Tensions rise in Mideast over Cartoons

[Virtual Burlesque]

Actually, it was the six Joint Chiefs of Staff who made the original complaint against that cartoon.

In the article which accompanied a copy of this same cartoon when Pastafarian posted it earlier, there was this piece of info:

"Kurtz also quoted Dave Autry, deputy communications director for Disabled American Veterans, saying he was "certainly not" offended by the cartoon." (My highlighting.)

No unprejudiced viewer would imagine that Toles was making fun of wounded troops, but rather directing his barb at Rumsfeld and the military leaders (especially the six Joint Chiefs Staff) who first sent out the troops so ill equipped to survive, and who now show so little remorse.

That letter was an obvious attempt to stir up a bit of controversy about the cartoonist's lack of regard for the wounded troops to take the spotlight off an especially stinging lampoon of their failures.

It is sickening to watch these war commanders protect their asses by hiding behind the troops.

 

[Just the Facts]

... The people who made the cartoons admitted that the paper who asked them to do it was looking for a provacation.

So that means, they wanted to statrt something with Muslim people, so tough shit about Freedom of Expression or Speech because it is a direct attack on another religion to cause chaos and anger between Christians and Muslims.
...

That's interesting. I heard (months ago, before this hit the mainstream) that the purpose of the cartoons was to test the free speech waters in Denmark. Yes, it was intended as a provocation, but not to "start something with Muslim people", but rather, to bring to attention the degree to which "Islamic sensitivities" are influencing the VALUES OF DANISH society.

Their point was not to START a fight with Islam, but to illustrate that the fight is WELL UNDER WAY. In a nutshell, the cartoons weren't inspired by hatred of Islam itself - but exasperation at the lengths to which Islam will go to stifle opposition of it. So basically they were saying yeah, we know you will find this offensive, but tough noogies, we find suspension of our freedom of speech offensive.

Furthermore, this was not an idea that just came out of left field. Take a look at what has been happening in Denmark and Scandinavia as a whole in the past decade or so.

 

[Durgan]

Jo Canadian. You are in deep shit. Your cartoon is an insult to my pagan beliefs. The only problem I have is, that there is not enough idiots around me to make a riot, and Canadian Gun Laws prevent me from acquiring an AK17.

Now if I could boycott something or creat a riot no doubt the Media in their best manner would condemn you for not being culturally sensitive.

Durgan.

 

[Curiosity]

My humble apologies having posted the quad amputee cartoon for a second time. I scoured the posts and didn't see it - my mistake.

If the administration wants, I will remove my offending post.
tick tock tick tock.....time passing...


All rightee then....I'll plunge right back in...

Here's something more to do with topic:
http://muttawa.blogspot.com/

 

[#juan]

I thought that blog was hilarious WC

It put the whole mess in....well,in some sort of perspective.... :lol:

 

[Sassylassie]

Just the facts--well stated. I saw on the news today a blurb where Muslims were burning the Danish flag, I shake my head, they are constantly doing something to offend the West and Europe and we passivley sit and take it. I for one would like to see some of the pontiffacating ranting Muslim Priests get off the pulpit and strap bombs to their chest, but wait they use their young and un-educated youth for that. The leaders of extreme Islam are cowards, they are not willing to die for their faith instead they send their young/next generation to their death. If Canadian male youths were only able to read one book, were unemployed and sat and smoked a water pipe in a Cafe all day with nothing to discuss but their "Hatred of The What Ever" we'd have problems to. The Muslim males seem to have nothing to do with their time but hold protest and pray. Maybe they should try working for a living and life wouldn't be so bleak. Muslims all over the world have to stop blaming other Countries for the mis-fortune and start excepting the fact that they are 1000 years behind current society and evolve from there. I hope I don't have to go into hiding now.

 

[FiveParadox]

The Muslim Balance

I think the important thing is for followers of Islam to find a "balance" — one between the extremely demanding nature of the more extreme interpretation of the faith, and one between the requirements of modern society in what should be a free and democratic world.

Throughout Canada, and I would assume other Western nations, this has been done. For example, at my high school, certain Muslim students (those who choose to follow their faith more "religiously," for lack of a better term) leave Fourth Block each Friday to attend prayer at the mosque, and quickly return before the Block has ended. They are responsible for catching up on any work that they missed.

Not all Muslim students choose to do so, however — many are like certain "moderate" Christian students, whose religions have little direct impact on their day-to-day interactions with their friends and co-workers.

