Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet

Almo

Masterblazer
Almo
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I sympathize with the people who have had their core beliefs sneered at. But in the end, it is the cartoonist's (and newspaper's) decision to commit what is considered a sin in another culture. I support the newspaper's and cartoonist's right to free speech on this one.

But let me make my position clear on this: As a US citizen, I ALSO supported the Iranian's (and anyone else's) right to free speech when they were burning US flags.

The US patriots were very angry about it. But in my opinion, the US flag stands for free speech, and when it becomes WRONG to burn it, then it is TIME to burn it.
 
Core beliefs?

Have you seen the cartoons? They don't depict core beliefs, they depict the islamic-terrorist mentality, as expressed in violence in London, in Tel Aviv, in Iraq, wherever these maniacs strike with their bombs, all in the name of islam?
Core beliefs? For you to even say that boggles my mind.

Here's a funny one --
http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/rje0009l.jpg

Is this offensive to islam? Sure it is.
Would you riot over it? C'mon.
 
webfusion said:
Core beliefs?

Have you seen the cartoons? They don't depict core beliefs, they depict the islamic-terrorist mentality, as expressed in violence in London, in Tel Aviv, in Iraq, wherever these maniacs strike with their bombs, all in the name of islam?
Core beliefs? For you to even say that boggles my mind.

Here's a funny one --
http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/rje0009l.jpg

Is this offensive to islam? Sure it is.
Would you riot over it? C'mon.
Click to expand...

The mind boggling thing is that they protest about images portraying Muhammed as a terrorist by issuing death threats, bomb threats, sending masked gunmen into EU offices etc... it would be funny if it wasn't tragic.
 
Wait -- now the French are re-printing the cartoons just to prove a point (freedom of the press) and that probably will bring their islamists to a boiling point!
 
webfusion said:
Wait -- now the French are re-printing the cartoons just to prove a point (freedom of the press) and that probably will bring their islamists to a boiling point!
Click to expand...

Well, since the French are doing something decent, I think they should get credit for that. That the Islamists may boil, well, we can only hope that someone gets a clue.
 
I predicted a World War started by muslims, a prediction I made while just in grade school, I think it was 1986. I still have the diary with these predictions in them.

To threaten violence over a stupid cartoon is beyond senseless, and so we will see the senseless consequences.

These idiots want control over the entire world, or they will kill and maim. They will get back what they give, when the rest of the world gets tired of it enough.

World War 3. I predict it again.
 
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Almo said:
I sympathize with the people who have had their core beliefs sneered at. But in the end, it is the cartoonist's (and newspaper's) decision to commit what is considered a sin in another culture. I support the newspaper's and cartoonist's right to free speech on this one.

But let me make my position clear on this: As a US citizen, I ALSO supported the Iranian's (and anyone else's) right to free speech when they were burning US flags.

The US patriots were very angry about it. But in my opinion, the US flag stands for free speech, and when it becomes WRONG to burn it, then it is TIME to burn it.
Click to expand...
I object more to Iran's leaders calling for the destruction of Israel than the flag burning. They looked like retards when they burned the US flag. It had some limited impact during the Vietnam war, but it's old, it's overdone and it's boring. I would be more surprised to see Iranians treat the US flag with reverence.

Since when did Iranians have free speech anyway? What do you would think would happen if one of them spoke out against Islam? {insert slicing and dicing sound here}
 
In Canada a similar thing happened. The cartoonist was put through the courts for "hate crimes" and everything was settled peacefully.

I'm guessing freedom of speech protects the Danish cartoonist? Still, this could be settled without death threats for crying out loud.

I hear muslims calling Europeans racist yet again, and this is a straw that is breaking the camel's back.

Thoughts?
 
Almo said:
But let me make my position clear on this: As a US citizen, I ALSO supported the Iranian's (and anyone else's) right to free speech when they were burning US flags.
Click to expand...
Except that in the context, much of the flag burning was done as threat, rather than merely an expression of hatred towards America. "America sucks" is one thing, "Death to America" is another. Free speech doesn't include the right to solicit violence.
 
