So Much Anger…
Published by Toni February 6th, 2006 in Uncategorized.I’ve been thinking about what to write in light of the events related to the Muhammed cartoons, and I realize that it’s tough to come up with something to say without upsetting one side or the other. But I’ll give it a shot.
First of all, I don’t think that it was a wise move for those cartoonists to do those drawings. Yes, technically they had every right to do so, and yes, it’s the principle of the matter- freedom of speech and expression. I understand that. However, just because you have the right to do something doesn’t mean that you should go ahead and do it. I have the right to drive by a rival school, use a megaphone, and tell them to kiss my ass, but I won’t because it’s disrespectful and insulting to others. Just because you don’t believe in a certain religion, way of life, or even if you like different football teams doesn’t mean you should disrespect those different from you. I have a high tolerance when it comes to being offended (I am a South Park fan, after all), but even I get insulted when I see extreme vulgar parodies of Jesus, for example.
Second of all, these cartoonists should have known better not to incite a group of people who they know are very, very dedicated to their religion to the point that some of them will kill and die in the name of God. After all, this is a group that gets really pissed off at the slightest, smallest insult to their religion.
On the other hand, the manner in which these extremist Muslims have been acting is deplorable. I’m going to assume that these Muslim extremists must be reading the Koran incorrectly throughout their whole life, because I cannot believe that a religion that supposedly promotes peace and unity would churn out people like this.
Jews and Christians are constantly insulted and mocked by the media, but has it ever led to death and destruction? I’ve seen some awful cartoons of Jesus and Mary that made me angry, but not once did I think to myself, “This cartoonist must die, and so must everyone attached to it”. Why? Because this is the 21st century, and there are better, more civilized and humane ways for people to express themselves. If you want to boycott Danish products, fine. If you want to write angry letters to the editors, fine. But to burn down the Danish embassy and to destroy Catholic churches? To kill an old priest as he’s walking to mass?
NOT FINE.
Muhammed cartoons, Muslims, violence, freedom of speech, Denmark, Danish
22 Responses to “So Much Anger…”
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Someone once said that the pen is mightier than the sword. I guess these cartoons are a good example. I just read that a newspaper in Iran plans to publish some anti- jewish cartoons to test the tolerance of the west for this sort of thing.
Many of these radical groups consistently talk about wiping various groups of the planet. If the cartoon was of a KKK guy instead of a muslim, there would not have been an issue. However, the cartoon describes a very real issue with radical muslims which is their “prophecy” is based on violent control and manipulation. In many ways, Islam is an ideological gun. The KKK’s beliefs are easily and acceptably mocked in society because they are not taken seriously. Radical Muslims are. I still think they should be mocked. So should fundamentalist christians. Any group which cannot respect another world view deserves to look stupid. They need to start taking themselves much less seriously. The world needs to stop being afraid of these idiots and paint them up like clowns with guns.
Anon- Yes, I read about that. How predictable of them to attack their usual scapegoats. Last time I checked, it was Danish people who drew the cartoons, not Jewish people.
Drogulus- I get what you’re saying, but today’s KKK isn’t nearly as extremist or insane as radical Muslims are. KKK members won’t blow themselves up in the name of God or whatever they believe in. Radical Muslims do this on a daily basis. They’re not just clowns with guns- they’re insane, scary ass clowns with guns. I know we should stand up to them, but at what price?
Terrorism is only as effective as the fear it produces. Giving up freedoms, chilling speech, and creating suspicion among neighbors is exactly the aim of these groups. The KKK is a great example because for quite a long time this is how they functioned as well. Today they are idiots in sheets. No one listens to them or takes them seriously. They have no effective control. To give them such control is the only way they would ever get it. Thats exactly how we treat their radical muslim counterparts. Radical muslims should look stupid. It is probably the best way to fight terrorism from a citizens standpoint.
I totally agree with you, drogulus. I just wish that regular Muslims be a lot more proactive and do their part in squashing this extremist section of their group. These bad apples shouldn’t be allowed to spoil the whole barrel any more.
I’m sure that regular muslims don’t like seeing their prophet defaced either. However, the reaction from the more extreme factions makes it harderto really say, “No! thats not how things are!” Many Muslim groups (of the non radical kind) are probably reluctant to speak out against other muslims for several reasons. 1. They will end up facing the same discrimination no matter if they support or condemn radical muslims. Condemning might actually make matters worse for them. 2 In many ways even the non extreme muslims still see non-muslims as people who are going to hell. The Jihadists on the other hand are in many ways much more respected by the religion, even if one does not agree with them. 3. They really don’t have very much influence over these groups anyway. The really strange thing is that even though the base is religious, many jihadists aren’t very religious. It’s about social significance and nationalism. They’re not looking at things in terms of how things will look to allah, they are looking at things from the perspective of their social context and how they as “good” people should act. In other words, non radical muslims use the morals found in Islam as a philosophy, and the radical muslims have this philosophy ingrained as a means of social order and control. In the first way, one is responsible for what one does… In the second, one has an obligation to ensure that the ultimate order is for everyone.
A radical muslim might be able to convince other radical muslims… But non-extremists aren’t really part of the same nation, and therefore live by a different social standard.
I do like this trend though. More wars should be fought wit cartoons. I hope it escalates.
Oh hell, it’s not like the jewish people have never been insulted. Let them publish whatever stupid cartoons they want. Why don’t they go whole hog and make 12 anti-Catholic/Christian cartoons as well?
Strange how tolerant the press is to religious extremism as long as it ain’t Christian.
We all know those Ten Commandments are the REAL threat… not all the bombing, rioting and killing.
Hmmm well, at least the Christian fundies don’t go around burning embassies and declaring fatwas on people. Just Pat Robertson.
