 6, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): "TURKEY: CATHOLIC PRIEST SHOT, KILLED BY ASSAILANT SHOUTING 'ALLAHU AKBAR'" (February 6, 2006)

OnlineJihad.blogspot.com: "ITALIAN PRIEST KILLED IN TURKEY - No Apology from Turkish Prime Minister" (February 5, 2006)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: Beirut - "SYRIA SEEN AS INSTIGATOR" (February 7, 2006)

GlobalPolitician.com: "BEIRUT MOB TORCHES CONSULATE" by Jeremy Reynalds (February 6, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog - (TheAge.com.au): "CARTOON JIHAD IN NEW ZEALAND" (February 5, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN" (February 5, 2006)

IslamOnline.net - Views and Analyses: "CARTOONS OF THE PROPHET: A PITFALL TRAP" by Dal Nun Strong, Freelance Writer - UK (February 5, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "MORE LIES FROM DANISH IMAMS" (February 4, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "IT IS NOT A 'ROW'" (February 4, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "ISLAMIC ANGER AGAINST PUBLICATION OF CARTOONS GROWS Dishonor Muhammad and Risk Execution" by Jeremy Reynalds (February 4, 2006)

AS-SAWAH.com: "The Ruling on the One Who Insults the Prophet of Allah" -posted by "terrorthreat" on February 2, 2006

JIHAD WATCH.org (BBC): "NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN DAMASCUS TORCHED ALSO" (February 4, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): "DANISH EMBASSY IN DAMASCUS ABLAZE" (February 4, 2006)

BBC NEWS.co.uk: "TWO JORDAN EDITORS ARE ARRESTED" (February 4, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "E-CFR.ORG: CURRENT SITE OF THE 'EUROPEAN' COUNCIL FOR FATWA AND RESEARCH" (February 4, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "'you have started it, you are nurturing it and don't blame the muslims for their actions'" (February 4, 2006)

AFTENPOSTEN.no/english: "NORWAY USED AS TERROR BASE Islamic extremists are using Norway as a base for terrorist operations overseas, but the head of Norway's security police claims they're being watched." (February 3, 2006)

BRUSSELS JOURNAL.com: "'THE WAR IS ON'" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Yesterday (Thursday) Mullah Krekar, the alleged leader of the Islamist group Ansar al-Islam who has been living in Norway as a refugee since 1991, said that the publication of the Muhammad cartoons was a declaration of war. "The war has begun," he told Norwegian journalists. Mr Krekar said Muslims in Norway are preparing to fight. "It does not matter if the governments of Norway and Denmark apologize, the war is on.") (February 3, 2006)

AFTENPOSTEN.no/english: Aftenposten.no - Search Term: "KREKAR"

Google - Search Term: "KREKAR"

TrackingAlQaeda.blogspot.com: "EUROPEAN SITES HACKED BY MUSLIMS OUTRAGED OVER CARTOONS" (February 3, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "IN THEIR OWN WORDS" (February 3, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "THE 'INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ANGER'" (February 3, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (THESUN.co.uk): "'I love Al-Qaida' -- On London Baby's Bonnet" (February 4, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "'We Want Blood on the Streets of England'"(February 3, 2006)

alghurabaa.co.uk: "Kill those who insult the Prophet Muhammad (saw)"

INFOVLAD.net: "BOYCOTTING DANISH PRODUCTS GOES ON" (February 3, 2006)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "MUSLIMS AGAINST THE CARTOON JIHAD" by Kamal Nawash (February 3, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.net: Cairo - "WARNINGS CARTOONS RISK VIOLENCE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by a Danish daily and other European newspapers are risking to trigger acts of violence around the world, officials and commentators warn.") (February 2, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "FABRICATED CARTOONS WORSENED DANISH CONTROVERSY" (February 2, 2006)

ISLAMICAWAKENING.com: "THE RULING ON THE ONE WHO INSULTS THE PROPHET OF ALLAAH At-Tibyan Publications" (February 2, 2006)

ISLAM Q&A: "Question #22809: Ruling on one who insults the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)"

"63.175.194.25/images/nosrat_alnabe_eng.gif"

"islamselect.com/naby/index.php?pg=en"

DAVIDS MEDIENKRITIK - blog: "WITH DENMARK: United Against Islamic Intolerance Time to Stand Up to Islama-Bullying: BUY DANISH!"

