Via Reason, Russia’s War Against the Youth has moved to another front, and this time it’s personal.
Moscow prosecutors began legal proceedings aimed at the cartoon series South Park today in a bid to kill Kenny in Russia.
Prosecutors took action against the 2×2 television channel for broadcasting an episode of the animated comedy show that featured Christmas songs including a medley duet performed by Santa Claus and Jesus Christ.
The Basmanny regional prosecutors office in Moscow has announced that the programme “bore signs of extremist activity”.
The episode in question called Mr Hankey’s Christmas Classics was aired in Moscow in January. It shows a number of regular and guest characters including Satan, Adolf Hitler and an anthropomorphised human faeces called Mr Hankey performing in a Christmas variety show. An accompanying CD is available to buy.
Questions of what’s so “extremist” about a Christmas poo – and, for that matter, why the episode aired after Christmas – aside, I guess satire is lost on Russia. It’s curious to me, that after more than ten years, people still don’t “get” South Park. People find it crass and offensive, but I think it’s one of the most intelligent shows on television. Take last season’s episode in which Stan’s dad says the N-word on “Wheel of Fortune” and is subsequently forced to – literally – kiss Jesse Jackson’s ass.
Another of my favorite episodes, “The Passion of the Jew,” tackles anti-semitism and some Christians’ misguided intolerance of other religions, in addition to the diversion of focus from Christ’s life and teachings to his death.
This is social commentary here, people. The potty humor is a bonus.
