Kathy Griffin emmy remarks

[03cavPA]

Some people are screaming mad about this. I don't take Kathy Griffin seriously enough to get that upset about it. She's just another Hollywood fool, IMO.

http://www.reuters.com/article/enter...44512920070911

......................
"A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus," an exultant Griffin said, holding up her statuette. "Suck it, Jesus. This award is my god now."

Asked about her speech backstage a short time later, an unrepentant Griffin added, "I hope I offended some people. I didn't want to win the Emmy for nothing."

The speech drew fire from a leading Roman Catholic group, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, which condemned Griffin's remarks as "obscene and blasphemous.".........................

Personally, it looks to me like she's just trying to get a bigger "moment in the sun."

[00accord44]

She's getting exactly the reaction she wanted. I forgot she existed til I read this thread... mission accomplished for her. Hopefully I can forget she exists before dinner

[blindside.AMG]

Imagine if she made the same remarks but replace "Jesus" with "Mohammed". She'd probably be banned to wherever Kramer is now.

[drunken monkey]

why would she?
when's the last time someone thanked Mohammed for an award? Why would she thank Mohammed for the award? Point is, she's Catholic; hence Jesus. I don't think this has anything to do with the religion. Fact is, she chose to do it for reasons that might include the reaction she would get for it. Did it work, apparently so.

[blindside.AMG]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

why would she?
when's the last time someone thanked Mohammed for an award? Why would she thank Mohammed for the award? Point is, she's Catholic; hence Jesus. I don't think this has anything to do with the religion. Fact is, she chose to do it for reasons that might include the reaction she would get for it. Did it work, apparently so.

She was raised Catholic and is now Atheist. She did it for shock value, hence Jesus. You're allowed to make fun of Jesus for shock value and still retain your "career". Not so much with Mohammed.

[03cavPA]

That's because they'll burn your place to the ground and pull you out into the street and beat you if you make fun of Mohammed.

Look what happened when those cartoons were published in Denmark.

http://michellemalkin.com/2006/01/30...rtoons-matter/

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/735

I did not start this thread to bang on the muslims; I am just providing links to stories. Personally, I think this is more a free speech issue, but nothing is ever that straightforward or clear-cut.

It raises an excellent point. Why is it OK to offend some groups and not others?

[drunken monkey]

You missed the point. She is not a Muslim so she wouldn't have thanked Mohammed so that is not relevent. Would she have thanked evolution and natural selection? If she was Catholic, which as you state, she was, who would she be likely to include in her thanks?

For the record, I don't know who this woman is, nor do I care. I just find it interesting that you bring Islam into this when it is not relevent to this woman. Yes we know that the Islamic people is very protective over their faith but what's that got to with this? Unless of course, you are suggesting that a zero tolerance attitude to jokes about religion is appropriate after all which, if you are saying that she should lose her job because of this, is what you are implying.
I think, her quote: "Am I the only Catholic left with a sense of humor?" is very fitting.

Also; like most organistions like the Catholic League, it's not hard to find some dirt.

[BNaylor]

I could care less about Kathy Griffin. She'll always be a D-List actor/actress. But what she said should be put into context.

It started with "A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus." But ended with "Suck it, Jesus. This award is my God now."

This is not just a matter of offending solely Catholics but other Christians as well.

"Jesus Saves"..........

[03cavPA]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

Unless of course, you are suggesting that a zero tolerance attitude to jokes about religion is appropriate after all which, if you are saying that she should lose her job because of this, is what you are implying.
I think, her quote: "Am I the only Catholic left with a sense of humor?" is very fitting.

Actually, I know I didn't suggest that she lose her job, or come under fire, or even be taken to task for it. I don't care one way or the other how she feels about Jesus. I don't suggest that anything be done at all about it. I put the story here for discussion. I know your comments may not have been directed at me, but we can all discuss them.

