Sunday, February 05, 2006
Wasn't It A Cartoon?
I am sure that you have all at least heard that there is some commotion happening in Denmark, you may have heard something about a cartoon and the Prophet Muhammad, or you may be quite informed on the subject.
Either way, Arthur Macmillan has a pretty informative recap over at the Scotsman.
This is pretty serious business.
A few cartoons depicting The Muslim prophet in a comical fashion has sparked the radical hatred of an already sizzling group.
As the article shows, there have been demonstrations led by people carrying signs that read "Europe, your 9-11 will come," "Annihilate those who insult Islam" and "Freedom of speech, go to hell."
One protestor, Abu Ibraheem of Luton, said "there are no apologies... those responsible have to be killed."
Excuse me?
They are cartoonists. Regardless of the message or the messenger they are still cartoons.
Regardless of religious reverence or freedom of speech, they are still cartoons.
In one of the closing comments, Bashir Maan the Scottish spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, tells us "I don't think the pictures should have been published. It only widens the gulf between Islam and the West. Maybe they don't appreciate the reverence Muslims have for the prophet."
I think that maybe the Muslims don't appreciate the lack of reverence we may have for the prophet, which is every bit as important to me as their reverence is to them. Perhaps some of us are a bit offended at the fact that they are threatening to kill people over a cartoon.
What makes them any more correct in their crusade against what they believe to be an outrage, than us in our crusade to try and live in a world where everything should have a lighter side.
I will tell you one difference, you never see a cartoonist out there killing people because they did not laugh at their jokes.
There is a lot more than the freedom of speech at stake here.
We are in danger of losing the freedom to live without a belief, strong enough to kill.
Joe Gandelman at the Moderate Voice gives a sequential rundown of the opinions of a few bloggers speaking out on the issue.
Either way, Arthur Macmillan has a pretty informative recap over at the Scotsman.
This is pretty serious business.
A few cartoons depicting The Muslim prophet in a comical fashion has sparked the radical hatred of an already sizzling group.
As the article shows, there have been demonstrations led by people carrying signs that read "Europe, your 9-11 will come," "Annihilate those who insult Islam" and "Freedom of speech, go to hell."
One protestor, Abu Ibraheem of Luton, said "there are no apologies... those responsible have to be killed."
Excuse me?
They are cartoonists. Regardless of the message or the messenger they are still cartoons.
Regardless of religious reverence or freedom of speech, they are still cartoons.
In one of the closing comments, Bashir Maan the Scottish spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, tells us "I don't think the pictures should have been published. It only widens the gulf between Islam and the West. Maybe they don't appreciate the reverence Muslims have for the prophet."
I think that maybe the Muslims don't appreciate the lack of reverence we may have for the prophet, which is every bit as important to me as their reverence is to them. Perhaps some of us are a bit offended at the fact that they are threatening to kill people over a cartoon.
What makes them any more correct in their crusade against what they believe to be an outrage, than us in our crusade to try and live in a world where everything should have a lighter side.
I will tell you one difference, you never see a cartoonist out there killing people because they did not laugh at their jokes.
There is a lot more than the freedom of speech at stake here.
We are in danger of losing the freedom to live without a belief, strong enough to kill.
Joe Gandelman at the Moderate Voice gives a sequential rundown of the opinions of a few bloggers speaking out on the issue.
