I think I’m a South Park Zionist.
Let me explain.
I shamelessly borrow this term from “South Park Conservative,” which was coined by Andrew Sullivan and later popularized by Brian Anderson.
In an interview with National Review Online, Anderson describes the phenomenon thusly:
It loosely refers to an anti-liberal or an iconoclastic right-of-center type: someone who may not be traditionally conservative when it comes to things like censorship or popular culture or even on some social issues but who wants nothing to do with the dour, PC, and elitist Left.As Trey Parker, [South Park’s] co-creator, put it: “We hate liberals more than conservatives, and we hate them.”
I think that zeitgeist pretty much describes my political bearings these days. I don’t consider myself a conservative (South Park Conservative or otherwise). In fact, on most, issues, I’d comfortably describe myself as “progressive.” I have little fondness for those on the Right, be they George W. Bush, Karl Rove, Pat Buchanan, the Christian Right, the wingnuts who currently run the ZOA, or the hardline Jewish settlers who cling to the dream of a “Greater Israel” and reject the need for—and justice of—a two-state solution.
But, I find that I have even less patience for the pious Left: The ones who say that there is no anti-semitism on the Left by virtue of the fact that Leftists are incapable of anti-semitism; the ones who wrap themselves in the banner of philo-semitism, claiming that they seek to eradicate Zionism to save the Jewish soul; the ones who contextualize anti-semitism in the Arab world, saying that it is the inevitable response to Israeli predations; the ones who, in the name of anti-imperialism, make common cause with Middle Eastern dictators and Islamist extremists.
So, yeah, I’m a South Park Zionist. And I’m pretty comfortable with that.
hi Judeosphere, I am English and read this link on Harry’s Place. Now, I love South Park, I think it is the funniest show on tv, but I think it’s a little silly when I read people going on about how PArker and Stone are serious political analysts. Yes, the shows do usually hav a great message, one I agree with, but let’s get this straight, they are comedians, not politicians, and I am suspicious of anyone who uses them as a source in a serious political debate. Would they be bale to put up with the same scrutiny that politicians put up woth over their views? When they go on Paxman and argue their case I will take them seriously.
It’s just that while I think South Park is a great show and I agree with 99% of what they say, it has this very American obnoxious edge to it that makes me worried tot hink that by and large people in the world’s only superpower are so simplistic and dismissive of other opinions. For instance, Team America was a brilliant film, but if people want to start turning Parker and Stone into some sort of political gurus, then let’s ask what the message was. They appeared to be criticising celebrities with a “social conscience” who don’t practice what they preach. Fair enough, I agree with them 100%. If I could tie Bono up in my basement and tape hios mouth shut, I would. But if we wqnt to pretend it is anything other than extremely funny coomedy, if we want to view Team America as a serious political satire, then let’s ask: are Parker and Stone not exactly what they deride – rich showbiz celebrities teling people what to think and not practising what they preach? They call people “fags” for opposing the war on terror, but what they have they done to supoport the war on terror any more than any other tax payer? What have they contributed to the war effort? Is everyone who supports the war on terror not a “fag”, but everyone who opposes it is? Are war vets who oppose the war “fags”, but Parker and Stone, millionaire film-makers,who have never been near a war-zone in their life and strike me as the sort of geeks who would get put through hell if they went anywhere near the military – real true blue patriots? The whole thing smacks of right wing hypocrasy. The trouble with America is that you don’t have a left-wing to all intents and purposes, you just have hardline right wingers and moderate right wingers, so that makes it easy for the likes of Parker and Stone to pour scorn on these lilly-livered, feeble “fags”. If they came to Europe and tried to take on some of our tougher socialists I think they would be made to look like a couple of little nobodies with very little constructive arguments, to be honest.
You see, that is the trouble when comedians are turned into political mouthpieces by the likes of this website, it turns many of theirown fans against them. but don’t get me wrong, I love South Park, but from where I stand it looks like these people have gone wrong somewhere when it comes to politics.