Never mind the cartoons, what about us Americans being offended everytime the Muslims in other countries chant “Die America”? Or how about when they burn the U.S. flag or make an effigy of American leaders to burn in the streets? Or better yet, what about Americans or people from other Western countries that have died in Muslim countries and have had their bodies burned and mutilated and dragged through the town? I don’t hear any Americans chanting in the street “Death to the Muslims”. I don’t see any people in any of the Western countries doing any of these things. The cartoon is just an excuse for violence, plain and simple.
Touche, “E”.
What’s really ironic is that drawings and paintings of Muhammed have been around since the Middle Ages! They’re probably in museums somewhere. I’m amazed that crazies haven’t stolen these paintings and burned them.
Nice to see you drop by, BTW. I should have known that you’d have something to say about this topic. It’s right up your alley of study.
“The cartoon is just an excuse for violence, plain and simple.”
The cartoon is proof that they are failing to produce enough fear. The violence shows that they are working on this.
In most free countries, there are more efficient ways to get your point across than to blow shit up. This is how its done in the middle east.
Drogulus- It simply intrigues me that their response to being portrayed as violent, savage terrorists is to act like violent, savage terrorists. Baffles the mind.
What I don’t get is why several European countries reprinted the cartoon. And going around the world trading racial and religious insults is not all that cute. I really don’t like that Iranian contest. It could spark off more crap. If you look at the timeline of evens, you’ll see that diplomatic efforts were attempted to resolve the problem. It took three months after the initial complaints for the Danish paper that first published the cartoons and the Danish prime minister to apologize, although the Danish PM defended freedom of the press. And then four other European countries reprinted the cartoon. It’s stupid. Islamic nations were truly offended. Have a little respect, man. It’s like we’re two people in a room. You don’t know me all that well, but you can see I’m a bit overweight. If you’re a decent person, you’re not going to laugh at me and call me fatso. The problem starts with a group of people disrespecting another people’s culture. Janet Jackson had to apologize for offending anyone with her wardrobe malfunction, for God’s sake. Now we get a few seconds tape delay during certain live broadcasts. We put rules in place so that inappropriate crap doesn’t happen again and as a country we don’t look stupid. The Superbowl is broadcast in who knows how many countries. We’re supposed to be on our best behavior. Anyway, that’s beside the point. My point is, someone needs to step up and be accountable for offending a whole lot of people. And the other team of course needs to quit resorting to violence. But what if they feel it’s the only way for them to be heard. What if they feel so fucking put down they tried talking but no one would listen. I don’t condone violence at all. But sometimes abuse begets abuse, and violence begets violence. Not all victims become abusers of course, but it’s likelier for an abused male to in turn abuse others than an abused female. And most of Muslim society is male-dominated. I am getting lost in my own thoughts. LOL. It’s like one thought triggers another. Grrr. It’s just ironic to me how self-righteous Western countries are acting, holding up the freedom of the press pass, as if they’re more superior and civilized than the Muslim demonstrators. Dude, Europeans are notorious for rioting after soccer matches, sometimes resulting in fatal injuries. If Janet Jackson can apologize over something as superficial as a wardrobe malfunction, can’t a few European countries apologize for offending several other Islamic nations? Freedom of the press and all that… I see it as a way for Europeans to subtly defend racism. There are limits to freedom and democracy. Comedy shouldn’t be excluded from the law. There is a whole lot of intolerance going around. The Muslims aren’t complaining about themselves being portrayed as terrorists. They’re complaining about Muhammad being portrayed as a terrorist. That’s like depicting Jesus Christ as an anti-abortion bomber. No one in their right mind would do that in a mainstream press.
The reason we’re not offended when Muslims chant “Die America” is because we’re the most powerful nation in the world and we damn well know it.
We’re also not offended when they burn effigies of American leaders, because we make fun of our own leaders all the time.
I need to stop commenting and go to sleep. Toni, nice topic btw. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
They’re calling it a “cartoon row” at BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4691878.stm
That’s a bit of an understatement.
Wow, you sure had a lot to say about the topic Tinka
That’s cool though.
Yeah, as I said- I thought it was really inappropriate, disrespectful, and rude to create those cartoons. I understand why these people are pissed off. I’d be pissed off too.
However, being offended and pissed off is NO EXCUSE to burn buildings and wish death on others. Who the fuck does that? I can understand boycotting Danish goods, writing angry letters to editors, and peacefully picketing. But lobbing molotov cocktails at Catholic churches? Wishing death upon the West? Intolerable.
“However, being offended and pissed off is NO EXCUSE to burn buildings and wish death on others. Who the fuck does that? I can understand boycotting Danish goods, writing angry letters to editors, and peacefully picketing. But lobbing molotov cocktails at Catholic churches? Wishing death upon the West? Intolerable.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. One point though, why is it in other less powerful nations you don’t hear the people wish death on others, whether it be Americans, Jews, or anyone else? It’s because Islam is used in these countries to control the masses, so therefore, Islam is being used in the name of terrorism. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, well then it must be a duck. Besides, getting this upset over a CARTOON is ridiculous. Like I said before, it’s just an excuse.
BTW, hi back at ya Toni!! You know me so well.
“One point though, why is it in other less powerful nations you don’t hear the people wish death on others, whether it be Americans, Jews, or anyone else? It’s because Islam is used in these countries to control the masses, so therefore, Islam is being used in the name of terrorism.”
Good point, E. There are so many strong yet peaceful ways they can get their point across, but they resort to violence. Over a bunch of cartoons. Ridiculous.
BTW, to be fair E, I saw your email addy when I logged in my admin account, so I knew it was you