Lesson Two: Thanksgiving in South Park
or
Starvin Marvin
I. The Kids Buy a Watch:
1. What is the gang's reaction to the "starving Erthriopians?"
2. Why do they decide to help?
3. How do they pay to sponsor a "starving Erthriopian?"
4. What moral issue does this present?
5. How do they interact with each other while watching the show and sponsoring the child?
6. Have they committed an act of tzedaka? Why or why not.
II. Making Lemonade:
7. What charitable act is the town sponsoring for Thanksgiving?
8. Who is the food drive for?
9. Is the identification of the recipients appropriate or not?
10. How successful is the drive in class?
11. What is Cartman's attitude toward the drive?
12. How is he criticized?
13. What is the serious side of the comment, "I pay taxes?"
III. Meanwhile Back at the Ranch:
14. What mistake happens in the delivery of the watch?
15. Why are the turkeys angry?
16. What is the adult response to "Starvin Marvin?"
IV. Themes:
17. Compare and contrast the distribution of food in Ethiopia and South Park.
18. What happens to the Turkeys in South Park?
V. New Characters:
19. What new character is introduced here?
20. How does Cartman interact with the new character?
21. How does Kenny's family interact with the new character?
VI. Texts:
1.
When Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi went to Rome he saw marble pillars covered with sheets so they wouldn't crack from the heat, nor freeze from the cold. He also saw a poor person with onlly a reed mat under him and another one on his back.
Pesichta Derav Kahana 9:1
2.
For what does it matter to the Holy One Blessed be He whether or not the Jews carry out the laws of Kashrut? it is clear then that the commandments were given solely for the purpose of training the people.
Midrash Tanchuma, Shmini 7
3.
A Rabbi saw a man give a zuz to a beggar publicly. He said to him,
"Better had you given him nothing than give him and put him to sh ame."
Hagiga 5a
4.
The Torah forbids wanton destruction...Not only one who cuts down trees, but also one who smashes household goods, tears clothes, demolishes a building, stops up a spring, or destroys articles of food with destructive intent, transgresses the command "do not waste."
Maimonides, Mishneh Torah: Kings & Wars 6:8 & 10
When Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi went to Rome he saw marble pillars covered with sheets so they wouldn't crack from the heat, nor freeze from the cold. He also saw a poor person with onlly a reed mat under him and another one on his back.
Pesichta Derav Kahana 9:1
2.
For what does it matter to the Holy One Blessed be He whether or not the Jews carry out the laws of Kashrut? it is clear then that the commandments were given solely for the purpose of training the people.
Midrash Tanchuma, Shmini 7
3.
A Rabbi saw a man give a zuz to a beggar publicly. He said to him,
"Better had you given him nothing than give him and put him to sh ame."
Hagiga 5a
4.
The Torah forbids wanton destruction...Not only one who cuts down trees, but also one who smashes household goods, tears clothes, demolishes a building, stops up a spring, or destroys articles of food with destructive intent, transgresses the command "do not waste."
Maimonides, Mishneh Torah: Kings & Wars 6:8 & 10
VII. Things To Do:
Check your mail and television for charitable mailing or programs. Compare what you read or see to this South Park episode. Are the South Park observations concerning our society valid? Why or why not?
TEACHER'S NOTES:
WE SEE THE SOUTH PARK GANG WATCHING T.V., WHEN SALLY STRUTHERS (THE OBLIGATORY CELEBRITY SACRIFICE) BEGS FOR HELP FOR THOSE STARVING IN ETHIOPIA. NO ONE CARES ABOUT THE ISSUE UNTIL THEY FIND OUT THAT THEY CAN GET A "FREE" WATCH FOR $5/MONTH. THEY USE A MOTHER'S CREDIT CARD TO ORDER THE WATCH.
THE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT OUT IN THIS EPISODE ARE:
1. IS IT MORAL TO STEAL MONEY FROM YOUR MOTHER IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE STARVING?
2. WHAT IS THE MORAL VALUE OF SOMEONE WHO FEEDS THE POOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN BRIBED TO? DOES INTENTION COUNT?
MEANWHILE, THE TOWN HAS EMBARKED UPON THEIR ANNUAL THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE. KENNY'S FAMILY IS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED AGAIN AND AGAIN AS EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP (FATHER AN ALCOHOLIC...). WHILE IT IS CERTAINLY NOT APPROPRIATE TO IDENTIFY AND HUMILIATE KENNY (DOES HE WANT THE CREAMED CORN ANYWAY?), THE EPISODE BRINGS INTO JUXTAPOSITION THE SITUATION IN ETHIOPIA WITH THANKSGIVING IN SOUTH PARK. IF IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO PICTURE KENNY AS THE SOUTH PARK POSTER CHILD, WHY IS IT APPROPRIATE TO PICTURE SALLY STRUTHERS WITH ALL THE STARVING CHILDREN?
