I have not been following this too much but it is starting to piss me off. Basically, someone created cartoons with the "prophet" Muhammad and in one of them had the visage of the "prophet" with a turban in the shape of a bomb. The backlash from the Islamic community both in Europe and across the world is very reminiscent of the upside down cross in urine controversy in the US in the late 80's. I have not been able to find the cartoons on the Internet so I cannot evaluate their content only the reaction to them.

Here is some unabashed opinion on my part (if you do not like it, I might just be full of shit). First, free speech is free speech. The newspaper had every right to publish those cartoons and to apologize for them by the government is wrong as it is not the government's business. Second, drawing the "prophet" is prohibited by Sharia law. When did Sharia law ever apply in Denmark? It does not and will not as long as Denmark is a free society (and I will stand by the implication that Sharia law does not create a free society). Third, I am getting sick and tired of followers of Islam rioting every time someone even suggests that there is a dark side of Islam. There is a dark side to every religion. Get over it. Violence is not the answer; however, it seems to be working and every instance that it does only gives them more reason to do it again and for less reason.

If Islam is the religion of peace, start acting like it. I would also like to take this opportunity to say the same thing to Christianity. If you are also the religion of peace, start acting like it. As current events show, you are not acting like it either. I do not like having to hold you to your own standards as religions and find you wanting. Followers of a religion create that religion so there is no way for you to say that it is not the fault of the religion. As long as your followers act like this, it is up to the religion to teach them otherwise and repudiate those who act violently even if you think they might be justified.

There are other ways of getting your point across. They have been shown to work and work very effectively. Yes, it takes much longer and the social conditions must be right but remember patience is a virtue.

Update: here is a good article and discussion of this from an American point of view.

posted by Chris  #4:07 PM | 0 comments |