Cartoons Under Fire

[Buttercup]

Thank you for not judging all Christians against Pat Robertson....what an idiot and an embarrassment! He makes me ashamed.

 

[mr.guy]

Islam is the one that perpetartes the most attacks against people as a whole.

I wonder if we have another jedi in our midst...

 

[Ori]

I wonder if we have another jedi in our midst...

Not only that, but the username is but two letters short of another famous banned member. :tsk:

 

[linwood]

There is a serious problem with the religiousity of this culture.

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Furious Syrians set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies on Saturday as protests over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad showed no signs of abating despite calls for calm....... Chanting "God is Greatest", thousands of protesters stormed the Danish embassy, burned the Danish flag and replaced it with a flag reading "No God but Allah, Mohammad is His Prophet".

The fire badly damaged the building but no one was hurt as the embassy was closed.

Demonstrators also set the Norwegian embassy ablaze. That too was brought under control by firefighters.


Reuters

 

[linwood]

Serious Problem

TWELVE Danish cartoonists whose pictures sparked such outcry have gone into hiding under round-the-clock protection, fearing for their lives.


NI_MPU('middle');
The cartoonists, many of whom had reservations about the pictures, have been shocked by how the affair has escalated into a global “clash of civilisations”. They have since tried, unsuccessfully, to stop them being reprinted.


Times Online

 

[Darkdale]

Your average Muslim doesn't.

This is becoming harder and harder to believe. I think it is still the case, but average... It just seems like, that five years from now, the average Muslim will be an extremist. I pray the gods that will not be the case, but it is sad. It's just so sad.

Watching what these people are doing... over cartoons. Just... looking at the news, from day to day... how can we not worry that the Extremists are taking over? I know, I know, we aren't there yet... but we aren't far away. At some point, the world will have to resist, all together and with universal force. It'll be a sad day... but one that we'll have to shrug off, and just keeping pressing forward. *shrugs* I'm still waiting for the "moderate", "average" mulsims to do something, but as usual, they are as silent as the grave.

 

[mr.guy]

"These people"...my grandma says that alot.

 

[rocketman]

I see no danger of anyone wanting to worship these cartoons. There is no other reason in the Quran that I know of that forbids images of the prophets. I wonder if they'll expel all the ambassadors from 'Christian' countries for allowing pictures of the prophet Isa[Joshua/Jesus]?

I don't see what all the fuss is about. If you believe in an all-powerful God a couple of scribbles on a page won't scare you. Seems to me that people are personally offended, and no wonder, because Islam becomes a personal identity and they feel it is an attack on them personally [which it is not]. Therefore I conclude that to turn to violence over a matter like this is a sure sign that one is worshipping their religion more than they are worshipping God/Allah. No one 'owns' religion. Have faith that God/Allah will show non-believers what is right.

Islams credibility has sunk to a new low in my eyes.

 

[greatcalgarian]

This is becoming harder and harder to believe. I think it is still the case, but average... It just seems like, that five years from now, the average Muslim will be an extremist. I pray the gods that will not be the case, but it is sad. It's just so sad.

Watching what these people are doing... over cartoons. Just... looking at the news, from day to day... how can we not worry that the Extremists are taking over? I know, I know, we aren't there yet... but we aren't far away. At some point, the world will have to resist, all together and with universal force. It'll be a sad day... but one that we'll have to shrug off, and just keeping pressing forward. *shrugs* I'm still waiting for the "moderate", "average" mulsims to do something, but as usual, they are as silent as the grave.

Extremists in any religion will not sustain their presence for long. Do not worry about the present day average Muslim turning into extremist. Believe me (I am not a Muslim), Islam does not teach extremism. If you really read the actual statement of Osama, he is not advocating what the West has painted him to be doing. Some one some where has some agenda trying to pitch one religion against another religion, for whatever reason, I could never guess. It is very important for all people who believe in God, and also all atheists to learn to be tolerant, and not to be easily being stirred up emotionally (for example, those poorly informed 'Muslim' that reacted so strongly in this cartoon issue, and those who purposely exagerated their reaction, creating fear in the other side of the non-Muslim, and hence resulted in this on-going misunderstanding and finger pointing. Chinese has a saying: 退一步,海阔天空, meaning if you can tolerate, and give in to the other side, there is such a good future for everyone....For all Christians, please stop accusing your Muslim brothers are terrorist, and for all Muslim, do the same as well.:jam:

 

[linwood]

The Vatican has released this statement concerning the cartoons.

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]"The right to freedom of thought and expression ... cannot entail the right to offend the religious sentiment of believers," the Vatican said in its first statement on the controversy.

My question is "Why not?"

Anyone have an answer?
[/font]

 

[jamaesi]

Watching what these people are doing... over cartoons. Just... looking at the news, from day to day... how can we not worry that the Extremists are taking over? I know, I know, we aren't there yet... but we aren't far away. At some point, the world will have to resist, all together and with universal force. It'll be a sad day... but one that we'll have to shrug off, and just keeping pressing forward. *shrugs* I'm still waiting for the "moderate", "average" mulsims to do something, but as usual, they are as silent as the grave.

Excuse me for not parading around the streets in my town with a little sign saying "It's just a cartoon get over yourselves." Am I not being vocal enough in this? Would caps lock work better? Would the fact I've been trying to calm down all my Muslim friends, especially the ones currently in the Middle East, not be considered enough?