CARTMAN DOESN'T WANT TO SUPPORT THE DRIVE BECAUSE, "I PAY TAXES." THIS BRINGS UP THE ETHICAL ISSUE OF; "WHY DO WE PAY TAXES?" WHAT ARE THEY FOR? DON'T OUR TAXES GO TO FEED THE HUNGRY (WELFARE)? iF WE CAN'T FEED ALL THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY - WHY ARE WE PAYING THEM?
AND OF COURSE, THE WATCH DOESN'T COME - BUT MARVIN DOES. AND THE TURKEYS ARE ANGRY TOO. THEY KILL HUMANS - PRESUMABLY BECAUSE THE TURKEYS ARE ANGRY AT THE PROSPECT OF BEING EATEN ON THANKSGIVING. NOTICE THAT THE ADULT RESPONSE TO MARVIN'S APPEARANCE IS TO TAKE HIM AWAY. THE GANG IS TOO YOUNG TO TAKE CARE OF HIM. THE ADULTS ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN HAVING MARVIN STAY IN ETHIOPIA AND SENDING MONEY THERE. THEY DON'T WANT THE UGLINESS IN TOWN.
THE ENDINGS BRING TOGETHER ALL THE DISPARATE SCENES IN THE EPISODE. THE TURKEYS ARE KILLED, BUT NOT EATEN. KENNY IS KILLED AND HIS PARENTS ONLY GET GREEN BEANS. MARVIN TAKES THE DEAD TURKEYS BACK TO ETHIOPIA, WHERE HE IS HAILED AS A HERO AND SAVES THE DAY.
THE THEME OF THE EPISODE COULD BE CALLED, "PEOPLE DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS." WE DO CHARITABLE ACTS BECAUSE THEY LOOK GOOD, OR BECAUSE THEY MAKE US FEEL GOOD - BUT WE DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE ARE HELPING. IF WE DID, SALLY STRUTHERS WOULD NOT BE SO FAT, WE WOULDN'T PUT KENNY IN A FOOD TOSSING MACHINE AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE RETURNED MARVIN BACK TO HIS HOMELAND.
AS A CODA TO THE EPISODE, GOD APPEARS. CARTMAN BLAMES HIS SITUATION IN ETHIOPIA ON GOD AND KENNY'S PARENTS, IN A WICKED PARODY OF CHRISTIANITY, BLANDLY STATE THE "YOU TOOK OUR SON" AND "YOU FIND PLEASURE IN TORTURING US."
THE TEXTS PRESENTED ARE MEANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE VARIOUS MORAL ISSUES TOUCHED UPON BY THE EPISODE. YEHOSHUA BEN LEVI TRAVELS TO ROME AND FINDS THE "CIVILIZATION" THERE IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE "HEALTH" OF ITS STRUCTURES THAN ABOUT ITS PEOPLE. HOW MUCH DIFFERENT ARE WE? HOW MUCH CARE DO WE LAVISH UON OUR OMES, OUR CARS AND OUR PETS.
THE MIDRASH TANCHUMA TEXT EXPLAINS THAT GOD DOES NOT NEED US TO KEEP KOSHER OR SHABBAT. IT IS NOT GOD'S NEED THAT PROPELS OUR OBSERVANCE. RATHER, MITZVOT WERE GIVEN TO TRAIN US HOW TO DEAL WITH ONE ANOTHER AND HO TO RELATE TO GOD. SOUTH PARK COULD USE A GOOD DOSE OF MITZVOT.
THE HAGIGA TEXT IS SELF EXPLANATORY. GIVING TZEDAKA IN A WAY THAT HUMILIATES THE RECEIVER IS A SIN. THE TZEDAKA MEANT FOR KENNY'S FAMILY IS SINFUL. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE TZEDAKA GIVEN TO THE STARVING ETHIOPIANS IS TZEDAKA OR SINFUL.
KILLING TURKEYS IS ACCEPTABLE. KILLING THEM AND NOT USING THEM FOR FOOD IS A SIN. THAT IS THE POINT OF THE TEXT.
THE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT OUT IN THIS EPISODE ARE:
1. IS IT MORAL TO STEAL MONEY FROM YOUR MOTHER IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE STARVING?
2. WHAT IS THE MORAL VALUE OF SOMEONE WHO FEEDS THE POOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN BRIBED TO? DOES INTENTION COUNT?
