it would seem odd to protest Comedy Central. Aren't they allowed to have their own standards of what they want to show? If they feel its in the best interests of protecting their employees to not show this, isn't that not only their right but perhaps their obligation (to the employees?)

if all it takes for you to be offended is having someone draw a picture of your prophet (even a non vulgar, non intentionally offensive picture) then the problem doesn't lie with those who would draw such a picture.

by these standards, everything is 'bait.' (which is why you have insane situations like the one where the school teacher allowed her students to name the class teddy bear, and they chose mohammed. and she eventually got fired for this.)

Don't participate in the march to the gates to get your salt if you're not willing to take the smash on the head ( Indian history, Ghandi ). I'm very glad the freedom marchers in Alabama didn't think like you do.
Did they NEED to do these in-your-face actions? Did they NEED to sit at the front of the bus?
Some cower, some don't.

This.

I'm all for not doing "bad" things to people, but drawing Muhammad is not one of these things. I'll not try to intentionally offend someone by doing it, but I'm not giving up my freedom of speech just so you don't get offended.

Do Muslims NEED to kill people for drawing cartoons?

What? you don't think "blame the victim" with the tight skirt is a valid argument.

mmm, yes. doing nothing sounds good. i think the problem will likely just solve itself, the way most problems do.

What? Did you even read my post? Because your response has nothing to do with what I said. Did you read the part that I clearly stated I am not in favor for any sort of restrictions of freedom? Apparently not.

And comparing this stupid stunt to something like the Marches in Alabama is absurd, and is not even close to analogous. Trying to aggravate people and trying to take a stand for human rights are two different things. This stunt on facebook is the former and something like the Alabama protests are the latter.

Stirring **** for **** sakes, is not productive imo.

Could you please point to the part of my post where I said we should put a restriction of something. ty

0 for 2,714.

one day, someone will post an analogy that works on RGT.

What would be a more productive and civil way to convince Muslims that they shouldn't kill people for putting a pen to paper?

You were advocating people should not do something for fear of violent repercussion because some thugs were offended. I am wondering where do we draw the line.

Any place that the muslims are happy with.

exactly.

this 'stunt' is about as softhanded as is possible. anything more and people would be calling the group militant. anything less and its 'stupid.'

theres just no pleasing some people.

lastly, i have absolutely no doubts whatsoever that plenty of people at the time thought Rosa Parks' little stunt was stupid and pointless, and simple minded.

No rational person should choose to make a joke (or something of the like) if there are very real possibilities of violent repercussions especially when making that joke will not further the cause of peace.

In any action one makes they should ask themselves, what good can come from this?

Wait a second, what do you think this is accomplishing? Do you think that there is any positive effect of a stunt like this?

So you think that drawing pictures making fun of someone is going to do what? Cause muslims to be less violent?

I draw a huge distinction here. If you're offended by people being who they are, then deal with it. This is the main reason I (and you?) feel the fundamentalist Muslims initial response to some cartoons was an overreaction.

But the difference here (to me), is that this has no purpose other than to offend. It is not meant in a comedic context, nor is it sticking up for who they are. Unless you want to say that it is a statement sticking up for free speech, which would be fine. But I think that should have been done immediately after the fact (as in Comedy Central refusing to be bullied, etc.). If this facebook page came out the day after, I might see a connection. But I just don't see any good that can be accomplished from this. It seems more like baiting than a legitimate protest of any kind. But hey, maybe I'm wrong.

I think there are various issues that Muslims are offended or feel offended by. The situation in Palestine, colonization, racial ( religious) profiling and on. It think the way to resolve the Islamic rage over these various issues deals with solving the underlining real world problems and perceptions from these issues. For instance, if there was a rally of support behind a Facebook page called " Tell Muslims to f*** off about Palestine" I would be against it because it doesn't help anything.

The issue of having the right to kill someone because they drew the founder of their religion doesn't stem from any real world injustice or underlying issues though. It comes because "God said so". There isn't any way to solve this issue, by working on real world problems, injustices, etc. because it comes from an irrational command from someone who is in their head. When God tells someone to do something, there is no reasoning with that on a sit down and talk basis. Sometimes you just have to call God's bluff.

I feel bad for the moderate Muslims who truly feel love for their "prophet" and feel hurt at any negative remarks towards him, but probably wouldn't kill anyone if they disparaged him, and honestly I don't feel that 99% of the people doing the drawing have any actual malice towards the guy. It is a fight over an idea the ability to hold an idea and express it without being killed vs. "God's" command to silence criticism.

Everyone who see a problem with this,

Do you at least agree that if it were the case that mainstream muslims in general really were significantly oppressive towards freedom of speech, then objections of this type would be acceptable?

A lot of positives come from it. It will help to expose the true feelings of moderate muslims and test whether they are more offended by cartoons on the one hand or violence and censorship on the other. It forces everyone to ask themselves that question. Furthermore it's a statement from thousands of people that they refuse to be intimidated by violence and terrorism and it significantly weakens the power of such threats in the future.

No, not everything is bait. Doing something intentionally to bait people is bait, though.

It was a planned protest, pretty soon after the threats of violence occurred someone made this poster.

Couldn't agree more. I'm not insinuating anything even close to this.

I do take exception to this in that I don't think you 'decide' what offends you. This was my point above. Either you find something offensive or you don't. You don't decide on it.

I think in your zealousness to defend the right of free speech, you are ignoring the *right* of people to feel however they want about something. Again, you don't get to tell people how they should feel about something. You don't have to agree with it and might even think it's silly, but you are the one being intolerant if you don't at least recognize a person's right to be offended. I'm NOT saying you can't call them silly or make fun of them, but to expect them not to be offended because YOU find it silly, is intolerant, -IMO.


Uh, we don't need pictures of Jesus. Every time an abortion clinic gets blown up, or a gay's rights get trampled on, it is usually due to a religious zealot who takes offense that someone has the audacity to disagree with his religious viewpoint. Don't make this out to be just some problem that "Muslims" have. Most religions are intolerant of ridicule when it comes to their faith.


Another thing I completely agree with. In the future, there's no need to waste two paragraphs spelling out things we agree on. Let's stick to what we don't agree on.

When extremist imam foretold further destruction of the west due to immodestly dressed women, do you think "boobquake day" shouldn't have happened? It was obviously designed to offend extremist muslims.

This is excellent! I wish I could write that neatly when making something like this. Mine are always illegible.