Bowing To The Barbarians
What a waste the First Amendment is turning out to be. US newspapers refuse to run the cartoons that have Europe in an uproar. From Joe Strupp at Editor & Reporter:
As a collection of controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad circulates online and through some European publications, prompting numerous acts of violence abroad, nearly all U.S. newspapers have chosen not to publish the cartoons.Although most American papers have covered the issue, with many running Page One stories, most contend the cartoons are too offensive to run, and can be properly reported through descriptions. While some have linked to the images on the Web, others are considering publishing one or more of them next week. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Inquirer has complained that The Associated Press should at least distribute the images and allow members papers to make the call.
"They wouldn't meet our standards for what we publish in the paper," said Leonard Downie, Jr., executive editor of The Washington Post, which ran a front-page story on the issue Friday, but has not published the cartoons. "We have standards about language, religious sensitivity, racial sensitivity and general good taste."
Downie, who said the images also had not been placed on the Post Web site, compared the decision to similar choices not to run offensive photos of dead bodies or offensive language. "We described them," he said of such images. "Just like in the case of covering the hurricanes in New Orleans or terrorist attacks in Iraq. We will describe horrific scenes."
At USA Today, deputy foreign editor Jim Michaels offered a similar explanation. "At this point, I'm not sure there would be a point to it," he said about publishing the cartoons. "We have described them, but I am not sure running it would advance the story." Although he acknowledged that the cartoons have news value, he said the offensive nature overshadows that.
"It has been made clear that it is offensive," Michaels said when asked if the paper was afraid of sparking violence or other kinds of backlash. "I don't know if fear is the right word. But we came down on the side that we could serve readers well without a depiction that is offensive."
The Los Angeles Times sent this statement to E&P this afternoon: "Our newsroom and op-ed page editors, independently of each other, determined that the caricatures could be deemed offensive to some readers and the there were effective ways to cover the controversy without running the images themselves."
The cartoons, which include one of the Muslim prophet wearing a turban fashioned into a bomb, have been reprinted in papers in Norway, France, Germany and Jordan after first running in a Danish paper last September. The drawings were published again recently after some Muslims decried them as insulting to their prophet, AP reported, adding that Dutch-language newspapers in Belgium and two Italian "right-wing" papers reprinted the drawings Friday.
Islamic law, according to most clerics' interpretations of the Quran, forbids depictions of Muhammad and other major religious figures -- even positive images.
Yeah, and my atheistic religion forbids the murder of innocent people, but the other side isn't exactly pulling out the stops for the likes of me. I just love this: fighting terror with...turning tail and scurrying back in our own spider holes.
Here's Mohammed with the bomb/turban on his head. A whole bunch of the cartoons are here (kudos to MSNBC.com for making them available). I'm sorry, but should we be offended by the cartoon itself, or because there's so much truth to it? Too little, too late of "moderate" Muslims coming out for the supposed peace their religion is based on, and too many readings from their Koran and followers of their religion advocating violence. There are a few nuts on the Christian "Right" blowing up abortion clinics, but, by and large, there's no other religion than Islam where so many people are advocating the murder of anyone who doesn't think just like them. Fucking primitives.
Compare and contrast.
Jim Treacher at February 4, 2006 7:13 AM
Consider this: "If I had a Muslim friend, I wouldn't show him something he'd find offensive." The word "Muslim" is not significant in that sentence - any kind of friend would do. I don't think I'd choose to offend a stranger either: for example by going up and insulting his appearance or actions. I don't see much in favour of gratuitous insult.
But a Danish newspaper printing a cartoon is not a gratuitous insult. For a start, I assume they were using satire to make a point, not just being offensive for the sake of it. And a newspaper is not the same as a personal approach. It's much easier to ignore a newspaper, and if Muslims had done just that few people would have been any wiser. But they went crazy, it has now become a point of principle to re-publish the cartoons, because it has become a free speech issue. If you don't publish, is it because you are scared? So the Muslim reaction has been entirely counter-productive.
I think outraged Muslims were doing fine when they were boycotting Danish goods, burning flags, blocking traffic, yelling and demonstrating their anger. That is non-violent protest. Consumer power is effective.
It's not even as if there have never been images of Mohammed before now. There have been lots down the centuries - some by Muslim artists, showing full features. And pictures of him are for sale in Iran like postcards, though they are more in the style of religious icons. (I got this from the BBC website.)
As for respecting other people's beliefs, it's a nonsense. If I respected your beliefs, I'd share them. What I do respect is your right as a person to hold and express your beliefs, however unreasonable or objectionable I find them - so long as you do the same for me.
