anti islam cartoons required

[ukdane]

Just thought I'd give a Danish perspective.

1) The cartoons were published back in September 2005.

2) The cartoons were only published in one paper, Jyllands Posten. Although local Muslim communities kicked up a fuss, it didn't make "headlines" in Denmark (until two weekends ago- more specifically after Friday prayers).

3) I work in the shipping department of a major food exporter. The Middle East countries and the customers we have there-in are my responsibilty. Since the weekend of the boycott ALL my orders have been canceled to the middleast and mulim-african countries.

4) We have a Christian customer in Lebanon, who's attitude until today was that the goods he buys from us are "his" and NOT danish- they are just produced here. Today HE started to try to blackmail the company.

5) All these cancelled orders are giving me  a lot of time to do other things- so that's something good. Just a  shame we have so much produced that we can't shift it.

6) 99% of the people I know here, included myself are now extremely worried about the  threat of retaliation, and belive that Denmark will be the targets of terrorist actions (more so now than because of the armys participation in the Iraq war).

7) As a result of the events, I think some if the comments made here have been pretty careless and irresponsible, as a result of which, I think that certain members of the board ought to me more responsible when posting comments here.

[thrillpowerseeker]

its all building up nicely to a big off...we need thinning out as I said on another thread...more cartoons, more marches, more anger .. and when it does kick off we'll be all posting pictures of Kittens on threads like these...hurrah!

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[judge dreddd]

This is true, things have got out of hand.

If it is against Islamic religion to ridicule the prophets then the Dutch really should retract and apologise.

Then they can do cartoons of certain religious leaders who, I think, are probably mis representing Islam.

After all, during the crusades Saladin was a rather decent chap compared to the crusaders so its more a matter of individual extremists.

I still thing religion is all bollocks but one should be diplomatic to the uninformed.

[Steve Green]

"The Dutch"?

I hope that was a joke - it's as bad as those rioting twats burning the Swiss flag.

Mind you, I saw CBS News saying that Vienna was in Italy the other night - maybe they're just getting in to the spirit of things.

- Steve

[judge dreddd]

tee hee

[SamuelAWilkinson]

"I still thing religion is all bollocks but one should be diplomatic to the uninformed."


Trust me, we are...

[Bart Oliver]

Your original request, insensitive comments, ill informed argument and sweeping generalisations beggar belief.

I suppose it?s some consolation that apart from occasionally visiting this board and reading the odd thread I don?t have to share any other part of my life with you.

[LARF]

Dreddd

I was speaking with a guy who works in the same building as me last night and we got onto the Muslim cartoon thing ( I was showing him some caricatures someone had illustrated for us). He's a Muslim, not very devout but respectful, and he explained in laymens why the cartoon was offensive.

What you have to be is respectful of other cultures and their beliefs. No matter how ridiculous it may seem to you to them it is part of their life. I was trying to find a comparison within western culture and the nearest I could think of would be to print a cartoon in a newspaper such as the Times showing an ugly postive stance towards peadophilia, makes me cringe thinking about it and my apologies to anyone reading this don't mean to offend but our culture is pretty tolerant of lots of things and I was trying to find something that is a comparison.

Therefore Dreddd I think a serious apology is in order please, and I mean serious.

[Steve Green]

I don't think it is as cut and dried as respecting other people's beliefs.

At what point do you draw the line?

There's obviously going to be some point that beliefs of some religion are going to collide with a personal view. Certain religions views on homosexuality for example.

- Steve

[judge dreddd]

"Therefore Dreddd I think a serious apology is in order please, and I mean serious."

I agree !

I am very sorry, I was mistaking the issue for an attack on free speech and religous fundamentalism where we must all, after consideration, realise that with free speech comes responsibility for those in the media to use it wisely.  

The cartoons were a blatent act of provocation and a full page apology should be published.

Its ok to cartoon lampoon the leaders of the faith but not the prophet, thats a different matter and something that highly offends muslims.

I believe the muslims have a very valid point,though I dont think they are putting it across in the best way.

[Bad Andy]

Dreddd may be being a bit of a prat but that's no reason to ban him.


I wonder how many of the protesters have actually seen the images or whether they have just been told that newspapers are taking the piss and its time to burn down the embassies?

It could even be argued (according to the BBC thing) that the ban on images is one interpretation of the Koran. It might miss the point somewhat, but still should generate some debate within the Muslim community.

Have there been any Muslim comic strips that have depicted Mo I wonder? Or non-Muslim for that matter.


MikeC had an interesting point about anger in organised religion. I once went to my local mormon church (don't ask) and everyone who got up on the stage was ranting about their way being the true way and everyone else was wrong and going to suffer.

Are religions in general just quick to take offence?

The media in general has a big part to play in this with its portrayal of 'Islamic Terrorists'. A new phrase really needs to be coined for the terrorists and its widespread use is part of the reason behind a) the stupid-think behind the Mo bomb cartoon in the first place and b) the fear currently being experienced in Denmark over repercussions.

However my gut feeling is the protesters have gone way too far and there's a huge whiff of hypocrisy in some of their actions. The easiest example is the pillock dressed up as a suicide bomber who is a convicted drug dealer. Is there nothing in the Koran that forbids followers to sell crack? How about setting fire to embassies?

The protesters complain about being insulted, yet I find placards proclaiming the beheading of anyone who isn't muslim pretty insulting, and horrifying, myself.

I find the Daily Mail insulting and evil but I don't want to behead its readers.

I guess the sad truth is that muslim leaders need some pretty good PR (thinking Prentis McCabe) in order to be viewed how the majority of them actually are and not the unbending, uncompromising death to all infidels image that they seem to have  in the media currently.

[LARF]

Thanks Dreddd much appreciated.

Agree with Andy no need to ban.

I also agree that even though the cartoon was a bad move, people have apologised as much as they can. But to rebel like the fundamentalists have done is an exagerated reaction to a bad mistake.

[James]

Just to lighten the mood a little, here's a quote from the Artdroids forum on the published cartoons.

"I was just wondering what people thought of the controversial 'Prophet
Mohammed' cartoon row.

To me it seems to demonstrate a nice use of feathering, especially round the
bomb in the turban. The inking is strong, even though stylistically the
drawing is somewhat behind the times, harking back to Gilray.

I can see why people might prefer a more contemporary look, though that's no
reason to run riot in the streets."

Genius!

[Matt Timson]

That's no genius, that's Adrian Bamforth!

[judge dreddd]

If all the Islamic countries just cut economic ties with denmark for 6 months i think everyone would get the message.