DAVIDS MEDIENKRITIK - blog: "DANISH CARTOONS: GERMAN JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION SAYS 'NO'...MAKE THAT 'YES'" (February 1, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "MUJAHIDEEN ARMY CALLS UPON FIGHTERS TO ATTACK DENMARK AND NORWAY" (January 31, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP): "FATWA AGAINST DANISH TROOPS" (January 31, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "DANISH LEFTIST GROUP OPENLY FUNDING TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS" -Posted by Olivier Guitta (January 29, 2006)

TrackingAlQueda.blogspot.com: "MUSLIMS BEGIN PING FLOOD AGAINST JYLLANDS-POSTEN" (January 29, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "THE DANISH THREAT This latest threat from the 'Glory Brigades in Northern Europe' targets Denmark" (January 28, 2006)

"www.internet-haganah.com/hmedia/28jan06-denmark/index.htm" (January 28, 2006

TrackingAlQueda.blogspot.com: "Denmark is next - BOLO Denmark!!!" (January 27, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "The Cartoon Jihad" (January 27, 2006)

ZOMBIETIME.com: "MOHAMMED IMAGE ARCHIVE Reader Email Responses"

"www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/"

FOX NEWS.com (AP): COPENHAGEN, Denmark - "MORE DANISH TERROR ARRESTS" (October 29, 2005)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding an AP article: "DENMARK ARRESTS 4 IN ALLEGED TERROR PLOT" (October 27, 2005)

BRUSSELS JOURNAL.com: "JIHAD AGAINST DANISH NEWSPAPER"  - from the desk of Paul Belien (October 22, 2005)

BRUSSELS JOURNAL.com: "OUR LADY OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES" -from the Desk of Paul Belien (September 22, 2005)

INFOVLAD.net: "NEXT TARGET - DENMARK?" (October 15, 2005)

[Dark Skies]

Cindy...you need to post these links on your homepage or blog. The sheer volume is overwhelming. They all excellent and you know I commend you...but where does one begin with such a wealth of resources?

[HighWheeler]

OK Cindy, I just went to all those links and read the articles. Now what?

[muawiyah]

No one expects moral courage out of the Comedy Central channel managers.

And I sure wouldn't let any of those putz' near a cash register either.

[SunTzuWu]

The most clever bit hasn't been mentioned that I've seen; After the Fox president agrees to air the show, Cartman, in a fit of rage, points his gun and pulls the trigger... but his gun is empty. His threat had no real teeth when push came to shove.

[Cindy]

The "sheer volume" grows because the lame-stream-media tends to be politically correct and focuses on "the cartoons" rather than getting THE BIG PICTURE of "the cartoon jihad."

As long as political correctness exists, my list of links will grow.

As for the link lists themselves; FR is picked up by a number of search engines and that is why I have posted them here.

[Cindy]

Well that's good HighWheeler.

"Now what?"

Well, that is up to you.
What do you usually do with information
you pick up on FR?

[RightWingAtheist]

ping

[EveningStar]

SOUTH PARK PING!

For those who don't know how you got on this ping list: the initial ping list was created by copying member names from past South Park threads.

Please ping me with any South Park related articles. Thank you!

If you want on or off this ping list, please FReepmail me.

This is expected to be a low to medium volume ping list.

South Park TV schedule at Comedy Central

South Park syndication schedule - these are older episodes that have been released to broadcast TV and are therefore heavily edited.

South Park sites at South Park Studios and Comedy Central

Search for previous South Park articles at Free Republic by title or keyword.

Create a South Park character of yourself at Planearium.de or SouthParkStudios.com.

South Park products available at Amazon and Comedy Central.

Download South Park episodes in bit torrent format at South Park Complete or Torrentspy or MrTwig

Read scripts of South Park episodes at TWIZ TV.

The South Park Scriptorium, a good all around site for South Park information.

The Wikipedia article on South Park.

[Kozak]

This will help.