Whereas some users in forums such as these advocate for the eradication of the entire Muslim faith, I would argue that such sentiment makes on no better than terrorism-oriented Islamic extremists; we must advocate to strike a balance in the Middle East, so as to allow their religions of choice to flourish and be welcomed, while ensuring that those religions are kept within the boundaries of what can be demonstrably justified in, as I said, what should be a free and democratic world.

 

[Sassylassie]

I agree in "Principle" with what you write and I have no issue with moderate law abiding Muslims. It's the extremist that don't want peace they want power, they loath any kind of freedom of choice and they hate and fear women. Legitamate Muslims live their faith in kindness and sincerity, extremist used their so called faith of Islam to benifit their lust for power and they are scum sucking evil pigs and there is no room for negotiation they are Terrorist.

 

[Curiosity]

I thought that blog was hilarious WC

It put the whole mess in....well,in some sort of perspective.... :lol:

Juan

Just trying to damp down the "cranky whine factor a bit"....

 

[Karlin]

Infantile minds are at it again.

Maybe it is being done to stir up hatred, as a way to propell us into WW3, but otherwise I believe that there is no basis for either side's position here. [sarcasm]

On one side, we have publishers printing images of Mohammad, for the purpose of decalaring their freedom. WooHoo.

On the other side, we have a group of Islamists who seem to be saying that everybody should follow their laws.


The publishers concern is nonsensical because they would never have had the NEED or KNOWLEDGE to print this image except for the existence of Islam, the Muslim religion. It is only within that religion where it is asked that images not be printed, specifically the image of Mohammad, and therefore anyone outside of that religion would not be involved in the purpose of that law. Sillyness.

For the Islamists, the purpose of that law set down by Mohammad is to prevent the spread of 'idol worship' , which used to be a bigger problem than we see today, apparently. Since these images were CARTOONS I doubt that Mohammad himself would have seen any problem with it ; nobody is going to 'be comprimised' by worshipping a cartoon image of him with an explosive turban.

It is a VERY silly protest, but still they turn to violence and anger. "Hey, thats not allowed, if we can't do it you can't do it" is the sentiment of the protestors, and they have found a way to make it seem insulting to them. Sillyness.

And on the other hand," Mohammad doing terrorism" as a commentary statement is somewhat pertinant to those publishers' world [as in worthy of freedom of expression concerns] That would be the justification, because they know that it is disrespectfull in the same way terrorists are disrespectfull of Mohammads teachings.


Karlin

 

[Durgan]

When are the main stream Moslems going to throw these thugs out and take back their so-called peaceful religion?

It appears to me the mainline Moslems are clapping on the sidelines.

Most Arab countries have abundent wealth, which appears to be used for a select few. Doesn't anybody work in these countries? There always seems to be enough idlers to have some stupid demonstration about some nonsense on a regular basis.

Many other the actions remind me of a recent movie I saw about a prison in Brazil holding 7000 prisoners when it was designed for a max of 4000. Just use your imagination. The prison was run by inmates, and mob rule persisted until the authorities took over with a vengence. Sort of like an insane asylum without managing staff.

Many of the post are trying to be accommodating to the silly actions of the demonstrators. I am sorry they don't have a foot to stand-on.

The cartoons were innocuous to any rational human being. The mob simply wanted to make a big deal out of nothing, and the western world is trying to empathize. Time to cut the crap and draw a line in the sand.

Enough is enough.

Durgan.

 

[#juan]

Juan

Just trying to damp down the "cranky whine factor a bit"...

Without the "cranky whine factor" how will we communicate? :wink: :lol: :lol: [/quote]

 

[Hank C]

When are the main stream Moslems going to throw these thugs out and take back their so-called peaceful religion?

It appears to me the mainline Moslems are clapping on the sidelines.

Most Arab countries have abundent wealth, which appears to be used for a select few. Doesn't anybody work in these countries? There always seems to be enough idlers to have some stupid demonstration about some nonsense on a regular basis.

Many other the actions remind me of a recent movie I saw about a prison in Brazil holding 7000 prisoners when it was designed for a max of 4000. Just use your imagination. The prison was run by inmates, and mob rule persisted until the authorities took over with a vengence. Sort of like an insane asylum without managing staff.

Many of the post are trying to be accommodating to the silly actions of the demonstrators. I am sorry they don't have a foot to stand-on.

