10 Best Heartwarming Lessons South Park Ever Taught Us
8. Family Is More Than Who You're Related To
Early on in South Park, we're introduced to Ike "Kick The Baby" Broflovski, Kyle's adorable baby brother. But something looks peculiar about him - namely, his funny shaped head that bears a strange resemblance to Canadian Comedy due Terence and Phillip.
In the season two episode "Ike's Wee Wee", the Jewish ceremony of a Bris is being arranged for Ike. When the boys misread the ceremony as an attempt to castrate Ike, the boys attempt to save Ike, which inevitably leads to Kyle discovering Ike is not his biological brother, but is actually adopted.
Kyle doesn't take the news well, and dismisses Ike as his brother until the end when Ike runs away from the Mohel and seeks Kyle's protection. Kyle has a change of heart when discovering photos of him and Ike together, and stands up to prevent his brother's "castration".
It's a great moment of growth for Kyle and the Broflovski family, but what the episode really hammers home, is that just because we're not related to our step and foster siblings, doesn't make them any less a sibling.
So many children are introduced to adoption and foster-care under harsh circumstances, that reminding us to accept and welcome them might be what they've needed to hear for a long time.