What? Morals in 'South Park'?

The New York Times > Arts > Television > Critic's Notebook: "In a March episode a movie called 'The Passion' wins over Eric Cartman, the fat one, who was himself crucified in 1999 in South Park's own prescient passion play. After watching the film, Cartman drones on and on about the glory of his longtime hero Mel Gibson, the movie's director, until his pal Kyle Broflovski consents to see it. Shaken by its depiction of torture, Kyle comes to agree with the film's implication that Jews bear responsibility for the death of Jesus.

Kyle then agitates at his synagogue: he wants to hear an apology. The congregants rebel. Meanwhile Cartman organizes a rally and tries to initiate genocide. Holy war comes to South Park. In a related subplot a demented and armed Mel Gibson flounces around in underwear as he did in 'Lethal Weapon.' Andrew Sullivan, the conservative online pundit, called that scene 'one of the more sublime sights of the year.'

American hypocrisy, the combination of greed and sanctimony that lets religion and would-be spirituality provide cover for rapacity. Where the "Peanuts" children were sad, the kids in "South Park" are furious and vengeful."