Cartoon Clash of Civilizations

Bina Shah,
First my sincere apologies for my incorrect charge in post #8. I had you confused with Saima Shah. For some reason, when I see a name ending with Sha, I feel like killing that person in the most cruel way possible. :)

I basically agree with you about using economic clout to drive the point home. Americans use this hammer quite effectively. The important thing to note is that while our Holy Prophet (PBUH) may be the sacred central figure of our faith, he is definitely not helpless. Through the ages, more determined and even more accomplished instigators of hatred, than Rushdi and this mediocre cartoonist from Denmark, have tried to insult Mohammed (PBUH). I can mention Dante and even Washington Irving - they come, they defecate, and they die - the name of our Holy Prophet (PBUH) lives on.

Having said that, I just want to emphasize that freedom of speech is even more important than the blind, stupid, emotional, and hypocritical ``respect`` that many Muslims bestow upon the Holy Prophet (PBUH). They are ready to kill and die for his name, but continue to insult him by being dishonest, murderous, terrorist, corrupt, cruel, autocratic, intolerant, and very disorganized. The joke of the world is not the cartoon, the cartoonist, the Holy Prophet (PBUH), but the state of Muslims` miserable existence on this planet.

{``Vive le freedom of expression! ``}

That is certainly not what you practiced during your awful regime. The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen. :) May the ghosts of barachota, kkkandk, nangaparbat, and salim haunt you during your bout with the flu. May you have a quick and rapid recovery. Recover soon. :) I am just following the Holy Prophet`s (PBUH) example of wishing well to those who have harmed me personally.

Interesting topic, Bina and so very timely. I am, as usual torn on this issue though I agree with much in this article. I agree with your very valid point that Muslims should express themselves through their collective buying power and it is fine for them to boycott goods from countries that they perceive insults from. That is the proper, civilized and most effective way to go about protesting the cartoons, so I see some hope.

It also totally makes sense that if someone is offended (like you) that they should not look at these cartoons. I applaud that.

I do have a problem beyond this, however since I am a huge proponent of the freedom of expression and hurt feelings (even if they are mine) should not be a criterion when making editorial decisions. If someone has a problem with a cartoon, publish another one, mocking the first, protest without violence, write about it as you have. Don`t attack compounds spraying them with gunfire and spray paint threats on walls as has happened recently. Not only does this serve no purpose it again plays into the whole Muslims are violent and everything has to be solved with guns stereotype.

Contrary to what Saminasha said in response #6, other prophets have been mocked and made fun of and have had aspersions cast on them. From The Last Temptation of Christ to the current Da Vinci Code craze (the movie comes out later this year) to even The History of the World Part I (I love this movie), Moses and Jesus have been targeted. There were and will be boycotts of such things which is fine. Violence, is however, not fine.

Go to any bookstore and there are shelves of critiques on most any religious figures, even on Mohammad, of course. That`s how it should be, in my opinion.

I, of course, believe nothing and no one is sacred (which, yes, is an extreme position) but I also believe that if something does offend someone it should be protested...in a civilized, non-violent and intelligent manner.

Again, thanks for bring this article to chowk, Bina.

Bina,

Glad to see you here!

Just a few quick exchanges:

A Latina American first year student and I were talking about her summer in Spain. She said she was a bit shocked at the national irreverence towards Catholicism (her religious identity as well)

My mom, husband and I were talking about this situation after the BBC covered it. I pointed out that the editors being quoted seemed to believe that religion itself was no less a subject for debate and satire than any other institutions. Her comment was that the Muslim world did not satirize Moses, Jesus or Mohammad as they were prophets and treated with reverence. She also pointed out that depicting the Prophet Mohammad was an added insult because Islam forbids visual representations of him.

Bina Ji, your conclusions (of using one’s economic might by boycotting goods) are somewhat amateurish. When do you lift the boycott? Cartoons have been published, how can you un-publish them?? What’s been done has been done. Is there a going back now?

Also, Sudan only 2 days ago joined Saudi Arabia in boycotting the Danish goods (I didn’t know that the Sudanese could afford Danish goods, but lets give them benefit of the doubt). Meanwhile, thousands upon thousands of Muslims in Sudan are displaced, raped, tortured, murdered, by the Sudanese Arabs, and the entire Muslim world is quiet. Now they have found a cartoon of a guy who died over a 1000 years ago and the Muslim world is shitting in their pants. They sure have their priorities royally screwed up. Let the dead guy rest in peace for camel’s ass sake. Fine, he started a new belief system, but excuse me, some Danes were not aware of it.

Instead of suggesting Muslims to use their “wallet” as you argue, perhaps the best suggestion for them might be to stop getting so uptight over silly and stupid little things?

I am a Muslim, and I was least bit offended by the cartoons, but I am totally ashamed as a Muslim of the reaction that it has generated, while the whole Ummah is quiet over the butchery and rape of fellow Muslims by the Arab Sudanese Janjaveed Malitia. One life to me, is a lot more precious than the sanctity of a dead guy. But that’s just my opinion. And I am free to express it, just as you are.

Bina Ji, I hope you didn’t have Flo last fall, and considering that you (knew) about these cartoon back then (like most of those who read the international press). What, in your opinion Mohammad do?

-Boycott blondes?
-stop playing with Legos?
Or
-give up Carlsberg?
-give up Esrom?

Sorry - they were printed last fall but reprinted last week. Cheers!

Bina Ji..the cartoon originally were printed in Sep 05 in Jylland Posten (reprinted in WPR the mother after).. but I don’t blame you for not knowing it until some Wahabis learnt about them on a paper in which a Shawrma was wrapped.. hey Habibi let’s raise hell, I found Mo in a Turban. morons.

Indeed that is the lesson to be learned, and it`s been put across well.
best