What's up at South Park and CBS? Turning their Backs on America’s Vaccine-damaged Children
By Anne Dachel
Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the creators of South Park, a cartoon show on Comedy Central described as “the breathtakingly irreverent and ruthlessly funny misadventures of four foul-mouthed, troublemaking young boys in a small town nestled in the Colorado Rockies.” The website tells us that it’s been “praised” as ‘COMEDY CENTRAL's notoriously rude, undeniably fearless lampoon of all that is self-important and hypocritical in American life, regardless of race, creed, color or celebrity status.’
I guess that’s true since on their season premiere just out they mocked people with Asperger’s and slammed those who believe that vaccines have damaging side effects, namely autism/Asperger’s Syndrome. The entertainment news site, Gather , had this to say about South Park. “South Park poked fun at those with Asperger's syndrome and lumped it in with the current fuss surrounding HPV vaccines.
“It's apparent that this season premiere of the hit Comedy Central show will upset those who have Asperger's as well as those who represent these individuals. But what did you expect? Trey Parker and Matt Stone are famous for making relentless fun of anyone and everyone, so why would someone with this autism spectrum disorder be excluded? It's insensitive, but to some it's quite funny.”
For a disorder that has no official cause and affects an epidemic number of children to be a topic for a cartoon show is about as insensitive as one can imagine. I suppose the comedy team of Parker and Stone could work with Asperger’s but it would definitely be a task if they used a young boy with full-blown autism, non-verbal, and in diapers. Hard to make anyone laugh with that scenario. One has to wonder if Parker and Stone will next use their talents to make us laugh at a kids with Down Syndrome.
As objectionable as the South Park episode was, I was surprised to see that CBS News reported (here) on it. On Oct 6, 2011, they published the story, Asperger's syndrome in spotlight as South Park spoofs vaccine fears by Ryan Jaslow. Laughing at people with Asperger’s on South Park was a “spoof” according to CBS:
“Fourth-grader Kyle, one of the main characters in the quartet, breaks down the controversy for his friends, explaining that some people believe vaccines can cause autism or Asperger's. That hubbub picks up when another character, Stan, visits the school's guidance counselor in a sullen mood, which the counselor mistakes for symptoms of a developmental disorder. The counselor then calls the school nurses and and asks, ‘Did we vaccinate Stan Marsh for the flu last year? I think he's got Asperger's.’
“People with Asperger's display symptoms including repetitive rituals, odd speech, and socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior.
“Stan's story gets national attention as the first confirmed case of Asperger's caused by a vaccine and the President even signs a bill, ‘Stan's Bill,’ to ban mandatory vaccinations. The oft-controversial quartet member, Eric Cartman, then joins the brouhaha by shoving hamburgers down his pants, claiming the vaccine caused him to develop Asperger's as well.”
CBS story then linked South Park’s episode to the real world controversy over vaccines and autism. Michelle Bachmann’s name came up, along with the latest IOM findings of no link and a mention of Andrew Wakefield’s “study.” CBS included two doctors from prestigious institutions to once again deny that vaccines are harming kids.
And in their original South Park report, CBS also said, “One in every 110 children are born with an autism spectrum disorder.” I noticed that on their site it now reads, “Approximately 1 in 110 children have an autism spectrum disorder.” “Born with” is a neat way of saying that nothing changed these kids, they were born that way.
I left this comment on the online story:
“I’m amazed that CBS would report on a demeaning cartoon episode as backup to their claim that there’s no link between vaccines and autism. What about the years of stories raising serious concerns about vaccine safety done by Sharyl Attkisson?
“CBS seemed to make up their own science in this piece telling us that one in very 110 children is “born with an autism spectrum disorder” each year. No one has ever shown us children born with autism. Tens of thousands of parents report that their children were born healthy and were developing normally until they received certain routine vaccinations. Suddenly they got sick with things like seizures, bowel disease, and sleep disorders. Many stopped talking and lost learned skills, ending up with an autism diagnosis. Doctors say autism has no known cause. The only thing they’re sure of is that their ever-expanding vaccine schedule isn’t to blame and they have lots of pharma-funded studies to prove it.