Not that I disagree with you about Israel by the way, I just get annoyed when one of my favourite tv programmes is turned against me. The sad thing is it would be so easy to criticise American liberals from a left-wing perspective, but no-one seems to want to.
My point is different though, what I am saying is that quoting South Park to insult the left is like quoting Green Day to insult the right, but even more futile because no true leftists would be offended by any of Parker and Stone’s criticisms of “liberals” (who in england would be Conservatives) because we share them. What does annoy me is when conservatives in America try to use this great comedy to further their agenda. “South Park Conservative” – what a load of rubbish. I might as well call myself a bob Dylan leftist. It’s wrong to take the genious of South Park and in any way associate it with the materialistic, anti-civil liberty, mass-hysteria enducing lie machine that is the modern american right. It is an insult.
PS let Parker and Stone debate with some real leftists and see how they fare. I think they would be reduced to tears (as they would be if they had to fight int he real war like all those “fags” in the army who voted for Kerry).
PPS Cartman is still the greatest human being, real or fictional, of all time, closely followed by Butters.
Jebus tony CA, that was quite a rant.
Judeosphere, I suspect that the right and left are actually only about 10% of the population. Around 10% of each party are crazy and we are stuck with them.
“The trouble with America is that you don’t have a left-wing to all intents and purposes…”
No tony CA, that’s one of the things that makes America great. One of the most important lessons of the last century is that Totalitarianism/Collectivism is a failure. We got the message – many Euroweenies did not.
“If they came to Europe and tried to take on some of our tougher socialists I think they would be made to look like a couple of little nobodies with very little constructive arguments, to be honest.”
That’s because American Leftists are little nobodies with very little constructive arguments. And who cares how “tough” your socialists are? Europe has unemployment rates in the low teens, a shrivelling population and no military to speak of, thanks in large part to years of Leftist indoctrination.
“PS let Parker and Stone debate with some real leftists and see how they fare. I think they would be reduced to tears…”
Of laughter, perhaps.
“ (as they would be if they had to fight int he real war like all those “fags” in the army who voted for Kerry).
The U.S. military voted overwhelmingly for Bush. Which is why the Dems tried so hard to sabotage the overseas military vote.
And in case you did not know, in the United States the Military is under civilian control, thus civilians have a constitutional right to express their opinions on how the Military is employed.
Very nice. I think I too am a South Park Zionist, although I would add considerably more to your list of complaints against left-liberals.
Great post. I will link to it in my blog and steal your picture for my profile. Can I?
I don’t agree that the US doesn’t have a left. If anything the American left is more left wing than most European leftists. Noam Chomsky and Gore Vidal are far too left for, say, the current UK Labour party – maybe even for the German Social Democrats. The problem for the US left is that, since they have no chance of ever getting anywhere near government, they come up with critiques and worthy-sounding platitudes, but not policies. Also, they’re mostly just talking to each other, rather than to the US nation as a whole.
As for this “America rejects collectivism” argument, I don’t buy it. The document says “We the people”, not “I a person”. Patriotism is always a collectivized impulse. The military is the most collectivized institution in any state, and US taxpayers pay massively more for it than the citizens of any other country. Ironically the corrupting effect of such out-of-control militarism, and the attendant military-industrial complex, is that the US gets much of the worst side-effects of European socialism (the big government, the curtailment of individual liberties) without any of the supposed good bits. Whatever you think of President Bush, you can’t say he’s in favour of small government.
Don’t get me wrong. I love America. Instinctively I’m a soft leftie, but serious with it. I don’t think you can frame a political programme around Coldplay lyrics. And I despair of the American left portraying the country as if it’s one huge Guantanamo-style prison camp. It really isn’t.
“…it has this very American obnoxious edge…”
Spoken like a true liberal Brit – equality, freedom, peace and just a little pinch of that British snootiness and eternal (but polite) distrust of the unwashed heathens. Excellent example.
