Blasphemous cartoons

[Rhisiart]

Originally Posted by dmetzcher

I'm sorry, but you have not made a good enough argument for not mocking someone's religion.

Well, I tried my best!

[dmetzcher]

Originally Posted by rhisiart

Well, I tried my best!

I meant that as more of a joke. I forgot to add the little smilie man.

[bbloke]

http://joyoftech.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/784.html

Mmm, to be honest, I'm not very happy with the behavior of those on either side of the debate (not in this forum, I hasten to add). I don't think anything was really gained by publishing cartoons that would strongly upset and offend people, and we need to remember the majority of Muslims are more moderate than we see on TV. I'm not happy with extremists immediately setting fire to embassies and making death threats, either. Having a freedom is one thing, but exercising it responsibly is another. I don't think the cartoons offered anything valuable (having seen them all) and they, in the process, got a lot of people very upset. Terrific.

Hey, this is quite brief, for me.

[CaptainQuark]

Unfortunately I haven't had time to read all of the entries in this thread, so I'm not 100% sure that this hasn't been raised already.

The thing that amazes me most is the utter hypocrisy of Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper in question. Some three years ago, they were offered a set of satirical cartoons of Christ on the cross, but refused to publish them on the grounds that it would be too offensive!

[adambyte]

Ooh. That's bad. If you're going to offend, you have to be an equal-opportunity offender. If they don't have the balls to criticize Christianity, they shouldn't be doing it with Muslims. It's all or nothing.

[Perseus]

I am just wondering though: If cartoons were published mocking Christianity, I cant imagine the christians running around burning building and flags.

I agree what was done was in incredible poor taste, and can see what is happening. But that thought I had can't escape me.

[ksv]

Originally Posted by Perseus

I am just wondering though: If cartoons were published mocking Christianity, I cant imagine the christians running around burning building and flags.

I agree what was done was in incredible poor taste, and can see what is happening. But that thought I had can't escape me.

I've seen flag burning in Western countries over less. Id est, reactionary far-right republicans in the U.S. burning French flags after France opposed the invasion of Iraq.

Recently, a Norwegian-Palestinian was stabbed in Oslo because he was among the demonstrators burning Norwegian and Danish flags in Gaza.

It's mutual extremism, no way to escape that fact.

[dmetzcher]

Originally Posted by bbloke

Having a freedom is one thing, but exercising it responsibly is another. I don't think the cartoons offered anything valuable

I completely agree with this statement. Journalism requires restraint, at times. Also, if they were going to publish the cartoons and mock a faith, perhaps a few written words backing up what the cartoons had to say would have been a good decision. I guess this is my whole point: Say what you want to say about a subject (religion, politics, social issues), but be prepared to defend yourself.

Originally Posted by CaptainQuark

The thing that amazes me most is the utter hypocrisy of Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper in question. Some three years ago, they were offered a set of satirical cartoons of Christ on the cross, but refused to publish them on the grounds that it would be too offensive!

I find that most people who have one view about a particular religion tend to be hypocrites, so this is par for the couse. It's always the other guy's religion that is "crazy" or "backward", but never one's own. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone who followed one of the world's major religions actually subscribed to the good teachings found within it? Perhaps we wouldn't have war, famine, disease, and sheer lunacy.