“One percent of children now have autism, including almost two percent of boys. No official knows why and they have no idea how you can prevent your child too from ending up on the autism spectrum. These facts should wake everyone up.”
So what’s happening at CBS?
CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson has been one of the real media heroes for the autism community. She’s given us years of phenomenal investigative reporting on the autism-vaccine controversy. Now it seems CBS is competing with CNN and ABC News to be at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to legitimate coverage of our issue. Ryan Jaslow seriously needs to look at Attkisson’s work. Her past coverage challenges everything he included in his one-sided piece.
I went back over the stunning stories and video reports from Attkisson over the last few years and I include them here so we can all be reminded that she’s done more than anyone in the press to publicize the truth about what vaccines are doing to children. I didn’t find everything she’s done on this issue I’m sure, but this collection should have everyone’s attention.
June, 2004 (Video) Mercury Link To Autism? HERE
Sharyl Attkisson reported on thimerosal and autism with an interview of Dr. Mady Hornig at Columbia. Hornig described her research on mice and the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosal. Autism activist Jim Donelly was featured relating how mercury-containing vaccines damaged his son. Attkisson said that the CDC denies any link but she added this haunting comment: “But if it’s true, hundreds of thousands of American kids could be living with the fallout and the results could be devastating to vaccine makers and federal health officials who have steadfastly defended the use of mercury, a potent neurotoxin, in childhood vaccines.”
Jul, 2007 (Video) Vaccines On Trial http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2916947n
Attkisson interviewed the parents of Michelle Cedillo about their upcoming vaccine court case. She showed photos of the damage that Michelle experienced following her MMR vaccine. Attkisson noted that there are 4,800 autism cases pending in vaccine court. The CBS story ended with a chilling view of Michelle lying in her bed.
Dec, 2007 (Video) Vaccine Links To Autism? HERE
Dec, 2007 Autism, Mercury Link Disputed HERE
Attkisson gave us Lyn Redwood saying, ‘The science is still out, the verdict is still out.’
“Some parents argue that children may be born genetically susceptible to autism and some environmental factor, such as thimerosal, triggers it.
“Jennifer Lassiter has a daughter with autism, reports CBS News Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. Katelyn, a bright 8-year-old, cannot connect with the world.
“Lassiter said Katelyn was a happy normal, babbling baby until getting her shots when she was 15-months-old.
"‘She got her vaccinations, she ran a low grade fever,’ she told Attkisson. ‘She had a little rash and then she stopped talking.’
“Her parents didn't connect the dots until they needed her shot records for preschool. Her doctor had misplaced them, so just gave her another round.
“Afterwards, ‘she was walking in circles, she was lining things up, screeching and flapping,’ Lassiter said.”
Mar, 2008 (Video) Vaccines Linked To Autism Case HERE
Attkisson reported on the Hannah Poling concession describing her regression following nine doses of vaccine in one doctor’s visit. She told us the government “quietly conceded” the case
Mar, 2008 (Video) Eye To Eye: Vaccines & Autism
Here Attkisson interviewed U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, who is also a physician. Weldon pointed out that so many parents say, "My kid got the shot and then my kid deteriorated. Is there a correlation there?" He was asked about the predisposition some children seem to have to react to vaccinations.
Attkisson asked him about the Hannah Poling case where the government conceded that yes, her vaccines led to her autism. Weldon said, "If it is ever shown scientifically that these kids were getting this terrible condition because of these shots, the government would be liable in court to provide ...for the support of these children for their lifetimes. This is a very huge issue, not just on a humanitarian level, but as well on a financial level."
Attkisson questioned how the government could still say vaccines don't cause autism now that the Poling Case has been conceded. Weldon said, "I wouldn't recommend they say something like that in light of the Poling Case and the admission of the part of the government." He said the government needs to get busy and find answers to the questions. He admitted that the government is spending more money on autism, but they're not getting any answers. He also warned that until we have answers, confidence in the vaccine program will continue to erode.
Weldon expressed his hope that we'd be able to tell which children are prone to vaccine injury. Children like Hannah Poling have measurable indicators in their metabolism. .
