NationStates Jolt Archive

Sorry if this has been posted already, but for those that haven't yet seen it...

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/01/30/denmark.cartoon.ap/index.html

Apparently a group of radical militant Muslims in the Gaza strip took great offence at a cartoon depicting Muhammad that was published in Denmark's Jyllandsposten. Flag-burning and armed attacks on the EU office ensued, and now a boycott of Danish/Norweigian products has begun.

Below one of the offending images for your convenience:

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/danish_cartoon.jpg

Is it just me, or do these people really need to grow some thicker skin? An armed assault and a boycott because of a poorly drawn cartoon in a paper few people even read?

Finally, an interesting blog post about the situation:

http://www.solomonia.com/blog/archives/007617.shtml

And not only are they offended, and obviously annoyed, but they're flipping out. How weak must these peoples' psyches be to melt down this completely? Why, one might begin to believe that these folks may not be the type of folks that we can have around. Maybe we're just not very compatible, and that's pretty useful information to have.

Sorry if this has been posted already, but for those that haven't yet seen it...

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/01/30/denmark.cartoon.ap/index.html

Apparently a group of radical militant Muslims in the Gaza strip took great offence at a cartoon depicting Muhammad that was published in Denmark's Jyllandsposten. Flag-burning and armed attacks on the EU office ensued, and now a boycott of Danish/Norweigian products has begun.

Below one of the offending images for your convenience:

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/danish_cartoon.jpg

Is it just me, or do these people really need to grow some thicker skin? An armed assault and a boycott because of a poorly drawn cartoon in a paper few people even read?

Finally, an interesting blog post about the situation:

http://www.solomonia.com/blog/archives/007617.shtml

And it seems that even Swedes are on their List - it's easier to target Scandinavians then only Norwegians and Danes, I guess...
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1209778.ece
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1210029.ece

Muslim, religion of peace...

Right.

Probably, part of the reason they're reacting so strongly is that Islam strictly prohibits against pictures of Allah or Muhammed. Doing so is blasphemous. It's quite a serious matter for Muslims.

I suppose whoever made the drawings probably should have refrained from doing so, out of respect to this. As for Muslims reacting to this, sure they can express their feelings about this, but beating up people? That's way beyond a reasonable reaction. And this idea that Scandinavia as a whole (or even Denmark as a whole, for that matter,) is to be held responsible is just dumb.

Erm... Morons? (the protestors; not you guys)

I wonder what Hamas's response is... Anything approaching approval gets a big "zomfg n00bs" from me.

If the New York Times had an article about catholic preists and published a cartoon depicting Jesus getting a blowjob from a 10 year old, then we will see just how big of a deal cartoons can be to our western sensibilities. I am not saying shit will get blown up, but shit would hit the fan.

If the New York Times had an article about catholic preists and published a cartoon depicting Jesus getting a blowjob from a 10 year old, then we will see just how big of a deal cartoons can be to our western sensibilities. I am not saying shit will get blown up, but shit would hit the fan.

I can understand that they take offence, but holding a whole country responsible for what is printed in an independant paper is just stupid. If your scenario above played out, I doubt the Vatican would start demanding an apology from the White House.

I suppose whoever made the drawings probably should have refrained from doing so, out of respect to this.
If their god is so small and insignificant that he can't survive the inequities of men, and they feel obliged to defend them through murdering actual people, the continued existance of their culture and values is difficult to justify. The solution to one such a dilemma certainly seems to have worked just fine in North America, but can islam produce a Chief Joseph?

To a degree, yes, they do, but they still have a right to be offended.

Canada City']Muslim*, religion of peace...

Right.
*Islam

Probably, part of the reason they're reacting so strongly is that Islam strictly prohibits against pictures of Allah or Muhammed. Doing so is blasphemous. It's quite a serious matter for Muslims.

I suppose whoever made the drawings probably should have refrained from doing so, out of respect to this. As for Muslims reacting to this, sure they can express their feelings about this, but beating up people? That's way beyond a reasonable reaction. And this idea that Scandinavia as a whole (or even Denmark as a whole, for that matter,) is to be held responsible is just dumb.
Quoted for agreement.

If the New York Times had an article about catholic preists and published a cartoon depicting Jesus getting a blowjob from a 10 year old, then we will see just how big of a deal cartoons can be to our western sensibilities. I am not saying shit will get blown up, but shit would hit the fan.

The catholic church is really losing power. People care a lot less about what anyone says about their god. Most people will put on the "I am a good christian" but not go to church, use birth control, have sex before marriage and a host of other things. People use a relegion as an excuse for there biases, so I am less inclined to listen to any christain.

