Infinite MonkeysClearly, Islam is no laughing matter.
Yet this silly little weblog remains firm: We reserve the right to be irreverent. So suck it up.
Are we in the minority? Seems so. Even as it appeared that Europe was rediscovering its spine, the French reverted true to form.
The most incisive comment I've seen on the entire Mohammad cartoon hullabaloo was made by Wretchard at the indispensable Belmont Club. "Bullets they can stand. Ridicule they cannot." In other words, for the Islamic radical, it's death before dishonor.
The infidel's death, preferably.
Another Belmont Club commenter observes, "this bigoted alarmist bullshit is really laughable--what, do you think that a whole faith of a billion adherents is responsible for the actions of a few desperate individuals?" Well, that depends what one means by a few individuals. Do the governments of Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iran, Egypt, Kuwait, and Indonesia count? All of those regimes have demanded that Denmark's government suppress or punish the editors and cartoonists of Jyllands-Posten for provoking and insulting 1.2 billion Muslims.
Ah, but surely the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff are no different from the Islamists who scream for the blood of the infidel? Well, as a matter of fact, yes. Tom Toles has no reason to go into hiding for fear of being shot and hacked to death on the streets of Washington D.C. Well, not for his cartoons, at any rate.
Americans get worked up over many things sacred and profane. But I don't recall Bill Donohue and his Merry Men strapping on explosives and detonating themselves in the Brooklyn Museum a few years back. We write sternly worded letters and march and vent, and then we get on with our lives. We don't storm buildings with assault rifles and threaten to kill or kidnap those who would insult us.
Muslims the world over may be offended at the illustrations of their prophet. But they should be sickened and appalled at the behavior of their fellow believers.
We apologize for nothing. Police your own. Find the nerve.
Posted by H.L. Monkey at February 2, 2006 12:01 AMWhat if Tom Toles had depicted Christ as the Oklahoma City Bomber? That bombing was done by a Christian extremist, so the analogy is the same. Christians might not start rioting on the streets, but they'd be mad. Damn mad. Understand that several of the cartoons in question depict Mohammed as a terrorist! That's terribly insulting. Would we even *consider* depicting Christ as a terrorist because of the Oklahoma City Bombing? The cartoon indicates a lack of respect for the Muslim faith - respect we give the Christian faith. Free speech is fine - they have a right to publish what they want. But the Muslims have a right to get mad about it - and they are.
Posted by: Malina at February 3, 2006 07:18 AMMalina, Malina, Malina. You just don't get it, do you? Taking offense and protesting is fine. Violence and death threats are not. there are enough examples of anti-Christian "art" that people could riot over but they don't.
Posted by: JamesPh. at February 3, 2006 07:50 AM"The cartoon indicates a lack of respect for the Muslim faith - respect we give the Christian faith."
Um, who do you mean "we"? By "we" do you mean Bill Maher, who I recently saw on the Tonight Show referring to Christianity as a "mental illness"? Do you mean any of an army of artists, writers, and performers who routinely savage both Christ and Christianity?
I think "Christians" take a whole lot more than they dish out, when it comes to this sort of thing. And by and large, when Christians get offended at the way their sacred symbols are portrayed, we voice our offense and maybe organize an ineffective boycott. We stopped killing blasphemers a long time ago.
Posted by: Monkey RobbL at February 3, 2006 12:35 PMCartoons of Mohammad with a bomb in his turban is about "Press Freedom"
Cartoons of hook-nosed money grabbing Jews is about "Anti-Semitism"....
Posted by: Hass at February 3, 2006 05:13 PMYeah, pretty much. Is there a question here?
Posted by: Monkey RobbL at February 3, 2006 06:46 PMIs the topic all about Christian - Muslim Conflicts? or the reaction that can be raised by any intentional good (!) job [ like portraiting someone that you don't know even? ] now don't get excited cause I certainly didn't mean IT WAS YOU! I indicated the cartoonist who did the job for the sake of so called "Expression of Freedom" to provoke [ intentionally!! again ] the guys who love that "someone". let me know how would you've reacted if I make a cartoon of your beloved and publishing her/him as a "terrorist" for no reason? just be NEUTRAL and answer carefully! who is asking about the faults of Christians or Muslims in GENERAL? while you are not a WHOLE in general? I'm really lost! I guess this topic would turn into "Muslims are Terrorists and Christians are not" and some monkeys will be mocking for more questions to make it more ENTERTAINING hmm? cause usually people love when any controversial issue raises to chin them up with something new ehh? After beating someone with a heavy stick [ knowing that it would hurt him ] saying "Sorry" and then criticizing him and his fellows who would [ and certainly should ] get angry doesn't make any sense! does it?
Posted by: RainMan at February 4, 2006 08:31 AMBy the way! "Freedom of Expression" and "Expression of Freedom" sounds same to me! don't ask me "Why"!
Posted by: RainMan at February 4, 2006 10:28 AMThe cartoonist who depicted Mohammad with a bomb for a turban is clearly the prophet. His vision is coming true with every violent protest.
Anyone who feels his religion is threatened by a cartoon must have chinks in his armor of faith.
Christ is constantly lampooned in our media and the media of other faiths. We take it with a grain of salt. Everyone needs to realize that just because someone calls a gorilla a rose, it does not make an ape a flower. Truth is truth.
Posted by: Dim Witt at February 7, 2006 09:33 AMThe cartoonist who depicted Mohammad with a bomb for a turban is clearly the prophet. His vision is coming true with every violent protest.
Anyone who feels his religion is threatened by a cartoon must have chinks in his armor of faith.
Christ is constantly lampooned in our media and the media of other faiths. We take it with a grain of salt. Everyone needs to realize that just because someone calls a gorilla a rose, it does not make an ape a flower. Truth is truth.
Posted by: Dim Witt at February 7, 2006 09:35 AM