May, 2008 The "Open Question" On Vaccines and Autism HERE
Here Attkisson interviewed the late Dr. Bernadine Healy, former head of the National Institutes of Health, who said the science isn't in on vaccines and autism. She warned that we've never studied the kids who were born healthy and were normally developing and who suddenly and dramatically regressed into autism. Healy said that we need to be able to discern which children may be vulnerable to vaccine side effects.
JUL, 2008 (Video) Pediatrician, Vaccine Scrutiny http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WsUTjtnApQ&NR=1
Attkisson asked, "How independent are the vaccine defenders?" She pointed to the web of financial ties between the vaccine industry and Paul Offit, MD, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Every Child By Two.
Feb, 2009 (Video) A Kennedy Fuels Autism Debate HERE
Attkisson interviewed Robert Kennedy Jr about his role in the vaccine-autism debate. She told us that “after researching studies on both sides, Kennedy became a believer.” Kennedy said, “The science is absolutely overwhelming.” Kennedy revealed that when he wrote an op ed piece on vaccines and autism and none of the major newspapers would publish it. Attkisson talked about the Simpsonwood meeting of top health officials and vaccine industry reps where they discussed how the possibility of lawsuits. She brought up Kennedy’s article, Deadly Immunity, published by Salon.com about the government’s cover-up of a link.
Feb, 2009 (Video) Vaccine Case: An Exception Or A Precedent? HERE
Attkisson again covered the federal government’s concession of the Hannah Poling case.
Oct, 2009 (Video) HERE
Here Attkisson interviewed Dr. Andrew Wakefield about what he found in the 12 children with autism and bowel disease that he wrote about in his 1998 paper. He explained how the parents came to him for help for their children. They said that the symptoms of autism and bowel disease followed the MMR vaccine. He had asked for an investigation of a possible link.
Sept, 2010 Family to Receive $1.5M+ in First-Ever Vaccine-Autism Court Award HERE
Attkisson reported, “The first court award in a vaccine-autism claim is a big one. CBS News has learned the family of Hannah Poling will receive more than $1.5 million dollars for her life care; lost earnings; and pain and suffering for the first year alone,
“In addition to the first year, the family will receive more than $500,000 per year to pay for Hannah's care. Those familiar with the case believe the compensation could easily amount to $20 million over the child's lifetime.
“Hannah was described as normal, happy and precocious in her first 18 months.
“Then, in July 2000, she was vaccinated against nine diseases in one doctor's visit: measles, mumps, rubella, polio, varicella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenzae.
“Afterward, her health declined rapidly. She developed high fevers, stopped eating, didn't respond when spoken to, began showing signs of autism, and began having screaming fits. In 2002, Hannah's parents filed an autism claim in federal vaccine court. Five years later, the government settled the case before trial and had it sealed. It's taken more than two years for both sides to agree on how much Hannah will be compensated for her injuries.”
Mar, 2011 Vaccines and autism: a new scientific review HERE
Attkisson warned, “For all those who've declared the autism-vaccine debate over - a new scientific review begs to differ. It considers a host of peer-reviewed, published theories that show possible connections between vaccines and autism.
“The article in the Journal of Immunotoxicology is entitled ‘Theoretical aspects of autism: Causes--A review.’ The author is Helen Ratajczak, surprisingly herself a former senior scientist at a pharmaceutical firm. Ratajczak did what nobody else apparently has bothered to do: she reviewed the body of published science since autism was first described in 1943. Not just one theory suggested by research such as the role of MMR shots, or the mercury preservative thimerosal; but all of them.
“Ratajczak's article states, in part, that ‘Documented causes of autism include genetic mutations and/or deletions, viral infections, and encephalitis [brain damage] following vaccination [emphasis added]. Therefore, autism is the result of genetic defects and/or inflammation of the brain.’
“The article goes on to discuss many potential vaccine-related culprits, including the increasing number of vaccines given in a short period of time. ‘What I have published is highly concentrated on hypersensitivity,’ Ratajczak told us in an interview, ‘the body's immune system being thrown out of balance.’"
So where was CBS this past May when a report from Pace University Law School showed that investigators had found 83 cases where the federal government compensated individuals for vaccine damage that included autism? Why wasn’t Sharyl Attkisson reporting on it for CBS? Fox News gave this story outstanding coverage on their national network and on local Fox affiliates. But CBS didn’t cover it. Neither did any of the other national networks. Only Fox gave the country the news that what we’ve been told for years isn’t true: the government has long recognized that vaccines can cause autism.
