Over the past few weeks, students at universities across America have been throwing temper tantrums at the prospect of free speech and open dialogue. On Tuesday, John Kerry justified the Charlie Hebdo slaughter and differentiated it from the Paris attacks, by saying there was “a rationale that you could attach yourself to somehow and say, okay, they’re really angry because of this and that.”
America’s institutions of “higher learning”—where students purportedly go to expand their minds—and the Obama administration are no defenders of free speech.
Meanwhile, the show South Park is in the midst of what is arguably their most prescient season, from expertly mocking politically correct culture, to Donald Trump. It has separated itself from prestigious institutions of intellectual poverty, and proven itself a bastion of free speech.
Yes, one of the most profane, vulgar shows on television has demonstrated its understanding of the First Amendment surpasses the America’s educational and governmental authorities’ understandings. Maybe that’s because it does not censor itself, and instead says exactly what it means, using taboo words and expressing ideas that would make a modern college student weep.
In Wednesday night’s episode, there was a particularly enlightening exchange between Jimmy, a disabled 4th grader, and South Park Elementary’s new principal, “PC Principal,” who is a fraternity type obsessed with political correctness, so much so he often overlooks obvious, pressing matters in order to “check privilege.” PC is outraged that someone has used the word “retarded” to describe the school’s lunch program in the school paper—not because it criticizes the school lunch program, but because the word “retarded” is offensive. He threatens to break the legs of whomever did it. He is shocked to learn Jimmy is the culprit.
He then sits down with Jimmy, and the segment includes this exchange:
Jimmy: Says who?
PC: Says me, all right? And I know a thing or two about the rights of people with disabilities. When you use the “r” word to describe the school’s lunch policy, it can hurt people’s hearts. can you understand that at all?
Jimmy: That was an op-ed piece in the paper written by a first grader who found the school lunch policy to be ridiculous, and he thought “retarded” to be the best word to describe it. As the editor of the paper, I didn’t think it was right to censor the words the student used.
PC: Okay, well, from now on, i’m gonna need to approve the school paper before you hand it out, okay?
Jimmy: No.
PC: What’d you say?
Jimmy: You’re new here, so you don’t understand how seriously I take my job as editor of the school paper. I don’t allow ads, and I don’t allow anything that might taint the truth behind what people are thinking. I don’t want people to be afraid of words if it stops them from having a dialogue.
PC: Look, i don’t want to get angry, okay?
Jimmy: Why? Are you uncomfortable around people with disabilities? That’s okay. lots of people are.
PC: No, I’m not! i am very not uncomfortable. all right, look — unless I can approve your paper, it is not being distributed on campus. You got that? i can’t hand out the school paper in school? Not unless it is approved by me. Do you understand?
Jimmy: Yep. got it.
“I don’t want people to be afraid of words if it stops them from having a dialogue.” How novel an idea, that people should be able to freely speak their minds without censorship and use the words they see best fit to communicate their ideas, so to achieve an honest dialogue. South Park is right. There is no virtue in banning words. Words—including offensive words and profane words—have meanings and exist for a reason. We should use those words—whichever words we see fit—to communicate our ideas. If it offends, it hopefully leads to further and honest dialogues—not petulant temper tantrums from grown adults on campus, nor violent attacks. Nor should we justify such retaliations when they occur.
Free speech has long been a staple of South Park. In a previous season it was revealed that 4th grader Stan Marsh’s father, Randy, was moonlighting as the pop singer Lorde. Randy’s wife consoles him when he falls into a depression by talking about Lorde.
One of the most vulgar shows on television has eloquently obviated the issues PC culture, and those who support it—including institutions of “higher learning,” and the officials who lead America. Maybe the world would be better off if the elites took some time to watch South Park.