MEANWHILE, THE TOWN HAS EMBARKED UPON THEIR ANNUAL THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE. KENNY'S FAMILY IS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED AGAIN AND AGAIN AS EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP (FATHER AN ALCOHOLIC...). WHILE IT IS CERTAINLY NOT APPROPRIATE TO IDENTIFY AND HUMILIATE KENNY (DOES HE WANT THE CREAMED CORN ANYWAY?), THE EPISODE BRINGS INTO JUXTAPOSITION THE SITUATION IN ETHIOPIA WITH THANKSGIVING IN SOUTH PARK. IF IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO PICTURE KENNY AS THE SOUTH PARK POSTER CHILD, WHY IS IT APPROPRIATE TO PICTURE SALLY STRUTHERS WITH ALL THE STARVING CHILDREN?
CARTMAN DOESN'T WANT TO SUPPORT THE DRIVE BECAUSE, "I PAY TAXES." THIS BRINGS UP THE ETHICAL ISSUE OF; "WHY DO WE PAY TAXES?" WHAT ARE THEY FOR? DON'T OUR TAXES GO TO FEED THE HUNGRY (WELFARE)? iF WE CAN'T FEED ALL THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY - WHY ARE WE PAYING THEM?
AND OF COURSE, THE WATCH DOESN'T COME - BUT MARVIN DOES. AND THE TURKEYS ARE ANGRY TOO. THEY KILL HUMANS - PRESUMABLY BECAUSE THE TURKEYS ARE ANGRY AT THE PROSPECT OF BEING EATEN ON THANKSGIVING. NOTICE THAT THE ADULT RESPONSE TO MARVIN'S APPEARANCE IS TO TAKE HIM AWAY. THE GANG IS TOO YOUNG TO TAKE CARE OF HIM. THE ADULTS ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN HAVING MARVIN STAY IN ETHIOPIA AND SENDING MONEY THERE. THEY DON'T WANT THE UGLINESS IN TOWN.
THE ENDINGS BRING TOGETHER ALL THE DISPARATE SCENES IN THE EPISODE. THE TURKEYS ARE KILLED, BUT NOT EATEN. KENNY IS KILLED AND HIS PARENTS ONLY GET GREEN BEANS. MARVIN TAKES THE DEAD TURKEYS BACK TO ETHIOPIA, WHERE HE IS HAILED AS A HERO AND SAVES THE DAY.
THE THEME OF THE EPISODE COULD BE CALLED, "PEOPLE DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS." WE DO CHARITABLE ACTS BECAUSE THEY LOOK GOOD, OR BECAUSE THEY MAKE US FEEL GOOD - BUT WE DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE ARE HELPING. IF WE DID, SALLY STRUTHERS WOULD NOT BE SO FAT, WE WOULDN'T PUT KENNY IN A FOOD TOSSING MACHINE AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE RETURNED MARVIN BACK TO HIS HOMELAND.
AS A CODA TO THE EPISODE, GOD APPEARS. CARTMAN BLAMES HIS SITUATION IN ETHIOPIA ON GOD AND KENNY'S PARENTS, IN A WICKED PARODY OF CHRISTIANITY, BLANDLY STATE THE "YOU TOOK OUR SON" AND "YOU FIND PLEASURE IN TORTURING US."
THE TEXTS PRESENTED ARE MEANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE VARIOUS MORAL ISSUES TOUCHED UPON BY THE EPISODE. YEHOSHUA BEN LEVI TRAVELS TO ROME AND FINDS THE "CIVILIZATION" THERE IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE "HEALTH" OF ITS STRUCTURES THAN ABOUT ITS PEOPLE. HOW MUCH DIFFERENT ARE WE? HOW MUCH CARE DO WE LAVISH UON OUR OMES, OUR CARS AND OUR PETS.
THE MIDRASH TANCHUMA TEXT EXPLAINS THAT GOD DOES NOT NEED US TO KEEP KOSHER OR SHABBAT. IT IS NOT GOD'S NEED THAT PROPELS OUR OBSERVANCE. RATHER, MITZVOT WERE GIVEN TO TRAIN US HOW TO DEAL WITH ONE ANOTHER AND HO TO RELATE TO GOD. SOUTH PARK COULD USE A GOOD DOSE OF MITZVOT.
THE HAGIGA TEXT IS SELF EXPLANATORY. GIVING TZEDAKA IN A WAY THAT HUMILIATES THE RECEIVER IS A SIN. THE TZEDAKA MEANT FOR KENNY'S FAMILY IS SINFUL. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE TZEDAKA GIVEN TO THE STARVING ETHIOPIANS IS TZEDAKA OR SINFUL.
KILLING TURKEYS IS ACCEPTABLE. KILLING THEM AND NOT USING THEM FOR FOOD IS A SIN. THAT IS THE POINT OF THE TEXT.