Also the picture is kind of like punching every muslim in the face all at once...
The anger is understood but they acted in the wrong way. When the eye of the world is on you don't attack people. If they had handled it with class they could have improved a bad reputation.

I think the picture is funny as hell.

If the New York Times had an article about catholic preists and published a cartoon depicting Jesus getting a blowjob from a 10 year old, then we will see just how big of a deal cartoons can be to our western sensibilities. I am not saying shit will get blown up, but shit would hit the fan.
The question is, would the White House put its backing behind the protestors if things got violent against the New York Times?

I can understand that they take offence, but holding a whole country responsible for what is printed in an independant paper is just stupid. If your scenario above played out, I doubt the Vatican would start demanding an apology from the White House.

The evangelists would start claiming that the moral fabric of the country is decaying and that we as a society are going to hell in a handbasket.

Also, the lack of finger wagging by the public does show a tacit condoning of it. Fact is, the western world shows little respect for the religious views of these terrorist groups (with good reason) and it pisses them off.

I am not agreeing with the actions of the islamic terrorists, I just think that the only thing that separates them from our own fundamentalists, is that our fundamentalists have political power.

The question is, would the White House put its backing behind the protestors if things got violent against the New York Times?

No, because we in America have other ways of shutting people up.

The Islamic world, and, indeed the Islamic Faith, is very violently proned,:sniper: and they don't joke very much. When was the last time Osama had a good laugh? They get themselves killed if they laugh.

No, I'm afraid they'll never grow "Thicker Skin". Not until we're all dead, :gundge: that is.:mp5:

The evangelists would start claiming that the moral fabric of the country is decaying and that we as a society are going to hell in a handbasket.
They started doing that when Mass. made homosexual marriages legal... :rolleyes:

They started doing that when Mass. made homosexual marriages legal... :rolleyes:
::headbang: DANG RIGHT WE'RE GONNA GO CRAZY IF THE IDIOTS IN THIS COUNTRY KEEP SHOVIN' THEIR FILTHY CRAP DOWN OUR THROATS!!!:mp5:

::headbang: DANG RIGHT WE'RE GONNA GO CRAZY IF THE IDIOTS IN THIS COUNTRY KEEP SHOVIN' THEIR FILTHY CRAP DOWN OUR THROATS!!!:mp5:

Which idiots and which crap?

The Islamic world, and, indeed the Islamic Faith, is very violently proned,:sniper: and they don't joke very much. When was the last time Osama had a good laugh? They get themselves killed if they laugh.

No, I'm afraid they'll never grow "Thicker Skin". Not until we're all dead, :gundge: that is.:mp5:

I'm betting that this guy will be gone/DEATed in a week.

mmmm, now we know how to really piss them off, maybe we should make fun of terrorist, and theyll cry and eventually stop because the rest of the world is making fun of them. damn, it is too easy to compare this situation to a kindergarden class

They have a right to be offended by that. But at the same time it's absurd to blame a whole country or region for it and burn flags, etc. I think someone already said this, so I agree!

They have a right to be offended by that. But at the same time it's absurd to blame a whole country or region for it and burn flags, etc. I think someone already said this, so I agree!

who gives them this right, i dont think i have seen any constitution that states "you have the right to be offended"

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/danish_cartoon.jpg


This is a picture of Mohammad depicted as a crazed bombing terrorist. Of course it is offensive. It is offensive primarily because it simply isn't true. Mohammad was not, in any way, a terrorist and Islam does not, in any way, condone or promote terrorism.

What if an Arabic newspaper published a picture of Jesus getting his dick sucked by a 9 year old boy because so many Christian priests have done just that?

I bet the outcry from the Christian community would be massive and global.

If you seek out to deliberately offend people, don't be surprised when they are.

Edit: OMG! Someone brought it up already. Hooray! :D

I'd be offended if I were a Muslim.

On a side note, most "Muslim militants" are not Muslims. Their agenda is something entirely different; they just operate under the cloak of Islam to exploit the faithfulness of Muslims and deceive them into supporting said agenda.

I can understand that they take offence, but holding a whole country responsible for what is printed in an independant paper is just stupid.

Yes.

Now remember that next time some arrogant European gets indignant about "ignorant fat Americans" because of an op/ed piece in the National Review. :p

I'd be offended if I were a Muslim.

As a Muslim, I am offended ... but I'm a pacifist, so I'll keep my indignation confined in a letter to the cartoonist.

On a side note, most "Muslim militants" are not Muslims. Their agenda is something entirely different; they just operate under the cloak of Islam to exploit the faithfulness of Muslims and deceive them into supporting said agenda.


Thank you.

As a Muslim, I am offended ... but I'm a pacifist, so I'll keep my indignation confined in a letter to the cartoonist.

