Mohammad caricatures

[Kraxe]

I've read a lot of well written articles that have pulled and pushed at what I originally thought was (and may have been, may still be) an issue of freedom of speech. Whatever it is now it isn't that. Too many factions around the world are pulling and twisting events to turn it into Christian versus Muslim argument.

One thing that is currently making the news in Norway is the sacking/burning of the embassies in Syria and Iran. Syria in particular were asked to provide more security outside the embassies. In both countries the embassies were attacked during a demonstration. Since when did either of these two countries allow people to demonstrate freely? Something smells fishy and it ain't my salmon.

[Jidoe]

Originally posted by Kraxe
One thing that is currently making the news in Norway is the sacking/burning of the embassies in Syria and Iran. Syria in particular were asked to provide more security outside the embassies. In both countries the embassies were attacked during a demonstration. Since when did either of these two countries allow people to demonstrate freely? Something smells fishy and it ain't my salmon.

It's funny that you write it, because after the Norwegian and Danish embassies were burned in Syria, the UN has approached the gov't and said exactly what you wrote to president Assad.

[Katidyd]

There's supposedly a $1,000,000 bounty on the cartoonist by an Islamic leader.

I can believe the ignorance of white people to the laws of foreign people, but being ignorant of a law doesnt get you a free pass. Though, if there's really a bounty it is an unjust one. It's the press(s) doing the reprints who deserves to be hunted because they are the ones with malice in their actions.

Some claim the twin tower bombing is a wake up call. If it was a wake up call then how can people still be so ignorant? And the press at that. I see this cartoon thing as another step closer to pushing Israel/Palistine's senseless back and forth violence to go global. Let's worry less about why all this shit is happening. Let's just treat them as they've treated us. No wait, or is it, they're treating us as we'd treated them? But who cares, they bombed the towers so it's our turn.

[Darion]

I can believe the ignorance of white people to the laws of foreign people, but being ignorant of a law doesnt get you a free pass.

How about when it's not your law? That gets you a free pass. Kind of like how China doesn't get to punish US citizens for looking at materials that should have been censored by Big Brother Mao, since, you know, it's not their country.

But who cares, they bombed the towers so it's our turn.

You know uh, America had nothing to do with all this drama this time. In fact, I still haven't seen the cartoon because no newspaper in New England will reprint it. I doubt that the EUROPEAN cartoonist had the towers in mind when he wrote up his comic. It was probably more a comment on how Muslims seem to be strapping bombs to their chests in record numbers for religious reasons.

[Brannick]

Originally posted by Katidyd
On the bright side, now three other contries will be targetted by islamic terrorists which means a few less scopes aimed at the US.

Yupz One of our Polish papers also showed two of the cartoons and instantly we need to make the 'no, it was a mistake, please don't shoot us' pose. Of course - we're almost unprotected against terrorist attacks here, so it's no surprise, but still it is annoying...

On one hand - we joke about God and Christ, cartoons with those, jokes and caricatures are quite often told and shown, and noone gets mad (besides some pissy priests or catholic orthodoxes). But on the other hand - Islam is not only a religion, but also a way of life. Life and religion is very closely linked in Muslim society, so it's actually a very important issue for them. And if in their religion showing God is already itself a blasphemy (it's prohibited to picture God, Allah), you should be able to imagine what a humoristic image of God can do.

No, I'm far from whitening them out. But we and they - it's just two different cultures and societies. There is i.e. American outrage when Muslims burn Bush-dolls and American flags, and there is Muslim outrage when their Allah is depicted and made fun of.

[Gromgor]

Originally posted by Brannick
There is i.e. American outrage when Muslims burn Bush-dolls and American flags, and there is Muslim outrage when their Allah is depicted and made fun of.

Except we don't strap dynamite to our chests and blow 100 innocent people up when it happens.

I think that's the key here. There's a point where being unreasonable crosses a line.

[ejda]

To be honest, Europeans are also to blame. My aunt and a good friend of mine lived in Sweden for awhile (in difference cities) and they say they frequently witnessed racism. My uncle in Germany kinda admits that. IMO, europeans need a lot of work on tolerance (both natives and immigrants).

[Solubynn]

Originally posted by Gromgor
Except we don't strap dynamite to our chests and blow 100 innocent people up when it happens.

Is that what happened when the caricatures of Prophet Mohammad got out? I have yet to read or hear of any incident of that sort happening since this whole fiesta started.

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by Solubynn
Is that what happened when the caricatures of Prophet Mohammad got out? I have yet to read or hear of any incident of that sort happening since this whole fiesta started.

You haven't read about the riots where people died, or the very serious death threats against the publishers and creators of the comics? Or how about the people fired from Middle Eastern newspapers who ran them because they felt they were newsworthy? Those people are having to flee the region in fear of their lives and their family's lives.

I have seen people burn the American Flag when I lived in DC. I found it exceptionally offensive. I also feel it is totally within their free speech rights. I do not think they should be killed for it.

I have read a lot of extremely offensive things about the US. A recent example is that utter horseshit movie coming out of Turkey starring Billy Zane and Gary Busey and probably some other Americans. I will not watch the movie, and I'll never watch Billy Zane or Gusey ever again. I do not think they should be killed, nor do I think riots are called for (nor did they happen).

I think "Piss Christ" (the famous piece of "art" that is a frozen block of urine with a crucifix inside) is outrageously offensive. There were no riots or death threats. I believe this piece of "art" was paid for with NEA grants (which means all American taxpayers paid for this to be created).

That is the difference.

[Kraxe]

Chuckling idiot Italian MP's exposing Mohammad caricature T-Shirts during News interviews dont help much either.

As for the people dying, it must be said thats mostly due to over zealous police/security forces.