As a Brit myself, I think we can do obnoxious just as well (badly?) as the Americans. Brit comedies like Peep Show and Nathan Barley can really make you cringe…
I’m a South Park Liberal. And I resent Zionism being conflated with “conservatism as iconoclasm.” That’s part of the problem ya’know. Zionism is a liberal cause.
And can a Hamas supporter conceivably be a South Park Islamist?
Where do South Park Zionists stand on the murder of little nine-year old girls I wonder? It would be good to know.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1697825,00.html
America has a left in the form of the entire entertainment industry baring very few exceptions. Hollywood pumps out left wing material on a weekly basis ad nauseum in all its forms. Much of the media is to the left of the Democratic Party as well (never mind the fact that like 80% of the media votes Dem).
I don’t think you can frame a political programme around Coldplay lyrics.
And thank god for that. No one deserves to be that miserable.
BTW: I would consider myself a South Park Zionist as well.
Did anyone see that epsiode about the Jewish accounant;. something like “When you wish upon a Weinstein” – Hysterical
As an aside I am going to shamelessly plug my blog here.. its all about those nasty Anti Zionists.. http://bannedbyelf.blogspot.com/
Hope you dont mind
David
‘Where do South Park Zionists stand on the murder of little nine-year old girls I wonder? It would be good to know.’
Well, Neil, I can’t say I’m a South Park ‘Zionist’, but I can say as ex-Brit Army that when we encountered child murderers – in Kosovo, in Sierra Leone, and in Iraq – we kicked the living shit out of them.
And as for where you stand on killing children, from reading your website I know that you’re quite happy to pour praise on Milosevic and his kind, which makes you a nauseating hypocritical low-life for even raising this issue. As they say in parts ex-Yugoslav, ‘Jebem ti dusu’.
.”…it has this very American obnoxious edge…”
Spoken like a true liberal Brit – equality, freedom, peace and just a little pinch of that British snootiness and eternal (but polite) distrust of the unwashed heathens. Excellent example. “
Sorry mate I just think some very characteristic things about American society are brash, distasteful and obnoxious. it’s nothing to do with politics, just read a message by someone like Scott Free and my point is proved.
Back to the point though, I suppose what I was trying to say in a round-about way is that I agree with nearly every point made on South Park, from their “hate crimes” episode to the “tolerance camp” episode, to the episode about hippies, and many more. I even agree with the general message of Team America. But yet I am a socialist. Not a politicially correct, soft hearted liberal or anything like that, just a socialist. I don’t see how fighting for a fair wage for everyone, the right of every citizen to free healthcare and free education of equal quality are values that are mocked in South Park, they only mock the self-righteous and hypocritical elitist left, which in reality is just the other side of the coin of right wing conservatism, ie both are about contempt for the working man. So in fact I agree with nearly everything South Park says and although I don’t doubt Parker and Stone are right wing, I don’t thinkt he values expressed in the show are anathema to socialism, just to liberal leftism which is the only sort of leftism america knows.
By the way I am anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage and pro-death penalty, and I know lots of British socialists who are like me. We are a different breed to the pathetic bourgeoise american liberal.
So all this is why I don’t like the admirable message of South Park, which is in defence of tradition, community, family, religion (watch the episode about paedophile priests if you doubt me) being monopolised by right wing reagonomic fetishists when in reality your dog eat dog economic policy of materialism above all else have helped destroy the very things you claim to defend. Right wing hypocrasy at its most blind, loathsome and moronic
one more thing snoopy, it isn’t liberal Brits in particular who feel like that, I know lots of Thatcherite right wing Brits who are much more anti-american than me. You should look up Lord Fulford, the proud Conservative Lord, who recently made a tv programme called “Why America Sucks”, a criticism of your architecture, commercialised religous values and (in his view) tacky popular culture.
again I re-iterate, he is not a left wing activist, he never mentions politics in the programme, it is about the attitude of the people.
