Sticks and Stones
You know for a group who, we are constantly told, value strength, Muslims sure get their feelings hurt easily. With all the hullabaloo over the "hate speech" cartoons in Europe, I was expecting something like this. However, when I went to the Brussels Journal1 to finally take a look at the cartoons, I was stunned . . . by how harmless they appeared to me. They're political cartoons, the likes of which you will find in any western newspaper. If that's hate speech, every political cartoonist in the U.S. is in deep doo doo.
Granted, I'm not a Muslim. I don't have Muslim sensitivities. Still, I was once an active member of one of the most ridiculed religious groups in the U.S., the Mormons. Mormons are mocked to this day for plural marriage (even though the Church stopped sanctioning the practice over 100 years ago) and for their "magic" underwear. Folks, some Mormons might ascribe magical or divine properties to their underwear just like some Catholics find the image of Jesus or Mary in their toast, but to most it's just a garment they wear close to their skin to remind them who they are and what they believe.
Mock them for choosing underwear instead of something more along the lines of a yarmulke or a turban or facial hair if that suits you, but do you think Mormons really give a shit what you think of their underwear? Nope. Have Mormons ever made death threats against people who have accused Joseph Smith of being nothing more than a treasure hunter and a pedophile? Nope. Whatever else they might be, Mormons are generally a peaceful bunch who are centered enough in their faith that their world is not rocked by the fact that many people see them as kooks.
I think growing up Mormon gave me the thick skin needed for any homosexual trying to make his way in the world. Ann Coulter and other right wing pundits insult homosexuals on a fairly regular basis. While my opinion of them slips lower and lower each time, it hardly affects my daily life. What kind of life would I be leading if I took every invective hurled at homosexuals personally? I'd be upset and pissed off all the time. Frankly, I choose not to live that way.
Perhaps this is a new experience for Muslims. Coming from Islamic nations where everyone holds the same ideas of what is sacred, they aren't used to having their beliefs challenged much less ridiculed. Welcome to the West. If you want to live here, get used to it. I absolutely support the Danish newspaper for refusing to apologize. The cartoons are hardly out of line with any other cartoon that has ever been published lampooning any other group or individual. We should absolutely not compromise our belief in the freedom of expression because the new culture on the block is having a hard time adjusting to the idea.
The other part of this that bothers me is Muslims take no responsibility for the behavior that has inspired these cartoons. If it is so offensive that Mohammad is depicted as a terrorist, why are they not as deeply offended that Osama bin Ladin is preaching death, hate and violence in his name and on his authority? If Islam is really such a peaceful religion (and I have no doubt whatsoever that there are many fine, peace-loving individuals who practice Islam) why is there no public condemnation of the radicals advocating death to infidels? (Which includes homosexuals, by the way.) Where were these peaceful Muslims when Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh were murdered? Were is the Muslim organization dedicated to promoting the image of a peaceful Islam?
Muslims living in Europe are no longer living a sheltered life. It will be a difficult transition for them to make, to be sure. I understand that and can sympathize, but make it they must or it will end in violence. We once believed WWIII was going to be fought over ideology: communism v. capitalism. It's looking more and more like if there is a WWIII in our future, it's going to be fought over religion. Iran is the new U.S.S.R. Welcome back to the Dark Ages.
Update: I had forgotten that human imagery is forbidden in Islam. That Mohammad was depicted at all is mainly what Muslims are up in arms about. That he was depicted in a less than flattering light was only fuel to the fire. Still, once again, we are in the West. We tend to believe that religious groups don't get to impose sanctions of any kind on those who do not adhere to that religion. Another western principle we should stand by and defend.
February 4th, 2006 - 11:06
It’s not simply a matter of “hurt feelings” have you seen the murderous mobs, read their signs “kill the blasphemers, cut off their hands,” etc. I was pleasantly surprised when the Europeans showed unusual courage in reprinting the cartoons in several countries to show solidarity with Denmark. The official US response:” cartoons inappropriate, must show responsibility” Shameful ass kissing by the Bushies who have ambitions of their own to set up a Christian theocracy here. Freedom of speech is one thing totalitarians just can’t understand. When I lived in the Soviet Union one of the most common discussions was about the scandal that there were facsist magazines, KKK literature “allowed” in the US (I added Communist newspapers too). My response was to try to explain the market place of ideas, that people have the right to even stupid, hateful opinions, and that it was far worse to have somebody (the government ?) deciding what was permissible, what not. Remember Islam is 600 years behind Christianity. In our 14th. century we were burning witches, heretics, fags, and other undesirables. It took us centuries to climb out of those ignorant, superstitious times, the Muslims are still there, and we should never allow them to impose their medieval ideas on free societies.
February 6th, 2006 - 08:02
Of course, in the 21st century there are still Xtians who would burn fags as undesirable…