Hell, so am I. Muslims should be offended. I would be, if Christ were portrayed similarly.

Thank you.

You're welcome. :)

Muslim, religion of peace...

Right.

The Islamic world, and, indeed the Islamic Faith, is very violently proned,:sniper:


From the CNN article:

"No shots were fired, and there were no reports of injuries."

Mmm hmm.

I can't believe anybody actually thought publishing those cartoons was a good idea.

The Islamic world, and, indeed the Islamic Faith, is very violently proned,:sniper: and they don't joke very much. When was the last time Osama had a good laugh? They get themselves killed if they laugh.

No, I'm afraid they'll never grow "Thicker Skin". Not until we're all dead, :gundge: that is.:mp5:

I live in Minneapolis, a country with a very large population of Muslim immigrants (mostly from Somalia). They're among the kindest, gentlest, most polite, hard-working people I've ever met. 999 out of 1,000 Muslims are the same. The 'violently proned' are a very tiny minority, as revolting to mainstream Muslims as they are to non-Muslims. Hell, look at the Muslims on this forum. They're all peaceful, honest, good people, and they're some of the strongest condemners of people committing terrorism in the name of Islam.

No, because we in America have other ways of shutting people up.
Oh? I always thought the typical response to unrepresentative, ridiculous extremism was to televise it. =P

Seriously, though, getting angry about it is fine, and Muslim nations have every right to complain. Storming a consulate bearing arms over the scribblings of a newspaper chain is taking it too far though.

From the CNN article:

"No shots were fired, and there were no reports of injuries."

Mmm hmm.

I think you've been warned before about bringing facts into political debate, don't let it happen again.

I think you've been warned before about bringing facts into political debate, don't let it happen again.

Crap ... I know I'll eventually get permabanned for that ...

I gotta settle down.

Storming a consulate bearing arms over the scribblings of a newspaper chain is taking it too far though.

Look up ... you have a roof? Great!

Look down ... you have a floor? Great!

Look around ... you have unbroken walls? Great!

A/C? Ice in your soda? Unfettered access to the bounty of the Internet via a reasonably up to date computer? The ability to read and write fluently in your native language?

Cool! So you can afford the luxury of written indignation and expression of outrage via the public forum.

Now take all those things away from yourself, include that you have had (maybe) 1 meal a day for the last 6 months, and put an AK-47 in your hands.

How would you react to someone deliberately defaming your Prophet?

Can I just interject something here?

I understand that Jesus being fellated might cause some ire, in some camps... but, another story has been niggling in my brain...

http://www.tfp.org/what_we_do/index/Brooklynaction.htm

An artist depicts a naked woman in the place of Jesus, and as the subject OF the Last Supper, in two pieces of art displayed at The Brooklyn Museum of Art.

You might have seen/heard complaints about it elsewhere... but this particular approach is the one that struck me...

"The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property" want you to send letters to the museum and the mayor, about how offended you are by these pictures.

It might be worth noting, that the "American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property" is only responding to 'press reports', apparently... they do not seem to have actually SEEN the 'offensive art'. Nor, do they ask that those who send these letters of indignation, have SEEN the 'offensive art'.

In other words... when the art is considered even related to the Jesus story, it is 'okay' to seek a ban on a piece of art, because you have HEARD that it is blasphemous...

I'm so offended by the cartoon! :eek:

Freedom of speech. It goes both ways. Deal with it. They can be stupid boycotters all they want, as the people who posted their drawings can be poor caricaturists.

But, really, to demand Denmark do something about this is just ignorant of Danish freedom of speech. Ironic also that these people get so offended when a free country that has freedom of religion also has freedom of speech, while they themselves live in hellholes that don't let any one worship other religions than Islam. They should appreciate Denmark for not being like them in that case.

Look up ... you have a roof? Great!

Look down ... you have a floor? Great!

Look around ... you have unbroken walls? Great!

A/C? Ice in your soda? Unfettered access to the bounty of the Internet via a reasonably up to date computer? The ability to read and write fluently in your native language?

Cool! So you can afford the luxury of written indignation and expression of outrage via the public forum.

Now take all those things away from yourself, include that you have had (maybe) 1 meal a day for the last 6 months, and put an AK-47 in your hands.

How would you react to someone deliberately defaming your Prophet?
You're asking me to forgo my education, society and philosophy, which is all I am. I can't answer your question. I'd like to think I would sell the gun to pay for the repairs to my home, food for my family or education for either myself or my kids.

However, I don't believe that weapons and faith are compatible, no matter how I look at it. Call it social elitism if it pleases you, but even being in abject poverty doesn't make armed aggression (no shots were fired, but aggression it was nonetheless) against innocent third parties for religious reasons any more justified in my book. What choice do I have but to believe that?