Russia Wants To Ban South Park
Prosecutors Brand The Animated Hit Show As Extremist
Written by OddCulture on September 8th, 2008 in Odd Culture.
Tags: controversy, Odd News, Russia, TV
Russian prosecutors are calling the show “extremist”. No comment from Mr. Hankey at this time.
To add to the string of ominous news stories out of Russia, here’s one that’s good for a laugh. Prosecutors in Russia want to ban the animated TV show South Park, branding it as “extremist”.
source: Calgary Herald:
Basmanny regional prosecutors office spokeswoman Valentina Titova said investigators filed a motion after deciding an episode broadcast on Moscow television station 2×2 in January “bore signs of extremist activity.” South Park is dubbed into Russian and rebroadcast on local networks, including 2×2, a channel which broadcasts animated series in Moscow and St Petersburg.
The Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith had asked prosecutors to ban South Park after it said 20 experts had studied the show for its effect on young viewers. The group’s leader, Konstantin Bendas, said “South Park is just one of many cartoons that need to be banned from open broadcast…as it insults the feelings of religious believers and incites religious and national hatred.” “Our complaint is against a lot of cartoons, but this one was from South Park season three, episode 15,” he said.
The episode, called Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics first aired in December, 1999. It is a variety show and features Mr. Hankey, the Christmas poo, as the host; he sits by the fire in his sewer home and introduces shorts featuring unusual holiday songs.
“It’s one thing if they are on cable TV and viewers pay money and make a conscious choice. But young children should not be able to turn on the TV after school and watch this. They need to be defended,” Bendas said.
Hmmm… that sounds familiar.
| Did ya know? – Russia passed a 2006 law widening the definition of extremism to include “the abasement of national dignity” and “inciting religious and national hatred,” which backers say was needed to stem a wave of violence aimed at ethnic minorities. |
It looks like South Park characters could become symbols of liberty movement in Russia. The battle against ban on American cartoons, mostly on South Park, but concerning others, like The Simpsons and Family Guy, is encouraging common Russians to defend their rights. What is your opinion on this topic – will Russian powers ban the ‘immoral’ cartoon series, or South Park’s crew will be able to spread its word all over Russia freely? Vote here – http://www.votetheday.com/tv-15/russia-bans-south-park-332
.___. In the end its up to the parents whether or not their kids can watch South Park. It isn’t really a children’s show to begin with, so maybe if theyre so worried about the message that South Park conveys to young viewers, they can take more care in making it hard for juveniles to access, instead of completely banning it so that the show’s adult audience- the audience it was originally intended for-can still enjoy it. *sigh* Damn Christians, always gotta point the finger at something….