The following post is by MYRLN, a non-blogger who is Kalilily Time’s guest writer every Monday.
IMAGINATION?
The latest episode of SOUTH PARK was part one of a trilogy around a main theme of a nature that hilariously out-smuts much of the show’s previous smutty themes. But the smut-driven alleged main theme is really secondary to the show’s thoroughly insightful and satirical treatment of the supposed “war on terror” as our dubious prez Dumbya likes to articulate it. (“Articulate” is used in its loosest sense there — oh, and by the way, doesn’t “war on terror” mean fighting feelings of fear?)
In any case, what this SOUTH PARK trilogy pursues and characterizes is the stupidity surrounding so much of this “war.” We — as pseudo-residents of South Park — are informed that Muslim terrorists have successfully attacked and hijacked our imagination. It is only a matter of time, we are further told, before our imagination starts running wild. In all the words spoken and written since 9/11, none more accurately than those describe where indeed we have come to: imaginations run wild. Furthermore, we’re also shown, terrorists have destroyed the barrier between the light and dark sides of imagination, allowing darkness to overwhelm good and innocence.
All of that’s exactly what’s happened to us and allows the lunacy we now confront daily to prevail.
We actually make believe it’s not clear what constitutes torture. We have a man in the White House who believes he was honestly elected and that he can hold discussions with god. We have a government that actually thinks the U.S. Constitution is a debatable document and can be disregarded at a whim. Grade school kids who draw characters shooting at each other are suspended and referred for counseling — no matter they’re simply replicating fantasy scenes from cartoons and comic books. Guy on a college campus wears a helmet and bulletproof vest (perhaps as protection?) and is arrested then released but “warned about his outfit’s appearance.” A girl soccer player is told she can’t wear her Muslim hair covering in a game “cuz people might misunderstand.” More and more cameras are installed around city streets because of “this day and age.” And for the same reason, government is allowed to spy on us and “detain” us as prisoners in total disregard of our constitutional rights.
And why is all this going on? Ask SOUTH PARK. Its smutty, supposed main theme of the trilogy is symbolic of what we’re being asked — and forced — to do for fear of terrorists.
Part 2 of the trilogy airs Wednesday night at 10. Maybe they’ll precede it with a repeat of part 1.