Free Speech & Criticism: Some Muslims Just Don't Get It
On Jason Brzonska's blog, “Muslim” write:
They shouldn’t have published pictures like that.
Yes, this is the position taken by angry Muslims all over the world — but why shouldn’t the pictures have been drawn? Did they encourage hatred of Muslims? Did they encourage belief in bigoted stereotypes about Muslims? This writer says:
In Islam we’re not even allowed to draw pictures of the Prophet peace be upon him.
Well, so? If Muslims aren’t allowed to draw pictures of Muhammad, then they should refrain from drawing pictures of Muhammad — that’s their business. This isn’t a reason why non-Muslims should also refrain from drawing pictures of Muhammad.
This writer might as well argue that since Muslims aren’t allowed to drink alcohol and eat pork, then Europeans are insulting them and insulting Islam by drinking so much alcohol and eating so much pork. Is such an argument reasonable? No — and neither is what they wrote above.
We dont draw pictures of Jesus or Moses, we respect all the prophets.
Once again: so what? If Muslims aren’t allowed to draw pictures of Jesus or Moses, then they should refrain from doing so — that’s their business. Non-Muslims are not prohibited from making such drawings and, in fact, do so all the time. It’s also common to bring images of Jesus, Moses, and other religious figures into political cartoons in order to criticize various groups.
Muslim here just doesn’t get it, and I suspect that the situation is the same for a great many Muslims around the world. They don’t understand why non-Muslims are unwilling to treat Islam as if it were special.
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Comments
Aye, a tough life I live by being a Caucasian Muslim. I try to bring groups together and make them understand that we should not argue with each other because life is short in the sense that we do not know when we’ll kick the bucket. Anyway, drawing cartoons of prophets are ok as long a they are not discriminatory. This is where you make sense but those cartoons were. By saying that the prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was a terrorist and not even knowing that for a fact, an offence was automatically committed. Even by involving a holy man such as a prophet into something such as terrorism (which became a pretty popular term since george bush became president) is wrong when the fight is between 2 groups or countries and does not involve prophets etc. (they are dead and would like to R.I.P.). Everyone kept on talking about freedom of speech etc. without even thinking to themselves that it is obvious that freedom is nothing without authority just like power is nothing without control.
I believe that solidly because it’s true. Drawing cartoons is a way of expressing freedom and maybe arguing or making life seem more fun for people. I’m sure that even the prophets would laugh if they had to see themselves in cartoons but when push comes to shove and one starts to mock holy men then that’s wrong.
I don’t mind a cartoonist drawing pictures of me and publishing them but when he starts portraying me as something or someone that I’m not then that will really piss me off, Ja!
Would you not feel the same?
Ciao for now!
Why? Perhaps you personally consider it wrong, but does this mean that others shouldn’t do it?
If so, who else shouldn’t be mocked, and why? What’s the standard for “mocking” — do you get to decide or can I?
i’m going to be a little less polite.
In the western culture we value freedom of speech, so long as you use that speech to endanger others you can say what you like. Even if it is offensive. That’s why we don’t go rioting around when we saw footage of Palestinians dancing and burning flags on 11 Sep 01. Offensive, sure. But not a reason to go killing folks. Rational minds realize that the footage showed a small group of people in a staged scene, or at least that the celebrants were using their right to express themselves.
If someone mocks you or something you value, turn away and go play backgammon. If what they are saying is false, laugh it off as them showing their ignorance. If what they are saying is true (the scenario that is most likely to offend) then accept it, get over it.
Being offended is a risk you take when you interact with other people.
The more people you can hear and the longer you wait around, the likelihood of someone hurting your pwecious feewings approaches 1. You can either disconnect from them, or let it go. You can try to talk to them, but be prepared for them to not accept what you have to say. They aren’t obliged to agree with you. That’s civilization (living together in harmony with people you dislike/who are different). That’s freedom.
If someone told you that you were from Mars would you be offended? No, because it isn’t true. Chances are if someone offends you it is because they said something you are afraid is true. I think that’s why violent homophobes are the way they are.
About Muslims.
The Defensive Muslim,
I am no authority on the effect of the awakening of the Muslim identity in the 21st century.This piece of writing is not to write about how far reaching the actions of Muslims or their religious leaders are or how much they impact world politics and economics.Very close to home and hearth , I do deal with a lot of muslims.As a non-muslim I do not have the authority to comment on a great religion with great faith and devout followers spanning continents, races and time.
However , I have a problem. Why is that every muslim I meet , in liberal conditions , in austere conditions , so defensive about the tenets of his faith ? Why do they have to justify , take a stance , express opinions and be so dismissive of my own views. I experienced this with friends , distant acquaintances , waiters in bars , conducters in buses , colleagues at work. Why , when you have a great faith identity , do you have to be a barrister of your faith , when your actions do the talking enough ?
which brings to the mind one simple question.Is a muslim insecure ? Can he not exist outside the cocoon of his islamic brotherhood ? One where everyone is a namaazi and Allah the true god. Does he not have the patience to deal with the outside world , where many are Kaffirs , Infidels and unbelievers ?
I believe the Muslims , in the pursuit of ; in the zeal to ; and ; in the conviction that they have indeed chanced upon a superior concept of faith , want the rest of the world to understand , accept and ultimately reconcile with the fact that Islamic thinking is the only way of thinking.
Alas, like all great faiths , many in Islam choose to ignore the good that was behind the Prophet’s revelation. Surah : , addresses this very clearly. Those who do not appreciate the greater god (Allah) are by no means lesser in his eyes. They have chosen a longer path to reach me. The Greater God (Allah) is ever merciful. There is no mention of burning in hell for not being a namaazi. Its this thing about Islam that piques me the most. The need for organized thought , the need to belong to a group , the need to ditch all the right a man has to independent thought generation and seeing life and living as experienced through his own eyes , not someone’s else. A radical social reformation may be required.Just like it has happened historically in all of World Major religions , wherein , the individual understands the spiritual gains of a religious thought process by his own experience rather than be coerced by a peer group , Mullahs or the Ulema if you have it. I would imagine that would mean the true blossoming of Islam as one of the greatest thought movements of the After Christ Era.
A concerned Non-Muslim Indian