This is where Islam is failing. It takes itself far too seriously. I think we need more humour to poke some holes in its big, puffed up turban, to let the hot air out and the daylight in. That's humour, by the way: not bullets.
Norman at February 4, 2006 7:14 AM
It's irritating that the LAT won't publish the cartoons, but this may be simple pissedness on my part. LAT doesn't mock Catholicism or Scientology the way I want them to, either.
Muslim extremists will not meet us by the tracks behind the grocery after school so we can fight this out the way we want to. It's a problem.
Anyone else notice how many of the threatening figures in Muslim life globally like to wear masks? They seem to think it makes them fearsome and intimidating. But terrors of identity and spying are not really a problem in the first world: To us, masks just seem cowardly and childish. They look like Mexican TV wrestlers.
Crid at February 4, 2006 8:00 AM
The cartoon Jim Treacher is referring to was great- I wish I had the original....
eric at February 4, 2006 8:18 AM
Glad to know you're not worried about offending people. This will be an important characteristic in this war. Allah *will* be blasphemed.
Crid at February 4, 2006 10:01 AM
I blaspheme all religions' primitive worship of god. It wouldn't be fair for me to leave the Muslims out, especially since so many of them are so vocal about wanting to slaughter anybody who doesn't think like they do. The so-called "moderate Muslims" should not be let off the hook for remaining largely silent. It's a bit like sitting around filing your nails while a bunch of people are plotting a murder and never lifting a finger to notify the authorities. Or, in many cases, it's actually watching somebody being murdered and doing fuck all.
Primitive beliefs combined with modern weaponry may be the end of all of us. And Christians and Jews and others who believe in god are also primitive, but they rarely behead anybody; some simply impede stem cell research and stuff like that. Not good, but not the same thing as advocating cutting off a cartoonist's hands because he dares draw the truth -- that Islam is being used to justify murder.
And let's all remember poor Theo Van Gogh, and let's see more people of all countries speak out against all murderers everywhere.
Amy Alkon at February 4, 2006 10:34 AM
> Primitive beliefs combined with modern
> weaponry may be the end of all of us.
Not all of us, I promise.
Crid at February 4, 2006 11:48 AM
Whether you have cholesterol issues or whether you don't, you might wanna pick up a block of Havarti on the way home:
http://tinyurl.com/ex2f8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havarti
Crid at February 4, 2006 12:45 PM
Thanks, Crid...right behind you...just posted the Danish flag and a list of Danish products.
Amy Alkon at February 4, 2006 2:31 PM
One of the many impressions I was left with after six years in the Middle East is that the Islamic nutbags have no sense of humor. None. This to me is one of their major drawbacks. You have to have a sense of fun! We should put these cartoons on billboards across the world, and even create greeting cards with the depiction of Mohamed on it - inside it says: KA-BOOM! INSHALLAH!
Ally at February 4, 2006 8:21 PM
It is amazing how the world muslim population condone the Iranian President's suggestion annihilate Israel and sponsor Holocaust jewish cartoons. And yet, allow violence all around the world because of a harmless mohammed cartoon.
With Islam's archaic ideologies going back over 1500 years,it is also interesting to note that Middle Eastern countries prior to the advent of Islam have been influential and progressive empires, ie Babylon, Egypt, Assyrans, Persia, Pheonicians, etc.
After the advent of Islam in the Mideast, each and every middle eastern country have become basketcases economically and politically.
It is no wonder why Muslims are so intolerent, violent and backwards! I should know, I am female and was born in a Chinese muslim family and have lived in Indonesia, Malaysia and China. I know what I am talking about! I could only imagine how much worst it is in the backwards mideast in contrast to the progressive far east.
It perplexes me to see how educated young women could condone what the bigotted sexist islamic religion does to women and innocent people around the world.
I am so glad I do not have to live in the nonprogressive backwards Middle East subjugated by sexist clerics and men with an inferiority complex.
sue ma ahmed at February 11, 2006 10:21 AM
"After the advent of Islam in the Mideast, each and every middle eastern country have become basketcases economically and politically."
Exactly. Sad that the opiate of the masses has turned out to be a non-chemical version of crack cocaine in terms of the ruin it's done, not just to individuals, but to the progress of a whole people.
Amy Alkon at February 11, 2006 2:38 PM
Cool site. Thank you.
nautilus at October 5, 2006 11:16 AM
Cool site. Thank you.
nautilus at October 5, 2006 11:16 AM
I hate my life but at least this makes it barealbe.
Dorothy at October 22, 2011 4:16 PM
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