Was it the Bloody Mary?

Mon., Mar. 13 2006 at 11:25 AM

Categories: Television

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Isaac Hayes, a Scientologist, announces he will leave "South Park" because of recent episodes that have embarked upon what he calls "inappropriate ridicule of religious communities." Press release after the jump:

ISAAC HAYES REQUESTS RELEASE FROM "SOUTH PARK"
Legendary soul man Isaac Hayes has officially requested a release from his contract with the "South Park" television show, and the Comedy Central cable station. Mr. Hayes has been a cast member of "South Park" since 1997 as the voice of "CHEF".

Mr. Hayes has decided to part ways with "South Park" because of recent episodes and press that have embarked upon what he feels are inappropriate ridicule of religious communities. While fully acknowledging "South Park's" right to freedom of speech, Mr. Hayes is disappointed with what he perceives as a growing insensitivity towards personal spiritual beliefs, not only with "South Park" episodes but also the recent Danish cartoon controversy.

"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." Mr. Hayes adds, "religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored. As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices."

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I think Matt Stone, co-creator of South Park is the one true Messiah. Refuse to accept him at your own peril, you heathen sons and daughters of Sodom and Gomorrah!
OK.. we could sit here arguing all day.. OR you can all read this quote off the scientology website and end this discussion right now. This is NOT taken out of context: "More than 1 million Americans have died under psych "treatment." How many around the world have been killed by terrorists trained by psychiatrists?" Yes, I understand there claiming that Osama is using the tools of a psychiatrists to make people follow him, but that happens ever day by everyone. Every religion uses mind tricks to make you believe. If they didnt everyone would be an athiest and just accept life and death as what they are.. natural and inevitable. All religions are based in an unfortunatly common trait of human nature, "People are Stupid" and they love a good story. How long do you figure it would have taken for david blane to rule the world if he was back in the year of christ.(another south park ep) I guess what im really trying to say is that all people that follow religion.. and I mean REALLY follow it, to the point they would die or kill for it, are ignorant misguided and unhappy. Humans follow a hierarchal structure of rule. There are the lowly peasants and people who rule them and some one above him and some one above him all they way up to King, President, Emperor. However the people dont want the top rung to be a man in a castle who is able to control there lives immediately and profoundly. They do not want a different leader ever 4 years or even every 40. So they made up God. He is above all kings, he never comes down and inforces new tariffs/taxes and hes not real so he stays in office forever, building a reputation. Is it useless to try and quell people away from their religion? Not always. There should always be a little part of a person that knows its all Bullsh|t. And speaking of, one of my favorite quotes, from Penn Gilette. "The Bible, dont read it to find a moral code, read it because we need more athiests, And nothing will get you there faster then reading the damned bible"
Not to mention he joined South Park from the beginning. The pilot episode made fun of Christians, so he had to have known what he was in for.
"....Everyone has there thresholds...." So, his "threshold" was not reached when South Park made fun of Christians, Muslims, etc., but when Scientology (i.e., his belief) got pulled into the fray, he reached his threshold. Coincidence? Double standards? You decide... Personally, certainly the latter.
"Laugh, or turn it off"? I think he did just that, he turned it off. He obviously repects the shows freedom within the law or he wouldn't have been on the show for almost 10 years. Maybe he feels that those episodes were not tastefully done and now conflict with his feelings about his limits on freedom of speech. Everyone has there thresholds and freedom of speech is much too complex to be summed up with a "with us or against us" point of view. If we are to repect the choices that South Park makes than so too are we obligated to respect the choices that he makes.
Co-creator Matt Stone's response from the AP: "This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology... He has no problem -- and he's cashed plenty of checks -- with our show making fun of Christians... He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin."
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion (and religious expression) and the right to assembly. It's there so people have the freedom to act as their conscience dictates. It gets knotty because so many people expect others to act as their individual conscience -- or lack of conscience --dictates. While I think his accusations are a bit silly regarding South Park at this point (they've long established themselves as equal opportunity offenders) if that's how he feels, it's his obligation to be true to what he personally believes.
The Scientology episode, "Trapped in the Closet," originally aired on November 16. Isaac Hayes's rep said then that he didn't know about the episode. I wonder if he received pressure from the Church to quit...Hmmmm... Hayes on Scientology, via the Scientology Kills site: "Scientology is the gateway to eternity. It is the path to happiness and total spiritual freedom. Until one has experienced the technology of Scientology it's unlikely that one will ever experience these wonderful discoveries. I know because it has worked for me. The more time and effort I invest, the more I receive. I highly recommend it." Isaac Hayes Musician/Actor
1) If Hayes doesn't want to work on that project, fine. 2) But there is no reason to think that we should in any way respect religious beliefs. If people want to make up stuff and claim it's true, fine, but we don't owe them any special treatment. Explanation: The arguments about 'respecting' and 'tolerance' are being twisted to support medieval hocus pocus. No one REALLY believes this shyte. For example, if you were going to get an operation, and the anesthesiologist simply held crystals above your head and said they absorb pain, there's no way you'd accept that. Neither if she just said 'trust Jesus to take your pain', or Allah, or (fill in the blank). No, you want drugs before the knife comes. Science works. And oh, you are afraid that without religion, you won't have morality? I think it's worse to base morals on false, make-believe stories of any kind. Better to base morality on things we know that work pretty universally to advance human flourishing (such as the golden rule, laws for protecting maximum liberty compatable with equal liberty in others, and other tried and true principles of human society). And South Park makes fun of teachers, scientists, doctors, and so on. We just take it in stride. Laugh, or turn it off.
Well, gee, he *is* a Scientologist. You suppose that could be the "religious community" he's talking about?
Agree! It's about respect and courtesy. It may seem funny but someone's feelings are being effected. Doesn't anyone care about that any more? Mr. Hayes seems to. Comedy has always poked fun at anyone and everything, and to some extent that's fine, but religion should be left alone. As wonderful as freedom of speech is, it must be excercised with good judgment, and with the best interests of everyone's dignity and respect in mind.