Fox NewsL Vaccine Settlements and Autism
Fox News Law School Links Vaccines Autism
My Fox DC New Study Suggests Link
After years of Sharyl Attkisson unearthing every aspect of the vaccine controversy, the story about the Vaccine Court cases should have been right up her alley. CBS however seems to have moved to the reporting style of ABC and CNN when it comes to vaccine safety. Autism is never a problem, vaccines have no bad side effects, and parents who link them to autism are wrong. All the investigative journalism by Attkisson is being swept under the rug at CBS. It seems that the topic is so controversial they can’t give us both sides of the issue. Maybe other concerns at CBS also have a higher priority than honest and thorough reporting. Maybe corporate sponsors warned the network heads at CBS that advertising dollars will dictate the coverage vaccine damage stories get. Let’s hope that Fox News can hold out against the pressure to bend to the will of the vaccine makers.
--
Anne Dachel is Media Editor of Age of Autism.
Admittedly, I have never watched a single episode of South Park. However, I do have the greatest respect for all those who have come to the defense of Trey Parker and Matt Stone .. creators of South Park.
Having said that .. and .. at the risk of being accused of being oversensitive or without a sense of humor .. I simply do not understand why the name "Ass burgher" brings positive "awareness and attention" to our community?
Especially when considering 2005 .. when South Park did a show on children with "red hair" whom Trey and Scott named "Gingers". Having bought unwanted and unwarranted "awareness and attention" to children with "red hair" .. those children have been subjected to ridicule and taunts ever since.
Indeed, some schools now have an annual "kick a Ginger" day .. which has turned violent in some cases.
Read it for yourself:
http://tinyurl.com/5rntec9
In any event, I think we can all agree that arguing whether or not a show is "funny" is not worth either the time nor the effort. After all, humor .. just like pornography .. is in the eye of the beholder.
Hopefully, I am wrong and all those defending Trey and Scott's humorous characters are right .. because .. the idea of an annual "kick an Ass burgher" day would be a little hard to accept as "harmless fun".
Posted by: Bob Moffitt | October 14, 2011 at 09:21 AM
Bendetta ,
I know that things have changed, and I also know that they're worse now than they've ever been. And I absolutely understand that the longer the NIH does not address this problem, the worse things are going to get.
But the problem will NEVER be addressed by NIH, or anyone for that matter, as long the so called "medical experts" keep beating the wrong bush in their search for the cause.
The latest effort to blame the autism epidemic on genetics is hog wash, which any real scientist will quickly admit. There is no such thing as a genetic epidemic, and the only reason genetics is being offered as the cause, is that it's a little too complicated for the average person to challenge. Geneticist jargon is gobbledygook to most people, intended to create the impression that those who speak it must be infinitely smarter than those who do not. Yet more hogwash.
I haven’t been able to find scientific proof that vaccines even work, and after seeing how they devastated my child, I no longer hold on to the vaccine panacea. It took me a while, but once I got past all the fear mongering about diseases, and the relentless brainwashing about how vaccines are the only real solution, it became incredibly easy for me to see that vaccines ARE the cause of the autism epidemic.
The medical community has a long history of trying to appease us with fairy tales. From the refrigerator mom theory, to the Silicon Valley geek theory, to now blaming our age and/or our genes for the damage that THEY create! It's just more of the same old "blame the victim". It's wrong, it has nothing whatsoever to do with science, and quite frankly it adds insult to injury.
I know what went wrong with my child's health ... it's called his doctor. My main focus right now is to do everything I can undo my sons vaccine damage, because he deserves that and a whole lot more. But what I eventually want to see more than anything else is an end to this vaccine madness. And for the people driving it to be exposed, and held criminally responsible for their crimes against children.
Posted by: Barry | October 14, 2011 at 07:13 AM
Great comment Bob Sullivan!
