Looks like the uproar over Jon Stewart's "vagina manger" jab from last month has yet to die down. Delta Airlines has pulled their advertising from The Daily Show over the joke, which -- in case you missed it -- featured a picture of what was supposed to be a Nativity scene superimposed between a naked woman's legs. Stewart had been discussing how Fox News has no problem declaring that there's a "war on Christmas" or "war on Easter," but thinks the actual war on women is a buncha hooey.
He asked, "What can women do to generate the same sense of outrage from Fox as the removal of decorative slightly poisonous holiday plants? Perhaps they could play into the theme? Maybe women could protect their reproductive organs from unwanted medical intrusions with vagina mangers." Uh oh. How dare he put Christmassy imagery placed "down there!" to make a joke! Surprise, surprise -- Catholic League President Bill Donohue was not laughing.
He proclaimed, "We will not stop with a boycott!" and now ... well, it looks like Delta has buckled under the pressure of the Catholic League and similarly peeved groups. Wah wah.
How Puritanical, backasswards, and at its very basis, misogynistic are these conservative groups for getting riled up over religious imagery superimposed between a woman's legs? At the most basic feminist level, it's absurd to me that these people are tweaking out over "vagina imagery" in general. Why is showing something between a woman's legs considered extremely disrespectful? Or, as The Catholic League put it, "hate speech"? Or as Newsbusters put it, "desecration"?
Hold up. Do we not all come into this world from that very area? And don't all religions, including Catholicism, think very highly of that whole process? Helllooo. Why then is it so disrespectful? The way they're talking, you would think Stewart showed a crucifix getting blown up.
The Catholic League, their cronies, and the companies bowing down to their every whim need a reality check. It was a hilarious joke. Making a very well-taken point about how completely skewed FOX's perspective and priorities seem to be. This is America. We have a right to mock one another -- even when it comes to religion.
Here's the clip from The Daily Show, if you missed it ...
Would you categorize Jon Stewart's joke as "hate speech" or "desecration of a Nativity scene"?
Image via Comedy Central
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Comments 12
Right on!!! The vagina is not "evil" or "offensive." It is perfectly natural. If I could have any wish in the world, I'd wish that organized religion did not exist. Then the world would be such a better, more tolerant place, with no wars fought over religion, no opression in the name of religon, no bullshit in the name of relgion...
OMG, I actually LOL'ed at this! that is FUNNY!!! On the other side of that, its it me or do we seem to be reverting to the 1950's mentality when it comes to women these days? I'd like to think that my daughters will have the same rights that i have enjoyed as a woman when they are adults.
This episode was hilarious. I almost choked on my drink as I watching it cause I was dying from laughter. People just can't take a joke these days.
This was not a direct attack at any one person, but I love how the Catholic Church gets all riled up about "hate speech" in this instance, but not when people like Rush spew their vomit at real people.
And @Saphron - yes, me too, agree, absolutely, spot on, etc.
Having said that, there is no war on women. Most of this claim is based on the objection to forcing employers to provide insurance that includes birth control at "no charge." This is not the same as trying to take away their ability to use birth control, it is an objection to the coercement of a third party into being included in her personal "reproductive health" choices.
The rights objection to abortion is not because they object to a woman's ability to choose, they genuinely feel that a fetus is already a human life, an thus deserving of legal protection. (if we could scientifically prove that it is a human life or not a human life, the arguement would probably be settled.)
i have a very simple question that i'd love for those catholic leaguers to answer directly:
If you're so offended by these shows and images, WHY ARE YOU WATCHING THEM?
The problem is that thay are afraid other people are watching them. We can't have that now.
Why is it that the Catholic Church and it's members are so offended by vaginas, but so non-commital and even mute on their own children being molested in their own churches? If I was a member of the Catholic Church when all of these pedophelia charges came to light, I would have been one of the first ones out the door never to return. Why do you even want to be associated with that?
First off, he's Jewish... and works at notoriously irreverent cable network Comedy Central. Hm, maybe he doesn't give a crap like the rest of us...
Sounded funny, tho, and am sorry the vid link won't work. That church never ceases to amaze me... a vagina is the pathway to the mother of all mangers... but hey women are 'dirty' and devious. Project much, Bill Donohue?? And those of your ilk??