Your Taboo, Not Mine

[kaphwan]

Originally Posted by Andrew Sullivan

The iconic image of last week was in the Gaza Strip. It was of a Palestinian gunman astride the local office of the European Union. All the diplomatic staff had fled, tipped off ahead of time. The source of the militant's ire? A series of satirical cartoons originally published in Denmark. Yes, cartoons.

A Danish paper, a while back, had commissioned a set of cartoons depicting the fear that many writers and artists in Europe feel when dealing with the subject of Islam. To Western eyes, the cartoons were not in any way remarkable. In fact, they were rather tame. One showed Muhammad with his turban depicted as a bomb--not exactly a fresh image to describe Islamic terrorism. Another used a simple graphic device: it showed Muhammad surrounded by two women in full Muslim garb, their eyes peering out from an oblong space in their black chadors. And on Muhammad's face there was an oblong too, blacking out his eyes. The point was that Islam has a blind spot when it comes to women's freedom. Crude but powerful: exactly what a political cartoon is supposed to be.

The result was an astonishing uproar in the Muslim world, one of those revealing moments when the gulf between our world and theirs seems unbridgeable. Boycotts of European goods are in force; demonstrators in London held up signs proclaiming EXTERMINATE THOSE WHO MOCK ISLAM and BE PREPARED FOR THE REAL HOLOCAUST; the editor of the French newspaper France-Soir was fired for reprinting the drawings; Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the publication; and protesters set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus. The Egyptian ambassador to Denmark expressed disbelief that the government would not prevent further reprinting. Freedom of the press, the Egyptian explained, "means the whole story will continue and that we are back to square one again. The government of Denmark has to do something to appease the Muslim world."

Excuse me? In fact, the opposite is the case. The Muslim world needs to do something to appease the West. Since Ayatullah Khomeini declared a death sentence against Salman Rushdie for how he depicted Muhammad in his book The Satanic Verses, Islamic radicals have been essentially threatening the free discussion of their religion and politics in the West. Rushdie escaped with his life. But Pim Fortuyn, a Dutch politician who stood up against Muslim immigrant hostility to equality for women and gays, was murdered on the street. Theo van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker who offended strict Muslims, was killed thereafter. Several other Dutch politicians who have dared to criticize the intolerance of many Muslims live with police protection.

Muslim leaders say the cartoons are not just offensive. They're blasphemy--the mother of all offenses. That's because Islam forbids any visual depiction of the Prophet, even benign ones. Should non-Muslims respect this taboo? I see no reason why. You can respect a religion without honoring its taboos. I eat pork, and I'm not an anti-Semite. As a Catholic, I don't expect atheists to genuflect before an altar. If violating a taboo is necessary to illustrate a political point, then the call is an easy one. Freedom means learning to deal with being offended.

Blasphemy, after all, is commonplace in the West. In America, Christians have become accustomed to artists' offending their religious symbols. They can protest, and cut off public funding--but the right of the individual to say or depict offensive messages or symbols is not really in dispute. Blasphemy, moreover, is common in the Muslim world, and sanctioned by Arab governments. The Arab media run cartoons depicting Jews and the symbols of the Jewish faith with imagery indistinguishable from that used in the Third Reich. But I have yet to see Jews or Israelis threaten the lives of Muslims because of it.

And there is, of course, the other blasphemy. It occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, when fanatics murdered thousands of innocents in the name of Islam. Surely, nothing could be more blasphemous. So where were the Muslim boycotts of Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan after that horrifying event? Since 9/11 mosques have been bombed in Iraq by Islamic terrorists. Where was the rioting condemning attacks on the holiest of shrines? These double standards reveal something quite clear: this call for "sensitivity" is primarily a cover for intolerance of others and intimidation of free people.

Yes, there's no reason to offend people of any faith arbitrarily. We owe all faiths respect. But the Danish cartoons were not arbitrarily offensive. They were designed to reveal Islamic intolerance--and they have now done so, in abundance. The West's principles are clear enough. Tolerance? Yes. Faith? Absolutely. Freedom of speech? Nonnegotiable.

Who else is sick of people citing having the backbone to say "STFU" as being "Intolerant"?

[Mathx]

I believe Christians and Jews have been made fun of alot more than the Muslims... but dang, these guys go crazy over a drawing of Mohammed, they say that it's an "Idol" but an idol is and idol if it is worshipped.

[Viper]

The average muslim is a very peaceful and tolerant person but it's the vocal and intolerant ones that gain power through force that we always hear about.

[Omega]

Double standards pretty much sums it all up.

[Rizon]

I'm sorry if this offends. But honestly, i seriously do think theres going to be some form of like civil war in Britain.
Come on, The other day, in London. Muslims were carrying boards like "Behead those who insult islam" Sorry but, these people need to be arrested. Which they ARN'T!
Another example, 3 muslims dress up as suicide bombers and stand next to a police van. They dont even get arrested.
Its so annoying. To be really honest, i would gladly welcome a civil war, because, hell i want my country back.

[Miyahon]

Originally Posted by Viper

The average muslim is a very peaceful and tolerant person but it's the vocal and intolerant ones that gain power through force that we always hear about.