The cartoons were innocuous to any rational human being. The mob simply wanted to make a big deal out of nothing, and the western world is trying to empathize. Time to cut the crap and draw a line in the sand.

Enough is enough.

Durgan.

Exactly.... you don't see the pope calling for a Jihad when Christianity is insulted....seems the west is more civilized! Anyways let the "Barbarians simmer" (not all muslisms, just the animals).

I have to say though that the muslisms in Canada have kept it relatively quiet and I respect them for that.....the last thing we need is a extremist protest in Canada!

 

[Virtual Burlesque]

What insightful investigative report into the state of our society may we expect next from Jyllands-Posten?

They might send some clowns over to slaughter a few cows in Calcutta?

Set up a birth control kiosk in the Vatican?

Sponsor a Million-Queer March through Houston, Texas?

 

[Durgan]

Re: RE: Tensions rise in Mideast over Cartoons

If this was published by a Canadian I would expect to see hate literature laws applied.

I would like to think that Canadian Laws are not so stupid as to even contemplate prosecuting over such a thing as a cartoon. Mind you, I have so little faith in the Canadian Justice system that it wouldn't suprise me of such an hypothetical occurrence. Arrest and put through the system and found not guilty at great expense to the accussed, with no redress regarding the misery incurred.

How anybody can see hate in those innocuous cartoons defies comprehension. The one of the turbaned angel saying there are no more virgins so quit blowing up innocents is very well done. The bomb in the turban is almost what is happening on a regular basis. Both are excellent caricatures of events that are happening in the world today. That is the purpose of cartoons, particularly for those who have difficulty reading and comprehending.

Freedom of the Press is bulhslit and always has been.Da press puts a message out to and for certain purposes for the masses to digest. The Danes and others did a good job.

It is difficult to imagine how Danish companies should be penalized because of something a newspaper published. To me this depicts the mentality (childish) of the Moslem demostrators. Please notice I didn't state all Moslems, but I am slowly being converted to this view.

Fat Arabs in some of those countries have plenty of money. Why don't they try sueing as any civilized person would do if they remotely thought they had a case.

The demonstrations only jell civilized nations as to their view of the Molsem religion, and this certainly is not inducive to goodwill towards it. They keep up this crap and a severe backlash will jell.

Durgan.

 

[FiveParadox]

No Medium Immune to Law

In respect of your most recent post, Durgan, I agree with part of what you are saying, but disagree on a fundamental level with another; while I would agree that this particular case would not warrant, in my opinion, charges under hate propaganda law, I would assert that the medium itself (that is, cartoons) should not be "immune" to those laws.

:arrow: This Particular Case

The cartoons-in-question were, in my honest opinion, published in poor taste, and perhaps lacked due consideration; however, neither of those in and of themselves would warrant the demand for the cartoon to be rescinded, nor for its artists or publishers to be punished. I would assert that notwithstanding the questionable ethics behind creating such a cartoon, its depiction is most certainly not hate propaganda, nor should it be treated as such abroad.

:arrow: Hate Propaganda Laws

I would disagree with the assessment that cartoons should be, in each and every case, immune to scrutiny under hate propaganda laws. Every medium of communication and expression should be subject to such regulations, in my opinion — otherwise, there is no guarantee that the Government of Canada, nor its counterparts abroad, would have the legal capacity to quelch uprisings of hatred and intolerance on the world stage.

 

[Hank C]

I dunno about you folks, but I find the call to exterminate jewish people and Israel much more offensive. But you don't see anyone here calling a Jihad.

I heard some riff raff about the banning of Danish exports............hmmm I have the sudden urge to BUY DANISH!

 

[FiveParadox]

Hank C, those who follow the Islamic faith in a modern and moderate interpretation would wish for no such "extermination" — the Qur'an instructs Muslims to respect all religions (but not necessarily to like them), while paying special heed to Christianity and Judaism (which along with Islam, make up the "Peoples of the Book").

 

[Finder]

I finally got off my butt and saw the actual cartoons. Give me a break here. I've seen much worse done with Jesus on south park then that sad little cartoon. The Musom community at question complaining about it has to grow up and leave behind the 6th centruy and entre the democratic 21 century.

If you don't like it, ignore it. You know fewer people would have ever seen them if they had just ignored the whole thing!

 

[zoofer]

The twelve caricatures of Mohammed Linko