I don't expect other Christians to apologise for Pat Robertson. I don't expect them to apologise for Fred Phelps. I don't hold them responsible for the Crusades. I don't expect them to go out and counterprotest those who blow up abortion clinics and kill doctors. Why in G-d's green Earth am I supposed to be help responsible for what nutjobs do?


You'd be surprised at the number of moderate NORMAL people of most religions- but you only hear about the extremists.

-Maesi, tired of Guilt by Association

 

[jamaesi]

The Vatican has released this statement concerning the cartoons.

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]"The right to freedom of thought and expression ... cannot entail the right to offend the religious sentiment of believers," the Vatican said in its first statement on the controversy.

My question is "Why not?"

Anyone have an answer?[/font]

Once again the Vatican makes me want to beat my head against a wall.

Free speech means you can say things that might or will offend religious beliefs. That's what free speech is!
[font=Verdana,Sans-serif][/font]

 

[Darkdale]

Extremists in any religion will not sustain their presence for long. Do not worry about the present day average Muslim turning into extremist. Believe me (I am not a Muslim), Islam does not teach extremism. If you really read the actual statement of Osama, he is not advocating what the West has painted him to be doing. Some one some where has some agenda trying to pitch one religion against another religion, for whatever reason, I could never guess. It is very important for all people who believe in God, and also all atheists to learn to be tolerant, and not to be easily being stirred up emotionally (for example, those poorly informed 'Muslim' that reacted so strongly in this cartoon issue, and those who purposely exagerated their reaction, creating fear in the other side of the non-Muslim, and hence resulted in this on-going misunderstanding and finger pointing. Chinese has a saying: 退一步,海阔天空, meaning if you can tolerate, and give in to the other side, there is such a good future for everyone....For all Christians, please stop accusing your Muslim brothers are terrorist, and for all Muslim, do the same as well.:jam:

Well, when Muslims stop the violence and the terror, I'll put some faith in them. Until then, until peaceful Muslims are leading the fight against the violent ones, I'm going to be skeptical. I'm going to encourage the governments of the world to their thing.

 

[jamaesi]

until peaceful Muslims are leading the fight against the violent ones,

Excuse me, but you didn't answer my previous post.

Just what exactly would you like us to do? And why am I responsible for Usama when your average Christian isn't responsible for Pat Robertson?

 

[Darkdale]

Excuse me, but you didn't answer my previous post.

Just what exactly would you like us to do? And why am I responsible for Usama when your average Christian isn't responsible for Pat Robertson?

First of all, your average Christian IS responsible for Pat Robertson. Second, Pat Robertson isn't burning down embassies, beating up women and children, or flying planes into buildings. Third, what do I what your average muslim to do?

1. Worldwide, organized, massive protests against terrorism.
2. An acceptance of the existence of Israel by every Muslim country and major/minor Muslim organization.
3. I want to see outrage. I want to see unrest and discontentment over the hijacking of the Muslim world by religious extremists and dictators.
4. I want want to see Muslims across the world thank the United States for everything we've done for them in the Middle East.

Now, I've got to tell you, the only one I actually expect to see is #1. I won't even hold my breath for the rest.

 

[Ori]

Why should Muslims thank the USA?

 

[Tawn]

I'm sorry that you'e too tired to be minimally respectful of a religion followed by many millions of decent people. I'm sure that it's not due to an excess of effort.

These so called 'decent Muslims' who apparently exist simply dont do enough to stop their violent brethren.

No other religion in the world currently displays the sheer violence and extremism that Muslims do. I have lost the last iota of respect that I might have had for Muslims after these events.

They kidnap and murder innocents, they burn flags of countries they hate... etc.. etc.. the list goes on.. and they have the AUDACITY the sheer AUDACITY to get upset at a CARTOON. (I expect this reaction in the middle east.. but Muslims here at home protesting too? The western world is built on the foundation of freedom of speech.. and if you live here - you should respect that.)
Did we take these actions against the middle east after 9/11? London bombings? (and many more incidents)

So we are supposed to remain tolerant of Muslims because some? many? of them are decent? Im sorry but ALL, yes ALL Muslims need to sort out themselves before they can point the 'youre being intolerant' finger at us. Or somehow dissassociate from these violent extremists in a significant way.
Enough is enough. I have been tolerant of this faith for as long as I can.. but I see nothing good in it.

If there are decent Muslims out there... you have a lot of work to do. You faith has been sullied by the actions of others.

 

[linwood]

Why should Muslims thank the USA?

Excellent question.

 

[linwood]

Did we take these actions against the middle east after 9/11? London bombings? (and many more incidents)

Tawn you obviously don`t understand.
The acts you cite only killed thousands of people, these cartoon poke fun at their prophet!

 

[Darkdale]

Why should Muslims thank the USA?

For us going into Afghanistan and Iraq. For us stepping in to protect them from the Russians. For us stepping in to protect them from Saddam. For us working hard to create peace between Palestine and Israel, believing in both peoples, and believing in the possibility of peace. For believing in the Arab World, for believing that they are our equals, and believing that they deserve freedom.

That's just a few. I don't really expect them to be grateful. Like I said, I just want to see massive, peaceful protests against Terrorism. I want to see the so-called "good Muslims" stand up and shout down the terrorists. What do they have to lose? If all the peaceful Muslims of the world marched on their capital cities tomorrow, not to demonstrate against the United States, but to demonstrate against Terrorism... the Terrorists would be SOL. They'd be finished. But we'll never see anything like that either. Because most Muslims think the Americans are the Terrorists. They think this is our fault.

Which is why I'm not going to lose any sleep at night every time we have to invade an Arab or Persian country.