You mean like the floor rolling, snake handling, tele-evangelist christian?

[Viper]

Whom thankfully aren't of much power or vocal. We tend to make fun of them here where as the common muslim wouldn't dare say much ill against even the Islamic extremists.

[Miyahon]

okay remove snakehandling, and the floor rolling, "tongue" speaking, tele-evangelists are totally vocal. Look at the pentecostals. I make fun of them all the time for believing they are modern day prophets. :P

[NoZ]

If they are portraying it on signs, its just gonna get worse if they are allowed. They are stating "Be Prepared For The Real Holocaust", isnt that like terrorism?

[Rizon]

I think its like part of there freedom. Well in the UK anyway.
Its like,
"Come to our country, take all our money in benefits because you cant be arsed to work for 21094362346 years. While your lazing around your very expensive house, please do feel free to stir up some religious hatred among our streets, please do, cos we wont arrest you for it, we'll arrest the white man who says its illegal. He may be right, but your are money thieving guest."

[Dark_Cloud]

Ah, I think this is messed up. People should know better than to do something like that.

There was this Muslim kid in my class and he said it was againt his religion to have someone take a or draw a picture of him. Well, a bunch of people thought it would be funny to draw a picture of him in terrorist clothes. Well, it was pretty funny to most, but he felt really bad about it. I think those kids were assholes.

It's the same concept here. I think we should legaly be able to do draw pictures of whatever the hell we want. But out of respect for someones religion, I think they should have picked another cartoon to publish.

[Miyahon]

Originally Posted by Rizon

I think its like part of there freedom. Well in the UK anyway.
Its like,
"Come to our country, take all our money in benefits because you cant be arsed to work for 21094362346 years. While your lazing around your very expensive house, please do feel free to stir up some religious hatred among our streets, please do, cos we wont arrest you for it, we'll arrest the white man who says its illegal. He may be right, but your are money thieving guest."

my my. something tells me things are happening in England that aren't in America. Your unemployment program is pretty different from ours, also your laws about arresting people it seems.

But you have me interested for sure. Tell me more?

[Teh Roxor!]

Hmmm... If I were to post a picture of Mohammad, would I be banned on a religious intolerance charge?

[Omega]

No religious toons here please.

[Miyahon]

Originally Posted by Teh Roxor!

Hmmm... If I were to post a picture of Mohammad, would I be banned on a religious intolerance charge?

I'll save you the trouble here they are linked too.

the cartoons imply muslims are terrorists. And it's not the first time we've seen cartoons like this.

anyway here below are the cartoons in question linked too.

to small to read though

Here are the cartoons translated

1 This is the only of the cartoons that wasn't offensive and was just funny

2 insulting their treatment of women and the prophet himself

3 explaining the cartoons as a PR stunt

4 horns or halo?

5 they suspected a smarter responce then they got

6 they said the same thing about Newt Gingritch

7 meh

8 at this point they are just drawing him because they know it offends them

9 I don't get it

10 still don't get it

11 got nothing

12 could someone explain this to me?

[Generic Wheaties]

I'm muslim, and I found most of the cartoons above offensive. Whatever though, I won't spend my time worrying about that. The cartoonist can just stay uneducated on what he's drawing about.

[Miyahon]

Originally Posted by Generic Wheaties

I'm muslim, and I found most of the cartoons above offensive. Whatever though, I won't spend my time worrying about that. The cartoonist can just stay uneducated on what he's drawing about.

^now that's a healthy attitude. It's just a dane who doesn't know jack about islam. No need to be really offended. I mean considering the things christians put up with about athiest defacing Jesus and all.

The cartoons are tasteless as hell, and reason for anger, but no reason for violence or hurting anyone.

[Mathx]

Originally Posted by Miyahon

I
9 I don't get it

I guess this one is poking fun at the fact that women will wear burkas covering their entire body except their eyes or face, and that Islamic artists will drawn Mohammed except his face.

[Miyahon]

Originally Posted by Mathx

I guess this one is poking fun at the fact that women will wear burkas covering their entire body except their eyes or face, and that Islamic artists will drawn Mohammed except his face.

lol, now i get it.

[Helios]

Quite frankly I take this with a grain of salt like every other protest or riot in the middle east. They bitch, complain and cry about it and we mildly respond that the "offensive" remark is protected by our laws, then we go back to ignoring them.

Its just like when I was 8 and I would pull my little sisters hair, she'd go run tell mom, i'd get a slap on the wrist and thats that. Same thing here, these protesting muslims are acting like nothing more than children.

Originally Posted by Miyahon

I mean considering the things christians put up with about athiest defacing Jesus and all.

Thats because when it comes to "offensive" remarks the Judeo-christian community is a lot more tolerant. Even the most radical christian doesnt decapitate or stone you for every little offensive remark.

my my. something tells me things are happening in England that aren't in America. Your unemployment program is pretty different from ours, also your laws about arresting people it seems.

Certainly. Had the same thing happened here our wire tapping, security obssesed government would almost most certainly have them locked in a cell in Gitmo by now. heh