The popular TV show “Family Guy” is known for its fearlessness to poke fun at society’s celebrities, cliques and social groups. The program, which is popular among young adults, cleverly portrays America’s modern average family and its “average Joe” neighbors. One of the latest episodes to air was particularly interesting.

Chris, the main character’s son, decides he wants to ask out a girl from school, but this girl is “special;” she has Down syndrome. In the episode, the girl agrees to a date with Chris, but throughout the show, the viewer finds she is rude, demanding and spoiled. While the characters are eating dinner, Chris asks her what her parents do. She says, “My father is an accountant, and my mother is the former governor of Alaska.” This would seem like a normal joke for a “Family Guy” episode, but here they crossed the line just a little too much.

It does not matter whether you are a Palin fan or not; the girl’s behavior in the episode gave a brash generalization of the mentally disabled. It implied that all people with this disability are rude and spoiled. Attacking someone who cannot fight back or defend themselves is classless and cowardly. You may be creative or hysterically funny, but if you cannot come up with anything better, it would probably be wise to rethink your creativity.

There is already speculation that Palin will run in the 2012 election for president, which adds to the uproar it caused among major news stations. Attacking her family, especially her youngest son, went below the belt. Making fun of someone’s political party is one thing — you choose to become associated with that party — but a small child does not choose to have Down syndrome.

Major news media organizations, such as Fox News, were particularly sensitive to the comment and made no bones about their distaste for the comment. Others defended the comment, saying it was simply sarcasm. What some may not know is that the actress who played the character’s voice actually has Down Syndrome.

The show made an obvious attempt to attack the Palin family, as they are already unpopular in the mainstream media. Had the Palin family not been so offended, the episode may have flown under the radar. On the other hand, had Sarah Palin and her daughter not defended their son and brother, they may have been reprimanded as insensitive.

The Palin family has taken numerous blows, both politically and personally. It has had to defend itself against many comments such as these, but when you cater to a large audience, you do not want to turn away a large part of your viewers. Republicans and Democrats may have widely different views, but anyone can see that this went too far.

America is a country founded by rebels and outcasts; the elite did not immigrate here. The U.S. Constitution rules by majority while protecting minorities. As citizens, we are unified to protect those who cannot protect themselves. In this case, the mentally disabled cannot protect themselves. One could actually argue that Seth MacFarlane is regrettably “un-American.”