Timmy 2000 and The Church (An article by Michael Hoggatt)

Michael Hoggat is also the author of Moving to the Manger: A Journey from Exclusion to Inclusion.

I’ve been looking around for good “Christian” examples of people with disabilities in several different mediums for use in this column. However, I found very little from within Christian circles that dealt with issues of any relevance. Therefore, I looked to the secular entertainment industry and found a show that fearlessly addresses issues of utmost importance, and realized that it had a lot to teach me. Unfortunately, due to the reputation for profanity, inappropriate humor and the mocking of certain Christian values, most Christians remain unaware that South Park has been discussing disability, stem-cell research and right-to-die issues with a candor one should expect from within the Church. Many of the episodes that deal with these issues revolve around a fourth-grade boy named Timmy.

Timmy entered the South Park universe in April of 2000 and has been a mainstay ever since. I’m sure that many are asking, “What is a discussion of South Park doing in a Christian publication?” The simple answer is that Timmy is perhaps the most thought provoking portrayal of a person with disability in the entertainment industry. In fact, a recent poll conducted by the online forum OUCH on behalf of the BBC, found that an overwhelming majority of Britons with disabilities rated Timmy as the number one individual with a disability on television. It is my hope that the Church and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ might take a few lessons from Timmy and his friends. 

Timmy appears to have cerebral palsy and requires the use of a wheelchair, although the school comically misdiagnosis him as having ADD. All indications are that Timmy has cognitive disabilities as well, but Timmy’s actions and awareness through the “Helen Keller: The Musical” episode, make this assessment questionable. Timmy is also one of the funniest characters I have ever had the opportunity to see on TV. It’s not so much that Timmy himself is funny, but rather the responses of people interacting with Timmy. Through these interactions Timmy has lessons for those who are willing to listen. Through it all Timmy’s classmates never exclude Timmy or ostracize him for his disability. Timmy is just part of the group, no more…no less. 

In the episode Timmy 2000, Timmy fronts a rock and roll band much to the delight of the children of South Park. However, the parents of the town seek to intervene on Timmy’s behalf in order to “protect him” from being exploited. They are not happy that Timmy is up on stage with all eyes upon him. A cry against exploitation persists, despite the fact that his friends and fellow band mates are apparently unaware of his disability (or at least don’t allow it to define their relationship). They even complain, “Timmy gets all the chicks.” The adults complain that all the children want to do to Timmy is laugh at him and so he needs to be protected. However, one of Timmy’s classmates, Stan, comes to his defense and says,

You see, we learned something today. Yeah, sure, we laughed at Timmy, but what's wrong with laughter? Just because we laugh at something doesn't mean we don't care about it. Timmy made us smile, and playing made Timmy smile, so where was the harm in that? The people that are wrong are the ones that think people like Timmy should be "protected" and kept out of the public's eye. The cool thing about Timmy being in a band was that he was in your face, and you had to deal with him, whether you laughed or cried, or felt nothing. That's why Timmy rules!

Timmy 2000 is not the only episode when Timmy’s disability is used to provoke discussion and thought. The two-part episode beginning with Do Handicapped People Go To Hell? and concluding with Probably, addresses serious theological implications for persons with disabilities. Due to his disability Timmy is unable to confess to his priest or partake in the sacraments and is therefore damned… or is he? South Park has chosen to treat Timmy as a person with a soul who believes in Heaven and Hell; whereas, the Church and mainstream media fail to responsibly address this issue, relying well-worn clichés that skirt the issue of congregational or sacramental participation leaving a glaring hole where heartfelt discussion should be.

I would have expected that these issues would have been addressed from the pulpit, not from a bunch of dysfunctional fourth-graders, but this is not to be. The Christian community has yet to understand some of the lessons taught in South Park. I realize that most readers are not going to go out and purchase the latest season of South Park. However, we must continue to ask ourselves a simple question. If the church cares so deeply about stem-cell research, disabilities, or end-of-life questions why haven’t these infiltrated Christian culture? The answer is that Christians are afraid to offend. We have chosen to be nice and adopted a don’t-rock-the-boat mentality. Even worse are those in the Church who have adopted an “it’s-not-my-place-to-tell” approach to issues related to human life (abortion, end of life, stem cell research, etc.) As Stan informed us, when something is out there and in your face, it has to be dealt with. As long as churches marginalize people with disabilities or debates on sanctity of life issues they are not going to be dealt with. It is the responsibility of the church to put these issues in the forefront and to take a stand.

I think the Church should ask itself why a television program noted for it lack of Christian values should be at the forefront of issues the Church purports to care so much about. By watching South Park I have grown more and more aware of the gulf between where the Church is on certain issues and where it should be. It is a sad day in the Church when a program such as South Park brings issues such as these to the foreground of cultural discussions. While the Church is reading books on the end of the world or watching television programs set in nineteenth century rural America, South Park has been bringing to the foreground issues that affect humanity and the sanctity of human life (albeit, not always on the right side). Is the church so afraid of offending people that we are afraid of the truth?

The next time we see a secular depiction of disability (or any other “controversial” issue) that strikes us as offensive, let take a moment to pause and realize that those things which make us uncomfortable or seem to be offensive are not criminal. Most people are uncomfortable with the truth and many more are offended by it. Instead of being angry and before we turn the channel, let us ask ourselves how the Church or we as Christians are addressing this particular issue. If you cannot think of how the Church is addressing the issue than be thankful that this program or book or music has prompted you to take the opportunity to formulate a response consistent with a Christian worldview.