Fabian: Sure, you can use the image. Alternatively, you can create your own South Park character at this site:
http://www.planearium2.de/flash/spstudio.html
Maven: I think you’re confusing “South Park” with “Family Guy.” (Also a brilliant show.) I’m not sure what a “Family Guy Zionist” would be, but since it would likely involve a talking dog and a super-genius baby, I’m not inclined to speculate.
Tony ca: I hardly consider Parker and Stone to be serious political analysts…Still, I confess that I’d love to see them go to Europe and take on some of your “tougher socialists.” Let’s put them in the same Big Brother house as George Galloway, and see who emerges victorious.
wow even you have heard of George Galloway? I think that in itself is a victory for a man who seeks publicity above all else! Think about it. How many other backbench MP’s who have never had any impact on global politics, or even very much impact on their own countries domestic politics, have you heard of? Galloway would be delighted to know you have heard of him.
It seems to be a common misperception among Europeans that the US has no left, only a center or moderate right versus a far right. It is true that our political parties were not originally based on class interests, like the Labour or Conservative parties in Britain, but they served as big tents that encompassed a fair part of the political spectrum.
It is true that no major party in the US would dare call itself “socialist,” but the Democratic Party used to feature plainly welfare-state programs. However, I have to admit that our mainstream left was never as far left as that in the UK, where the Labour Party has long included people much to the left of the left-wing of the U.S. Democratic Party.
Still…that’s not the same as saying that there is no left in the US. It’s just that the left in the US has no political home. Some leftists never felt comfortable in the Democratic Party the way they might’ve in Labour, and that has been even truer since the 1980s, when the Democrats moved to the center. But you do have a fair number of people in the US who would feel right at home in Europe.
And there is a healthy left-wing press here, even if it doesn’t have the same audience as CNN or, God forbid, the Fox Channel. Plus the left has a strong presence in academia.
Of course, it is easy to start splitting hairs over what constitutes “left,” but I won’t get into that tiresome argument.
One other thing, the definition of “left” has evolved over the years, so that hard-core class issues have been overshadowed by identity, victim and lifestyle politics. I frequently hear about gender, sexual orientation, and race. Little about class.
That’s the trouble you see joanne. “Lifestyle politics”, “racial politics” “gender politics” – all the tools of liberals to divide and rule the working class. They never stopped to wonder why the most deprived people in society feel such alienation from mainstream politics that they can easily be won over by populist far right bigots. These same working class whites are then vilified by the so-called leftist liberals, who are really just elitists and in my opinion not leftists at all. Well, that’s just my opinion, because I define socialism as an ideology in which the primary objectives are to decrease the gap between the rich and the poor and improve the lot of the poor in the process. I wouldn’t accept any ideology which did not place this as its number one objective as socialist or truly left wing. It should have nothing whatsoever to do with race, gender or lifestyle.
To Neil Clarke. As a South Park Zionist, I have no desire to see a 9 year old girl murdered anywhere in the world. She is equally dead in Palestine, Israel, UK, France, Somalia, China, India, Brazil, USA, Greenland, Russia, Pakistan , Japan, Indonesia……Need. I go on? Wherever it happens it’s a terrible, terrible thing.
Zionism means only the desire of the Jewish people to have the State of Israel as their homeland. That’s it. Nothing more. No world domination. Sorry, that’s it.
You really are a stupid, stupid man!
Nice article, but why is your kid named “Yisdael?” When I saw the small version of the pic, I thought it said “Israel” in Hebrew on his shirt, but then I looked at the large version and it was a dalet instead of a resh.
Just ta let ya know.
Dan Kliman
http://www.BlueTruth.net
Which pic you talking about? do you talking about south park episode pics and what you mean by ‘Israel’? i want to know more about south park tv show.
Hi i also not know which pics he is talking about. but anyway i have south park download episodes it is interesting.
What does Yisdael mean?
Isit a typo for Israel?
I recommend South Park Episodes