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writeroflight - I disagree - we can give in to these whacked out muslims or
carry on in the Western tradition of free speech. I have no empathy or sympathy for people who resort to violence when offended by non-violent acts.
posted by
FreeManWalking
on February 4, 2006 at 11:54 PM
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You're right, nautikos. However . . .
. . . using the soldier to make the point is what was so vile about this. I wonder how the cartoonist would feel if someone used a horrible injury or illness to one of his loved ones for cheap humor.
As far as the Mohammed cartoons (there were more than one) are concerned, the cartoons themselves are important because of the prohibition in Islam of any image of Mohammed. Perhaps the cartoonist was unaware of that prohibiton; even if not, s/he must surely have been aware that depicting a revered prophet in such a way would incite riots, given the history of other defamations of Islam (Qu'rans flushed down toilets, etc.) in the news and popular culture. As I commented on Billy Cargo's comment: All this does is let some idiot feel smug about all the trouble s/he created.
posted by
WriterofLight
on February 3, 2006 at 7:04 PM
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Welcome, Billy Cargo and MPO!
MPO, you're absolutely right. Free speech trumps basic taste. But if cartoons that mock and ridicule wounded and maimed warriors are going to appear, then so shall my outrage over them.
Billy, I don't think you grasp the situation. Religious cartoons that are intended to offend are bad enough. But for whatever reasons an awful lot of Muslims are more easily and violently offended than followers of other religious paths. All this does is let some damn fool in Denmark feel smug: "Hey, everybody, look at the riot I caused." Sounds like sixth grade to me.
posted by
WriterofLight
on February 3, 2006 at 6:57 PM
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Very Unwise to fan the flames of Religious Warfare
I think the cartoons showed a lack of civility and of common sense in an already inflamed situation. These cartoons are part of a series of actions that almost seem calculated to increase tensions and fan the flames of religous warfare. Please see post:
http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/life_of_the_spirit/340460
posted by
writersjourney
on February 3, 2006 at 2:38 PM
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Writer...,
the depiction of the wounded soldier may be in bad taste, but it should be obvious that the satirical point is directed at the doctor, certainly not the soldier. When it comes to the caricature of Mohammed, apparently with a bomb in his turban (I haven’t actually seen it myself), what is important here is not the cartoon, but the reaction to it. Europeans are used to an irreverent press that lampoons everything and everyone. I have never seen Catholics riot in the street because some paper ran a satirical drawing of the pope. In Italy, at this moment, an atheist is taking the Church to court for claiming that Jesus existed. It may be silly, but does not result in flag-burnings. Read my post Islamic Caricatures for my take on the whole situation
…
posted by
Nautikos
on February 3, 2006 at 5:46 AM
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I Agree With Comments...
We cannot sanction every little thing and let big things actually present harm and look the other way. I understand your point and the reports in the media. I agree to disagree.
posted by
Dr_JPT
on February 2, 2006 at 9:29 PM
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I saw early this morning...I thought it very,very bad taste, and it doesn't have to do with one's right to say it, it is more about the consequences of saying it...It was a despicable so called cartoon. Geez, I wonder what would really be considered funny...because this sure wasn't!
posted by
Offy
on February 2, 2006 at 9:27 PM
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I agree with MPO, unfortunately the wacko far left in this country
will totally take up for Muslim's making death threats over a f*#king pen and ink drawing...that, as far as I can tell, all big media outlets are too afraid to post online. People need to be offended some time.
posted by
FreeManWalking
on February 2, 2006 at 9:15 PM
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I just heard about this on "O' ReilIy"...
I really don't see what the issue is. Toles is an
editorial cartoonist. Regardless of whether or not his cartoon was in poor taste, I don't think we want to start placing censures on what can and can't be depicted in the medium.
Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go
I wanna be sedated.
posted by
Mademoiselle
on February 2, 2006 at 8:52 PM
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