Time to grow up...
Has anyone seen the cartoons we are talking about? seems like a lot anger over nothing. Does anyone remember this piece by Andres Serrano? Its a crucifix in urine. Nice. How many Christians held violent protests condemning Serrano?
It seems like many Muslims think the best way to protest is through violence, not discussion or debate. The newspaper had every right to publish these cartoons. Just like Muslim groups have every right to publish the beheading of western hostages. I don't agree with it, but I'm not going to burn down the Saudi embassy to protest it.
It seems like many Muslims think the best way to protest is through violence, not discussion or debate. The newspaper had every right to publish these cartoons. Just like Muslim groups have every right to publish the beheading of western hostages. I don't agree with it, but I'm not going to burn down the Saudi embassy to protest it.
posted by mochi at 7:22 AM
7 Comments:
In hindsight, they are kind of funny. I lose. I dont know why I got so offended either. But I did.
This one's sort of complicated for me. I have mixed emotions. I feel the European press should have realized it was going to enrage Muslims, and that should have given them pause. Publishing the cartoons in the first place seems pointless to me.
On the other hand, why do Muslims have to take themselves so bloody seriously? I am pretty much an atheist so it's easy for me to say, I guess, but think about what would happen if everyone on Earth stopped caring about their religion all at once. It would be nice. Wars would be fought only over money and power, as God intended it!
CH, your employer is blocking emails from me.
I don't disagree with your point, I'm just sick of these guys turning to violence over nothing.
Actually, CH, I sort of agree with you as well. I don't doubt the newspaper understood the reaction they were going to get and that they intended to get it. But I think its a point that needs making. Much of Islam is not, at this point, compatible with Western society. I'm glad that the French riots and these protests over some silly cartoons are highlighting not only this incompatibility but the hypocrisy and utter intolerance of Islam and many of its followers.
I can even understand how insulted Muslims feel about this, I'm insulted quite frequently by Hollywood's portrayal of Christianity. The big difference is Christianity teaches peace, and requires its followers to respond peacefully to this type of insult. Of course, I know an awful lot of religious jokes, including many about Christianity in general and Catholicism (my denomination) in particular. And I find them very funny.
I'm not saying there aren't many, many good people who practice Islam and do so with peace in their hearts. I'm just tired of the argument that the terrorists are distorting Islam. They aren't. The Koran is pretty specific about fighting, defeating, and subjugating non-Muslims. These teachings need to be highlighted and confronted, and themselves defeated if Islam is to co-exist with either secular or religious Western society.
Mochi, my employer is ridiculous at letting me correspond with the outside world within its walls. My friends complain about that to me everyday. Sean I agree with you too and didnt really disagree with anything you guys said. I like to write something, look at it, absorb it, think about it, then post it. I only did the first and last, so Im sorry. I kind of strayed from how I typically present myself here, and its not my blog in the first place. I feel like I kind of abused a privelege by posting something that had a lot of things that I incorrectly placed emphasis on. I owe elaboration and will be back later.
Hmmm...
"A prominent Iranian newspaper said it was going to hold a competition for cartoons on the Holocaust in reaction to European newspapers recently republishing the prophet drawings. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the Muhammad drawings were an Israeli conspiracy motivated by anger over the victory of the militant Hamas group in last month's Palestinian elections."
Good debate all around!
Mochi, I find violence to be a solution of last resort. These people are not defending themselves--they are offending. Now a young Muslim has killed a catholic priest over this.
Not long ago, I was listening to an Arab authority who said that radical/fundamental Islam comprises only about 10% of the whole. Do you realize that is 200 MILLION Islamic wack jobs out there running around bent on the "repent or perish" message? That is almost the population of the United States!
These people have killed, maimed and preyed on the innocent and their own for centuries. They are fascists, sexist, racist, and bigots. Its time that we identify them for what they are and stop excusing their behavior. If they were white American males they would already have been burnt at the stake.
-Jack
Post a Comment
<< Home