Self-Censorship in the Name of Islam
Most of the so-called mainstream media in America is refusing to republish the cartoons depicting Muhammud which appeared in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. The New York Times attempts justify their self-censorship:
The New York Times and much of the rest of the nation’s news media have reported on the cartoons but refrained from showing them. That seems a reasonable choice for news organizations that usually refrain from gratuitous assaults on religious symbols, especially since the cartoons are so easy to describe in words.
Apparently the painting Holy Virgin Mary must have been too dificult for the brain-addled Times writers to describe, because they published it back in 1999. It probably wouldn’t be too taxing to flip through some old editions of the Times and come up with a whole stack of Christianity-mocking images that would fall under the “gratuitous assults” category.
CNN at first excused itself from publishing the drawings for a reason that would be absolutely unthinkable if they mocked Christianity rather than Islam:
CNN has chosen to not show the cartoons in respect for Islam.
Someone pulled their head out over in Atlanta and realized the blatant hypocrisy of a news organization not delivering relevant news out of fear of offense. So they created a new reason which parallels the NY Times’ double standard.
Thanks to LGF and Michelle Malkin for the links.
CNN, New York Times, Censorship
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Matt you are missing a big point that I discussed the other day with my friend. In Islam depictions of Mohammad are not really done. Even if they are harmless that is something the religion does not do. There are thousands of paintings of Mary but it is offensive to have images of Mohammad pranced about let alone being mocked. There is freedom of speech but I really believe the goal of this artist was to incite this type of behavior. sadly it just fuels the fire.
No, you’re missing the point. The press should not be controlled by what does and what does not offend Muslims. END OF STORY.
I was pointing the difference between your Mary example and Mohammed example that is all.
Wow. I’m in a weird position here on this post. I half agree with Matt, and I half agree with Arzhang.
As a non-church-going person (read: Agnostic, at best) I don’t have much use for religion in general. I see it as the root of most of the problems we have today.
For instance: if everyone woke up tomorrow and forgot the names “Jesus,” “Muhammed,” “Moses” and “Buddha,” I think we’d all be A LOT better off. But that won’t happen, because people can’t keep their g*ddamn metaphysical hands to themselves.
And that’s the world we live in — millions of hard core idiots trying to kill each other over fictions. That’s how I see it. Meanwhile, wells run dry, people go hungry, disease ravages continents, racism divids, etc., etc.
That said, I don’t give a flying rat’s ass if Muslims are offended by Muhammed’s image being printed (Arzhang, this is one of the very few points we diverge on, I’m sorry friend).
I’m sorry, but I belive in the press over any sort of human taboo. The truth is hard, and that’s a fact. We’ve got to face it: Islam’s public image (not its soul) has been hijacked by extremists, so the cartoon works. In Matt’s words, “END OF STORY.”
Likewise, Christianity is easily tied with Islam for “Most-Blood-Soaked-Belief-Structure.” I could go on an on about the hideous crimes that religion has perpetrated.
So, as an “Agnostic” (or whatever — a “Humanist,” maybe?), I care as much about a Virgin Mary smeared in Elephant dung or Jesus being crucified on a McDonald’s Arch as I do about a picture of Muhammed.
That’s a fact, bub!
The Danish cartoon is not racist. It’s not sexist. It’s not ethno-centric. It isn’t even BAD ART. It’s just expression. You look at it, you have your reaction, you keep it to yourself and you leave.
That’s western society.
At the same time, I see Arzhang’s point: “… the goal of this artist was to incite this type of behavior.” That’s true. Any good cartoon PISSES PEOPLE THE F*CK OFF. That’s the point of political cartoons. Though, respectfully, I’m going to have to disagree with what I can only perceive as an implied point, that the Danish cartoonist could foresee that people would riot across the world.
I’m going out on a limb here (a very VERY thick one) by saying that I do not belive the cartoonist WANTED to see people killed in riots from Denmark to Jakarta.
He was merely expressing an opinion, and if we’re going to regress to the Middle Ages and think that images have spiritual power beyond their creators, then the world is in for some serious problems. I’ll draw Muhammed all I damn well please, just as I’ll draw Jesus, and Moses and Buddha.
Amen.
I think my point has been distorted. I will try to explain it better. All I am saying is that depictions of Mohammad are seen as offensive and that isn’t the same for Mary. That is ALL I was saying. I didn’t say you couldn’t draw Mohammed nor that I had sympathy for these offended Muslims using violence.
Look I’m all for an uncensored media. My biggest problem with this discussion is that Matt is claiming no censorship free speech ONLY when it serves his world view it seems. Why was there no outrage about NOT showing coffins? Why was there no outrage when documents time and time again have been classified and not given to the media. This is not going off on some tangent. If you are going to claim the press should have access and be free to express themselves then I think my view stands, it should have access to more than what your worldview entails.
As for the cartoon I still believe it was meant to piss off people but look this isn’t unique. As Zach said cartoons, good ones, are meant to piss people off and heaven forbid make them think. I am appalled by the notion of people killing people over expression. What REALLY keeps me up at night is how this behavior by these so called “Muslims” is so radically different from everything I was ever taught growing up as a Muslim. It is radically different from anything I have ever seen in IRan even.
This leads up to something Zach was talking about and something I TOTALLY agree with. Religions are being hijacked by extremists. No level headed Muslim is going to kill someone over a damn cartoon. If anything they are going to discuss it in a civil manner and contemplate about it just like me (a Muslim) and my friend (another Muslim) did.
