Comments | noone: finding myself in the middle... again.

noone

finding myself in the middle... again.

Feb 09, 2006 15:14

people want to protest in huge numbers because someone disrespected their religion, im all for it and i don't even have to agree. my problem is with the violence, which i think we can all agree is pretty ridiculous ( Read more... )

Comments 7

stovelkor February 11 2006, 02:50:21 UTC

I don't think there's anyone out there that doesn't get why the image is offensive to Muslims. The issue is that while it's okay for them to be offended by our lack of understanding concerning THEIR beliefs, it's not okay for us to be offended by their lack of understanding concerning OUR beliefs. Even when I did consider myself an average Christian and I saw cartoons or heard others make derisive comments concerning my religion, its leaders or its symbols, I may not have agreed with what was being said, but I respected the other person's right to say it. THAT is the problem and these protestors are hypocritically demanding we respect their beliefs, without respecting ours in kind. Note we don't run out into the streets knocking down buildings when they burn our flag in their streets, whether or not we think they have a good reason to do so. We understand it's their right to express themselves ( ... )

as much as people say they understand, i doubt it... noone February 11 2006, 20:29:46 UTC

i completely agree with your comment, "these protestors are hypocritically demanding we respect their beliefs, without respecting ours in kind". it's hypocrisy. along with (my paraphrasing) "don't print pictures of mohammed because it equates worshiping a false idol" vs. "i'm gonna wave arafat's picture around like he's god". BUT SO IS all these western nations collectively, generally, figuratively waving the banner of free speech while actully getting so offended because muslims are protesting. how are the protests in the muslim world any different than the actual printing of the cartoons in the context of free speach? i believe they have just as much of a right to say what they want as i do so i'm not gonna get upset about that. and the western world generally getting angry and speaking out about the protests is also free speech but too many people in the west are applying a double standard. the collective western perspective wouldn't bother me if more people would actually acknowledge the double standard. (i know the muslim world ( ... )

Re: as much as people say they understand, i doubt it... stovelkor February 14 2006, 08:37:22 UTC

This isn't a direct response to what you've said, but just some other things to look at and think about regarding the issue.

Firstly, when the cartoons were initially printed back in September, there was no major uproar; that only happened when a group of Danish imams went on a trip throughout the Middle East with the express purpose of showing off the cartoon to their colleagues who then stirred up the public outcry.

Also, the muted reaction of American Muslims says a lot too:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--prophetdrawings-n0213feb13,0,5448808.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey

Re: as much as people say they understand, i doubt it... noone February 15 2006, 06:49:21 UTC

if only any of those goons in pakastan read this article, then maybe that KFC and Mc Donald's wouldn't have been torched... sniff... those poor, POOR franchises.

Thread 5

anonymous February 13 2006, 15:25:45 UTC

Many intelligent individuals do ascribe to religious schools of thought, it's true, but I can't help thinking that once a person graduates from concrete thinking and enters the abstract, or highest forms of thinking, it becomes difficult to make sense of many of these systems of belief. The world simply becomes a story that is too big to fit into the smaller story of organized religion.

The issue you speak of here seems to be not freedom of speech or religious differences. It is an issue of respect and common decency between humans... the idea of agreeing to disagree, saying "I will respect your differing beliefs and consider them equally important as my own." Which, as we know, is particularly difficult for the western world, who says, "My way is the modern way. I'm right, and the rest of you are savages."

It does no good to be enflamed by the anger of others. Your obstinance only serves to anger them further. Maybe we should try something else this time around.

xoxo

Fawna

anonymous June 13 2006, 19:46:25 UTC

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