Isaac Hayes, the voice of smooth-talking "Chef" in the blockbuster animated show South Park, has reportedly quit the program saying he can no longer stomach its take on religion.
Oh, goody, here we go. I was right when I predicted the pathetic Western response to the Mo-toon controversy was about to usher in a new age of "sensitivity".
"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins," Associated Press reported the 63-year-old soul singer as saying.
Uh....no. That's bullshit. Why is religion beyond criticism?
Particularly Scientology, which is more cult than religion.
Seriously. Why can't people get this simple fact?:
Religions are just ideas.
Ideas can be criticised, mocked, satirised and ridiculed in any manner seen fit.
All that might happen is that (shock horror!) it might cause you to question deeply held beliefs
Noooo!!! Independent free thinking! The horror!!!
As long as you aren't attacking the person themselves, it's a perfectly valid means of freedom of expression.
Keep in mind that Hayes did voice work for many of an episode critical of Christianity.
Saying Every religion is fair game - except mine. is just ridiculous...and hypocritical.
Stone and Parker "feel that it's a bit disingenuous (for Hayes) to cite religious intolerance as a reason for him pulling out of the show" because the series has lampooned religion since the start, dating back to the short film, The Spirit of Christmas, on which the series is based.
At least some people understand the rank stupidity of it all
Posted by Quentin George at March 14, 2006 06:22 PMBummer. Chef's one of my favorite characters in SP. :\
Posted by: Jan at March 15, 2006 09:02 PM