Finally while I am a Muslim I am starting to wonder about Zach’s point about religion being the root of all evil these days it seems. There is a reason why over 50% in Germany no longer really go to church. There is a reason why prayer rooms in Iranian schools are empty. Hijacked indeed. With nutjobs dictating religion (Falwell, bin Laden etc etc) we indeed WOULD be better off without that form of religion. However I cannot accept the fact that religion entirely is bad. After all I am a Muslim but I guess a radically different one than people freaking over a cartoon. I subscribe more to my grandmother’s brand of islam where she let her farm workers eat before her kids, where she would look down upon yelling, where she would pray five times a day without exception and curse at the Iranian government and Bush. I subscribe to my family’s brand of Islam which meant giving medicine to poor villagers. Indeed like Zach mentinoed helping people with disease and hunger. Something religions are SUPPOSED to do!
Religion does have the potential to be a beautfiul thing. When all is lost it may be the only comfort some have (see Tsunami disaster).
Sadly when relgion looks like what we see today (and no it isn’t unique to today) with people KILLING each other and having extremist warp it into their own vision I want no part of “it”.
I know that Islam (sort of) forbids the depiction of Muhammud. I don’t think Catholicism rejoices in dung-laden images of Mary though. It’s all irrelevant - religious taboos are not suppossed to stop the free press. God knows Christian sensitivities aren’t held in high esteem by our American media (the passion of Kanye West anyone?).
Here comes the moral relativism train again. Let’s toss Falwell in with Bin Laden because we don’t agree with either of them. One says “God hates fags” and the other kills thousands of civilians - but it’s all the same in your book I guess. It’s a rather disturbing trend, Christopher Hitchen’s latest column says something similar:
“It is revolting to me,” Hitchens writes, “to breathe the same air as wafts from the exhalations of the madrasahs, or the reeking fumes of the suicide-murderers, or the sermons of Billy Graham and Joseph Ratzinger.”
“Religion” is not being hijacked by extremists. Islam is - and that is not all religions. How many radical Hindus have you heard about recently? Any right wing Hare-Krishnas burnt down foreign embassies? What about renegade Protestants and Catholics bombing pubs? Yeah, that died decades ago, and it was a localized conflict (IRA). This whole cock and bull story of religion being handed over to fundamentalists is more relativist bullshit aimed at equalizing the guilt over the whole playing field. I know why it’s being done, it makes people feel better… we don’t put the blame on one belief or group or culture, we make everyone responsible. That way you don’t get in trouble for saying it, and you don’t single out anyone.
Arzhang, your discussions have descended into ad hominem heaps of garbage. Who the f*ck says religion should be all about helping people? Maybe you WANT religion to be a philanthropic pursuit, but where is the rule that states religions should appeal to that standard? As far as I can tell, some religions are all about wiping out the opposition and establishing that religion for the whole wide world. Other “religions” involve nothing more than ancestoral worship. So stop pretending that something isn’t a religion because it doesn’t conform to what you want it to be.
Now, moving to your description of Islam. If the 21st century wants to coexist with Islam, I think your version is needed. But God help us all because your idea of Islam is not based on Muhammud or the Qu’ran or the Hadiths. In fact, I’d venture a guess I’ve studied more of it than you have. I hope you’re getting my point - the Muslim that is ignorant of his or her own religion is the best kind of Muslim. Because I honestly believe the radical Jihadis are the most knowledgable of the life and ways of their warrior-prophet Muhammud. I know you’re probably offended by this comment - but I honestly believe the “radicals” are the “fundamentalists” are the true followers of Muhammud’s teachings.
I’m not going to comment on this post any more. I’m offended at my statements being called garbage. You are so entrenched in your hate all Muslims philosophy that you forget the core shared by ALL religions to help your fellow man.
I don’t consider my mother exactly ignorant of Islam. For as long as I can remember she read the Qu’ran EVERY YEAR. She always looks for statements taht support violence and NOT once could she find compatiblity with what these terrorsists are saying and doing. So you see your statement that the best Muslims are the ignorant is in itself ignorant unless you see my mom as the same as the terrorists which I know you don’t.
I follow the pillars of Islam, that is a start and nowhere does it have to do these things that terrorists say. But I guess that is lost on you. Wipe us all off the face of the earth before we do I guess according to your worldview.
I can’t believe I said that I “hate all Muslims.” Can you point that out for me? Why are you behaving so immaturely? I try to promote some sort of factual-based discussion and you throw an infantile tirade about how I’m being mean?
Each time we do try to have a discussion about Islam, I lose respect for your viewpoint. Everything you believe (as far as you have shown) is based on a second-hand impression of the religion mixed with your own ideas of what the religion (and all religions apparently) should be. You don’t quote sura or hadiths, you provide no references, no quotes, etc. You should expect a fair amount of criticism if you try to pass this off as Islam.
Your friend and I had a discussion about the Battle of Badr and you didn’t participate. How hard is it to look up information about this event? I know you’re a very busy person, but if someone was making comments about Jesus that were different from what I know I’d spend the 20-30 minutes to check it out.
In sum, I don’t care if you don’t respond anymore on any of my posts about Islam. My intention is not to offend but to express my viewpoint. It’s very frustrating that when you do contribute it is purely from an emotional/anecdotal viewpoint.
im getting tired of people saying that all religions have thier wacko extremists and that they are all the same. just as you were saying, matt, muslims that really know what thier religion is all about are the ones blowing people up. on the other hand, the more a christian knows about thier religion, the more extreme they are, they will show more compassion, love and forgiveness even to those that hate them. basically, extreme islam=hate; extreme christianity=love.
as for arzhang, it seems to me that if you truly knew your “religion” you would realize that you do not agree with it. maybe you want to be a muslim because your family is muslim. you need to realize that your family was wrong. if you look into the christian religion you will find that it is the one true way. listen to God, arzhang, he wants you to truly know him and to stop being fooled by satan. muhammed was tricked by satan into believing he could be equal to Jesus. one day every knee will bend, every head will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. even muhammed. and even satan.
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