Art Vandelay said:
Except that in the context, much of the flag burning was done as threat, rather than merely an expression of hatred towards America. "America sucks" is one thing, "Death to America" is another. Free speech doesn't include the right to solicit violence.
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"Death to America" is still covered by free speech, I think.

However, there is no reason to expect people who hear "Death to America" not to form an opinion about it.

Reactions to speech do not constitute a limitation on free speech.
 
epepke said:
Reactions to speech do not constitute a limitation on free speech.
Click to expand...

Good point.

I have personally been in arguments with people (people who are not generally hard-line flag-wavers) in the US who think it should actually be illegal to burn the flag. THAT is a load of crap. They make it illegal, I'LL burn one.

It's not about Iranians having free speech. It's about the US preaching free speech, then getting pissed off when others excercise it.

Just like how the US preaches free trade, then gets pissed off when others practice it.
 
Almo said:
Good point.

I have personally been in arguments with people (people who are not generally hard-line flag-wavers) in the US who think it should actually be illegal to burn the flag. THAT is a load of crap. They make it illegal, I'LL burn one.

It's not about Iranians having free speech. It's about the US preaching free speech, then getting pissed off when others excercise it.
Click to expand...

What is this US of which you speak? I am a citizen of the US, and I approve of free speech even for people in countries that don't really have that right.

As I think I pointed out, we see burnings of the US flag on almost a daily basis. Apart from a few nutcases, the majority of people don't think that should be illegal.

I certainly don't think it should be illegal.
 
Almo said:
I sympathize with the people who have had their core beliefs sneered at. But in the end, it is the cartoonist's (and newspaper's) decision to commit what is considered a sin in another culture. I support the newspaper's and cartoonist's right to free speech on this one.

But let me make my position clear on this: As a US citizen, I ALSO supported the Iranian's (and anyone else's) right to free speech when they were burning US flags.

The US patriots were very angry about it. But in my opinion, the US flag stands for free speech, and when it becomes WRONG to burn it, then it is TIME to burn it.
Click to expand...
I'm just curious. Did you say burn the US flag because nobody has ever burned the Canadian flag, or because of some other reason? I figure if in Canada, do as....
 
I have a piece of toast which clearly has the image of Mohammed on it.

Look for it on Ebay soon.
 
Something that occurs to me: how do you suppose that all these Muslims know about these cartoons? Do you suppose there are a lot of people in say, Saudi Arabia, that subscribe to Danish newspapers? It seems to me that either:
People are taking other people's words for what's in them or
People are reprinting the cartoons to show people how offensive they are

If the latter, isn't that a double standard? Isn't reprinting blasphemous cartoons for the purpose of showing how blasphemous they are blasphemous? I'm reminded of that scene in Life of Brian.

Pharisee: "This woman is to be stoned for blasphemy."
Woman: "All I did was say 'Jehovah'".
Crowd: "Blasphemer!" :throws rocks at woman:
Pharisee: "Quit saying 'Jehovah'!"
Crowd: "Blasphemer!" :throws rocks at pharisee:

epepke said:
"Death to America" is still covered by free speech, I think.
Click to expand...
If it's said in the sense of "We hope Americans die", then yes. If it's said in the sense of "We're going to kill Americans", then no.
 
Art Vandelay said:
Something that occurs to me: how do you suppose that all these Muslims know about these cartoons? Do you suppose there are a lot of people in say, Saudi Arabia, that subscribe to Danish newspapers? It seems to me that either:
People are taking other people's words for what's in them or
People are reprinting the cartoons to show people how offensive they are
Click to expand...

Good point, but I don't think they reprint. They just repeat, and when the Saudi Ambassador comes home telling everyone why, what more do they need? A new Jihad. Cool.
 
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