I have the first posted comment here. I had not watched this episode tho I too am a long time South Park viewer. I have since watched it and I was not offended by it in the least. In my view, they were not making fun of the association of vaccines and autism at all. It was presented like "some people believe this". Then as always the adults in South Park look like idiots. When in the world would a school counselor-a government employee- make an association between vaccines and autism? Never! And being cynical is now a behavior/symptom of autism/aspergers?
When they were at the aspergers insitute I thought they were making fun of "awareness" campaigns. We know nothing about causes etc...just awareness. And then when told aspergers isn't real because- no one would name a real disorder that because that's just mean. "I have ass-burgers". Funny....
The whole episode was rather tame for South Park standards, IMO.
As Bob and so many others said this is an opportunity to talk about autism and aspergers in a realistic manner. South Park didn't even attempt to do that-so that's why I wasn't offended.
Posted by: Andrea | October 14, 2011 at 06:58 AM
I'm a loyal Age of Autism reader and occasional contributor. My 5-1/2 yr old son has regressive autism following vaccination at 18mos. I am also a South Park fan and found the "Ass Burgers" episode to be funny.
First off, Trey Parker and Matt Stone make fun of EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. Don't take it too seriously.
We can't become so uptight that we become humorless drones, or else our entire cause is going to suffer. Nobody likes a bunch of humorless drones. I deal with the challenges of my vaccine-injured son EVERY DAY. I educate people whom i come into contact with -- especially expectant parents -- about being very cautious in vaccinating their children, encouraging them to weigh the risks and advising them to skip Hep-B, Rotateq, Varicella, and the other dumb vaccines.
Remember -- South Park also "made fun" of mandatory vaccination for HPV. So they seem to be agnostic, if anything.
So, please -- resist the temptation to be overly offended at the South Park episode. If anything, it brought a little bit of attention and awareness. And, frankly, i didn't necessarily interpret them (Stone & Parker) as suggesting that Asperger's isn't real or that vaccines don't play a role in the pathogenesis of Autism. I think they were just being funny.
They did a much harsher show about Tourette's a couple of seasons ago.
Another really funny thing is The Onion. They have an "Autistic Reporter". It is really spot-on. My son's therapists both thought it was really funny and accurate. In a strange way, i think that "making fun" of Autism or Asperger's can help reflect aspects of the truth about the conditions. It raises awareness. And if you can accurately "capture" the essential features of the condition by mimmicking it, it kind of gives a little bit of insight -- at least to people out there whose lives haven't been touched by ASD.
It might be jarring or a little offensive to those of us with a dear loved one who has been affected, but we need to lighten up and see it as an opportunity to educate the uninformed.
Autism is real.
Vaccine-injury is real.
Don't worry that somehow the truth won't withstand a little cartoon sarcasm. Laugh a little, then let's get back to work educating our friends and neighbors.
Best Regards to All,
-Bob Sullivan
Posted by: Bob Sullivan | October 14, 2011 at 03:31 AM
Hi Cherry,
Another very simple variable which I was pointing out earlier this week is that some children may be less well than others at point of vaccination, but the CDC is indiscriminate. "Just get the damn vaccine!" as Nancy Snyderman would say.
http://www.ageofautism.com/2011/10/the-naked-cdc-the-truth-about-mmr-or-part-of-it-in-their-own-words.html
John
Posted by: John Stone | October 13, 2011 at 04:38 PM
Alan, It sounds very good to say that everyone gets vaccines, so why doesnt everyone get autism? In fact , it is a very good initial question, when one hears about the vaccine -autism hypothesis. Then, when you study about mercury, you discover that even two people would rarely get the same amount of mercury, and babies would be starting at different points on the mercury scale right from birth. The mother who has eaten a lot of fish, or accepted flu vaccines, or received Rhogam injections has a baby who is way ahead in mercury in its tissues. Then one baby weighs twice as much as another- Comparatively that baby received less mercury per pound . Then, one boy baby has more testosterone in his body, making the mercury more toxic for him. Most interesting of all on this topic- Please take a look at the letter by Michael Wagnitz to the American Academy of Pediatrics- describing how he tested some vials of vaccines and found them to be far far higher in mercury than stated on the label. After you read that, you just say "My God, we never will know how much mercury any child got" And I should add, that apart from the variables mentioned by me here, there are so many more. Study Mercury Alan- Believe me- You might get hooked ! Its fascinating. Better than any science fiction novel.