I think it speaks to the bigger issue of who is allowed to say what, just as other threads have been started about it in the past. I posted links to stories about the uproar over the Mohammed cartoons because they are the most noteworthy in recent news. The discussion will naturally progress toward other religions when we discuss things that offend religious groups of people. I doubt we'll see the same continental uproar over the Jesus remarks.

Kathy has stated publicly that she is an atheist. If she feels a need to indentify as a Catholic to somehow lend some credibility to her remarks, she probably has some bigger issues to deal with as regards the Catholic Church.

She doesn't owe me any apologies.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by 03cavPA

I think it speaks to the bigger issue of who is allowed to say what, just as other threads have been started about it in the past. I posted links to stories about the uproar over the Mohammed cartoons because they are the most noteworthy in recent news. The discussion will naturally progress toward other religions when we discuss things that offend religious groups of people. I doubt we'll see the same continental uproar over the Jesus remarks.

Thats a good point so I see no problems with discussions around it or comparatively speaking. Look what happened to Mel Gibson and his comments about Jews. I read that her comments may be toned down by the TV Academy and E! when the segment airs so that will put Griffin on the C-List. Censor list. Now the atheist groups are calling for a boycott of the Emmy awards.

IMO had she made similar comments directed at the Islamic or Jewish religions this issue would be a circus and she would have more than her 15 minutes of fame.

Originally Posted by 03cavPA

Kathy has stated publicly that she is an atheist. If she feels a need to indentify as a Catholic to somehow lend some credibility to her remarks, she probably has some bigger issues to deal with as regards the Catholic Church.

According to reports she was raised a Catholic and is now a self proclaimed militant atheist. Gee....you think it might have something to do with how she was raised as a Catholic. Plus keep in mind afterall she is a comedian.

Griffin describes herself as a "militant atheist". While in high school she fell away from the Roman Catholic Church and wanted to become a Unitarian. Said Griffin: "I'm not really sure what that is, but it sounds better."

[drunken monkey]

I have to say, I really don't know how religious the US really is. I mean, I know that Muslims take their religion very very seriously; it being as much as part of their history and culture as it is their religion
i.e it really is their life
But how is it in the US?

[RSX-S777]

Freedom of speech is great. That is some funny stuff...and I usually think she is as funny as a bag of old hair. Catholic, Christian, Muslim...you have to love people who can dish it out all day long but then cry foul when they have to take it.

[blazee]

Originally Posted by RSX-S777

Freedom of speech is great. That is some funny stuff...and I usually think she is as funny as a bag of old hair. Catholic, Christian, Muslim...you have to love people who can dish it out all day long but then cry foul when they have to take it.

:15millionsign:

[03cavPA]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Thats a good point so I see no problems with discussions around it or comparatively speaking. Look what happened to Mel Gibson and his comments about Jews. I read that her comments may be toned down by the TV Academy and E! when the segment airs so that will put Griffin on the C-List. Censor list. Now the atheist groups are calling for a boycott of the Emmy awards.

It's been said that the US is a "Christian" nation. I personally don't believe that it is any longer, especially in the realm of Hollywood entertainment.

Why does E! and the Academy feel a need to tone down or edit her comments? She's not ashamed of what she said, so what are they worried about? Why the sudden change of heart?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by 03cavPA

Why does E! and the Academy feel a need to tone down or edit her comments? She's not ashamed of what she said, so what are they worried about? Why the sudden change of heart?

The whole thing is stupid. I guess E! and the Academy can do as they please. Technically, it is not an issue of freedom of speech or religion. The network has the right not to air what she says. That’s not violating her free speech rights. And she can say it all she wants but that doesn't mean she should especially if it is in bad taste or found offensive to many. Last time I checked the 1st amendment applies to the government's attempts to stop free speech. It does not apply to private individual’s or corporations and their business decisions. In most cases they will succumb to outside pressure.

But it is funny to see that every time a non-governmental entity engages in some level of censorship that people don’t like, people get all fired up and start ranting about free speech.

Honestly, who really cares what she said. If you don’t like it, don’t listen.