[Industrialblog,
February 4, 2006]
Offensive?
Let's take a quick rundown on these "offensive" cartoons.
1. Mohammed with a sword and two women in burkas. Mohammed converted by the sword; Islamic women wear burkas; thus it's fair comment and not remotely offensive. (One caveat: The offense is that Mohammed is depicted, not that he is acting in an atypical or offensive way.)
2. A lineup. Mohammed may not even be there, and the butt of the joke is a Danish editor. Not remotely offensive.
3. A cartoonist hovers his drawing. A nice statement about the threats of violence that hang over anyone who fails to submit to Islamic rules of society -- even if it's not their society. Fair comment.
4. A nice little pastoral scene: Mohammed walking with a donkey. Not remotely offensive.
5. This one is weird. I don't know what it's supposed to be. There are crescents and stars of david; the writing accompanying it on the oppression of women is certainly fair comment. If it's offensive, maybe Muslims should look at how they treat women.
6. This one is silly, but not an unfair poke in the eye.
7. Mohammed with a bomb for a turban. Heh. The frustration at anyone who lives near Islam's bloody borders will understand this. Fair comment, and not a poke in the eye. More an important statement. Muslims should look in the mirror before screaming about this one and ask themselves, "Gee, why do people think our religion is violent, and not holy?"
8. This one takes a shot at the Danish editor, and so can't be an issue.
9. Mohammed is advocating restraint. This is a positive portrayal!
10. Nice little portrait of Mohammed and the Islamic crescent. Nothing offensive about that.
11. A cartoon making fun of the Danish editor, and a stick figure. Not really even about Mohammed.
12. Mohammed with a crescent halo. Not remotely offensive.
These are not caricatures, not vicious in intent, and not motivated by malice. Indeed, the question is simply this: Can a free society depict Mohammed without local Muslims going ballistic and threatening violence? The answer is no -- Muslims demand special treatment -- or else threaten violence.
1. Mohammed with a sword and two women in burkas. Mohammed converted by the sword; Islamic women wear burkas; thus it's fair comment and not remotely offensive. (One caveat: The offense is that Mohammed is depicted, not that he is acting in an atypical or offensive way.)
2. A lineup. Mohammed may not even be there, and the butt of the joke is a Danish editor. Not remotely offensive.
3. A cartoonist hovers his drawing. A nice statement about the threats of violence that hang over anyone who fails to submit to Islamic rules of society -- even if it's not their society. Fair comment.
4. A nice little pastoral scene: Mohammed walking with a donkey. Not remotely offensive.
5. This one is weird. I don't know what it's supposed to be. There are crescents and stars of david; the writing accompanying it on the oppression of women is certainly fair comment. If it's offensive, maybe Muslims should look at how they treat women.
6. This one is silly, but not an unfair poke in the eye.
7. Mohammed with a bomb for a turban. Heh. The frustration at anyone who lives near Islam's bloody borders will understand this. Fair comment, and not a poke in the eye. More an important statement. Muslims should look in the mirror before screaming about this one and ask themselves, "Gee, why do people think our religion is violent, and not holy?"
8. This one takes a shot at the Danish editor, and so can't be an issue.
9. Mohammed is advocating restraint. This is a positive portrayal!
10. Nice little portrait of Mohammed and the Islamic crescent. Nothing offensive about that.
11. A cartoon making fun of the Danish editor, and a stick figure. Not really even about Mohammed.
12. Mohammed with a crescent halo. Not remotely offensive.
These are not caricatures, not vicious in intent, and not motivated by malice. Indeed, the question is simply this: Can a free society depict Mohammed without local Muslims going ballistic and threatening violence? The answer is no -- Muslims demand special treatment -- or else threaten violence.
Whether you or I find these depictions of Mohammed offensive is not relevant. And unless you have some special insight I don't know if you can comment on their intent.
Sure it is, Harry.