Posted by: Cherry Sperlin Misra | October 13, 2011 at 03:34 PM
Besides being horrified, I am surprised that Parker and Stone would pander so easily to pharmacuetical companies. They generally hate corporations. But there is a trend at Viacom (Comedy Central- Cobert Stewart) to promote vaccines. But then again who is paying bills for television companies? Oh yeah! Pharma- exactly.
Posted by: Casey O | October 13, 2011 at 03:30 PM
Regarding comments by Barry and Jamie Lee- It should be possible for a child to be born autistic - If the mother has eaten, inhaled or been injected with enough mercury. And that should certainly be possible , particularly in those who have eaten a lot of fish all their lives, or been injected with Rhogam injections for Rhnegative condition.
Nevertheless, this probably would not be too common and in most cases the cause would be a big dose of mercury in a Hep B vaccine given shortly after birth with or without permission of parents
My daughter told me of a nurse who insisted that her baby was autistic from birth. She noticed that the baby had no interest in her, the mother- only in the nipple that provided milk and one day, after about a month, the baby looked into the mothers eyes and got a very shocked expression on its face !I guess I would like to add that one reason why I am hooked on mercury as the cause of autism, is that I dont really find any case that cant be explained by mercury. And conversely, in my nursery school, you cant find any normal child whose lack of autism cant be explained by the lack of mercury in the child's vaccines.
Recently a mother came to me with a little child who appeared absolutely normal and bright. Then she told me that the child had been vaccinated at a government hospital in New Delhi. Wow! That did not make sense! The government hospitals use the vaccines with the highest mercury. How on earth was this child normal? Soon the reality came out. The doctor was a relative or friend of the family and had asked them to purchase some of the vaccines from other places.
Posted by: Cherry Sperlin Misra | October 13, 2011 at 03:21 PM
Sorry messed up as I always do.
I meant to say that we older parents must not let it be forgotten that the first cases of autism were "REGRESSION" after a vaccine.
Posted by: Benedetta | October 13, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Barry;
It is changing, it is becoming worse, it is not how it use to be.
they have certian neurological test for new borns - that test the nervous system.
My two children - Aced their new born test - Excelled - was way above the norm, but then mine also regressed, after those vaccines.
The longer the NIH does not address this problem the worse it is going to become. In the beginning some kids regressed from their vaccines - the ones that did not - but still - but still- had an impaired immune system went on to actually have their babies born with a very damaged immune/nervous system.
It is just as tragic - is it not?
It does confuss us older parents that knows what happened when someone says their kid was born that way.
But in a way we older parents are the light house - the beacon - we must make sure that in the beginning there was regression after vaccines.
Posted by: Benedetta | October 13, 2011 at 10:50 AM
JamieLee wrote: ".. You're saying you've NEVER seen ONE kid "born with autism?" Want my address? I'll introduce to my son..."
*****************
I don't think anyone here wants your address. But I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of people here who would love to know how you knew, on the day that child was born, that he was autistic.
Posted by: Barry | October 12, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Dear JamieLee,
My reaction to CBS's claim that one in 110 chidren is “born with an autism spectrum disorder,” isn't meant to deny that some children are affected from birth. The prenatal world also exposes children to toxins. Mothers routinely receive the flu vaccine containing mercury during pregnancy. Hazardous chemical are everywhere. I agree that many children show signs of disability from birth. What I totally reject is the implication made by CBS that autism is always present at birth. "Born with autism" is a catch phrase meant to convince the public that this is a genetic disorder.
Anne Dachel, Media
Posted by: Anne McElroy Dachel | October 12, 2011 at 09:59 PM
You're saying you've NEVER seen ONE kid "born with autism?" Want my address? I'll introduce to my son.
Posted by: JamieLee | October 12, 2011 at 08:36 PM
Alan wrote: "... The Vaccine/Autism link seems very tenuous at best. Compensation awards are hardly proof. Theories are one thing, scientific proof is another...."
*********************
Yes Alan, scientific proof IS something different altogether.
And that's EXACTLY why all of those industry funded studies which can "...find no link" between autism and vaccines, are NEVER based on real science.
