ESPN and the Three Little Pigs

What do ESPN, and the Three Little Pigs have in common? They expose the hypocrisy and intellectual dishonesty that are destroying civilization right before our eyes.


According to the Times of London, an animated adaptation of the tale of the three little pigs has been panned because it has been deemed to be "offensive to Muslims" due to the porcine protaganists. According to the story, Muslims had not complained but it was still thought to be offensive. Similar episodes have occurred in the US and other countries around the world. I guess that the strategy of killing infidels for offending Islam is producing the desired result; fear. Publishing cartoons and naming stuffed animals can get you killed if you offend the wrong demographic. Even printing something off the Internet can be fatal. On Tuesday, Sayed Parwez Kaambakhsh, 23, was sentenced to death for distributing a report printed from the Internet that religious officials said violated Islam.


Recently, an ESPN host made a less than appropriate remark about Jesus and was given a one week leave from her job. (Yawn) If she had made the same comment about another religious figure she could well be the target of a fatwa and be off of work much longer. Fortunately, Christians are more inclined to allow justice to occur without their hastening influence. It is in fact, the Christians who cherish concepts like free will, tolerance, and freedom of conscience. These ideals have enabled western civilization to thrive. Some might argue that Christianity has had a stifling effect at times in human history. On balance, the positive contributions outweigh the negative. However, one need only to look at the founding of this nation to see the benefits that freedom of religious choice and Judeo-Christian principles brings to a society.


There is never an outcry when "Christian sensibilities" are offended. In fact, there is usually a great deal of celebration and self-congratulatory fanfare whenever Christians are maligned. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Andres Serrano, and more recently the folks at the Folsom Street Fair have all been hailed for their open mindedness and gifted free expression for their anti-Christian endeavors. Whenever Christians or Jesus are the butt of the joke or the target of derision, mockery and scorn most people cheer or certainly have a good laugh. I can only imagine the response to any of these "artists" and their endeavors if they targeted someone other than Jesus with their religious themes.


The world in which we live is a very dangerous place. Yet, many people seem content to ignore their plight and others choose to imitate Neville Chamberlain and bend over backwards in an effort to not offend and appease an enemy for whom anything less than total victory is not an option. Apparently suicide bombers have failed to convince people of their level of commitment to the cause and unwillingness to compromise.

The three little pigs are offensive enough to warrant censure but zealots sawing off a person's head and broadcasting the video around the world is not offensive enough to warrant action. Western sensibilities are offended every day in countries where women are oppressed under the guise of religion, murdered for "honor" and people are killed for "religious insults". Yet, the only response is to walk more softly and work harder to appease and not to offend. I believe that Jews don't appreciate swine any more than Muslims. But no one complains about being insensitive to Jews.



I wonder when ESPN will start calling for the NFL and NCAA to be less offensive and ban the use of "the pigskin".