Let Go Let Gov Analysis

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The South Park episode “Let Go, Let Gov” examines the way in which American citizens view government surveillance as both a breach of personal freedom as well as a necessary step in national security. This is exemplified when Cartman breaks down in tears at the end of the episode after exposing how the National Security Administration spies on people, only for no one to care (Parker, “Let Go, Let Gov”). Cartman’s quest shows how unwilling many people are to accept the fact that the government can closely watch anyone due to the perception that the government is keeping citizens safe from terrorist threats. Furthermore, in this same episode, Butters begins a religious organization preaching that the government is simply looking after everyone and that one’s private wrongdoings may be forgiven through a confession at a DMV …show more content…
Throughout this episode, Cartman believes a pandemic of racial tension is beginning to spread, thus, in a World War Z-like manner, Cartman goes to extreme lengths to stop said pandemic from spreading, including bringing down multiple planes and attempting to kill both George Zimmerman and his friend Token (Parker, “World War Zimmerman”). Cartman’s anxieties about racial tension mirror similar real-world perspectives which theorize that growing anger between races will lead to further violence and damage. However, this plotline also reveals how Cartman’s theories are exaggerated and taken out of proportion. Anytime Cartman attempts to keep the pandemic he believes in calm, Token seems uninterested, only becoming invested when Cartman’s attempts continue aggravating everyone (Parker, “World War Zimmerman”). By placing Cartman’s actions from this angle, it can be said that threats of racial tension may be blown out of context to instill fear, even if there is no credible threat to

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