That's why Andrew Wakefield's scientific findings have never been challenged. And a reprobate like Brian Deer was brought in instead, by the highest powers in the British medical establishment, to maliciously assassinate his reputation.
That's why a coward like Paul Offit will never agree to open and honest debate with REAL scientists, who would tear apart his science-less rhetoric in less time than it would take to have him wired with a microphone.
There is NO scientific proof of any kind, which can show beyond the shadow of a doubt, that any vaccine has ever prevented a disease of any kind. If you disagree, then by all means go ahead and prove me wrong.
There's also an awful big difference between science, and lore that's been perpetuated by decades of exposure to a pharma owned media. Do yourself a favor and go sort out that difference before you attempt to take this argument any further.
Posted by: Barry | October 12, 2011 at 07:31 PM
Strategy.
Politicians are taught to embrace the latest "scandal." Talk about it, and then joke about it, to take the issue away from your opponent. Get out in front of the issue as soon as possible, so it has time to die out before the "election."
Strategy. That's why it doesn't make sense to you and me. We live in the world of honest questions. They do not.
Posted by: Cynthia Cournoyer | October 12, 2011 at 06:44 PM
One of the sickest things in the last years (from a UK perspective) is the lowering of TV standards: in particular I have in mind reality TV where the humiliation and abuse of real people takes place as a form of public entertainment. It isn't hard to see how we got by 2004 to Abu Graibh, since the seeds had already been sown in popular culture (deliberately?). Of course, making the abuse of impairment and disability acceptable is a like piece of social barbarism.
Posted by: John Stone | October 12, 2011 at 12:32 PM
I agree with Andrea and Maurine. I always admired South Park and the writers for saying what was not politically correct, but usually true. Previous episodes (such as the one claiming that money must be the cure for AIDS) have exposed government greed. I thought these guys would be quick to see the ridiculousness of mandatory vaccines and the obvious corruption of the government at the expense of our kids. I guess it's just easier to laugh at the word "ass-burgers." Or maybe after all the H1N1 shots, the audience has gotten dumber...
Posted by: Joanna | October 12, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Alan said, "If vaccines do cause Autism then why does everyone who is given vaccines not develop Autism?" Alan, have you ever filled out a medical form which asked if you had any drug allergies? I wonder why they put that on a form? After all, if penicillin can cause a dangerous reaction in some people, why does everyone given penicllin not develop that reaction? Oh...you mean...some people's bodies might work differently and therefore they respond horribly to a medicine that can be very good for the majority?
But that is penicillin. It is a drug manufactured by pharmaceutical companies and approved by the FDA. So it must never cause side effects, right? Oh, but that question about drug allergies is still on the intake form at the doctor's office. So an FDA approved product manufactured by pharmaceutical pharmacies may not be perfect. And yet, we have this funny notion that all vaccines are all perfect all the time and nobody might possibly have an adverse reaction to a vaccine.
Posted by: Vicki Hill | October 12, 2011 at 10:18 AM
So, Alan, I guess you'll admit, then, that the flu shot is a con game, because the Cochrane Review, the "pinnacle of scientific understanding," has said so:
http://lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=12400
"The 2009 report determined there was no real scientific rationale to support routine flu shots for healthy adults... The 2010 update, which reviewed additional studies, offered no change in that conclusion."
At least we have some common ground!
As for *South Park,* what irritates me is the coverage from CBS, not the original cartoon, because as Andrea pointed out, the cartoon is intentionally crude and offensive. CBS, on the other hand, positions itself as a reliable and responsible source of information. A feature article on a crude cartoon, combined with a few misleading potshots at Bachmann and Wakefield, hard fits that image.
Posted by: Theresa O | October 12, 2011 at 10:11 AM
Andrea is right - making fun of anyone and everyone is what South Park does (remember, their first show was making fun of Jesus - after that, everything is fair game).
I watched the episode and I actually thought in South Park terms, the episode was supportive of the idea of vaccine-injury and autism. They brought it up several times and didn't slam it - it was just part of the story. And in true South Park fashion, they then moved on to a shit-theme with Cartman's ass-wiped burger venture.
When interpreting something like South Park, sometimes it's best to look at what wasn't said.
Posted by: Amy in Idaho | October 12, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Never watched it. Never will.
Why waste time on garbage?
Posted by: Media Scholar | October 12, 2011 at 09:26 AM
The Vaccine/Autism link seems very tenuous at best. Compensation awards are hardly proof. Theories are one thing, scientific proof is another. If vaccines do cause Autism then why does everyone who is given vaccines not develop Autism? Anyone with a genuine scientific interest in this area should read up on philosophical aspects of science. In particular Karl Popper's work on falsifiability. It is highly improbable any Cochrane review, which represents the pinnacle of scientific understanding, will ever state Vaccines do cause Autism.
On the issue of the South Park episode itself, I know I would hate to have been a kid who was known to have Asperger's at School after that episode had been on TV. I know what the bullies are like at school from experience, as someone with Asperger's. It is highly likely the "joke" would last for many years and be passed down to newcomers at the school - who in turn pass it to future newcomers. I suppose if they focus on the lame "ass burgers" joke though, they're not being directly insulting on a personal level - and the lame joke is easier to ignore.
Posted by: Alan | October 12, 2011 at 09:23 AM
As much as it hurts for those of us that know the truth - it is also a blessing.
They have helped connect vaccines to Apsergers and Developmental Delay, and autism in the minds of public.
Not only that; it sounds like they understand the differences in the three - which I don't think the general public does. Example: My cousin's son now 34 - she (because she has the political connections) got him a job teaching high school English, and he is not happy. My son with PDD-NOS, talks more than he does - he also weighs a lot - and I have supected problems for years! I finally suggested this year that he has Aspergers. The pieces finally fell in place for her, although she still is not discussing it! Can you imagine?
That is the way it works.
Andrea: I hope someday they come back- make fun of vaccines: Aspergers, Developmental Delay, Austism again and this time add tourettes in there too. Maybe they can combine the two shows. Because tourettes is in this mess too.
Vaccines and autism will soon become linked in the minds of the public - everybody - the majority!
Then we will win.
Posted by: Benedetta | October 12, 2011 at 09:11 AM
They also could have taken the other side and made fun of
the government, the CDC, Paul Offit--but sadly, they didn't. If they had, I doubt CBS would have said that laughing at the CDC is a spoof. I'm offended.
Fantastic reporting, Anne.
Maurine
Posted by: Maurine Meleck | October 12, 2011 at 08:39 AM
I've watched South Park for years. I have not watched this particular episode and may not after what I've heard about it. Hits too close to home. South Park makes fun of every and I mean every timely topic. If you would look back you would see some of the topics that they have done on the show and have royally pissed off people. Terry Schiavo, and tourettes syndrome come to mind. Nothing is off limits. And every time they do a show they get a certain group of people mad. They may have already done something on Down's syndrome- I can't remember. This show has been on a long time and this is what they do. Right or wrong.
I will tell you I saw parts of interviews with Trey Parker and Matt Stone in the Michael Moore movie-Bowling for Columbine -they are both from Littleton Colorado. They came across as very intelligent and sensible young men. Write them at comedy central with your thoughts and feelings.
I remember there was a commercial one year before the season started saying something like... we're sorry if we haven't offended you yet. That's what they do.
Posted by: Andrea | October 12, 2011 at 07:08 AM
Ryan Jaslow of CBS wrote:
"Trey Parker and Matt Stone are famous for making relentless fun of anyone and everyone, so why would someone with this autism spectrum disorder be excluded? It's insensitive, but to some it's quite funny.”
Isn't "making relentless fun of the sensitivities of anyone and everyone because it's funny" the classic definition of a BULLY?
After all .. if Trey Parker and Matt Stone were just two ordinary kids on a school bus, in a school classroom or on a school playground .. and .. if Ryan Jaslow were a kid in that very same school .. he would recognize them for what they are .. INSENSITIVE BULLIES .. making every kid in their school a potential target for their "relentless fun".
I hope I am wrong .. but .. if Ryan Jaslow cannot recognize them as bullies today .. is it possible that Ryan Jaslow doesn't find "school yard bullying" wrong as long as it's "funny"?
Posted by: Bob Moffitt | October 12, 2011 at 06:42 AM