Mohammad cartoons -- definitely the most important political issue currently.

Well, at this point, people have DIED over this cartoon shit! I think they're perfectly justified (since they're so inclined) in peaceably and economically protesting this kind of thing.
But taking it as far as they are.... I feel perfectly justified calling them a mob of fucking idiots!

I don't think too highly of the snobby European media making things worse (probably getting people killed as a result of their oh-so-responsible decisions), and showing their complete contempt for anything remotely attached to religion. But the reaction on the other side is even more ridiculous.

To respond to old posts: All extremists suck, true, and I've said this myself. But even if Christian wackos are killing people over things, I think this shows that the difference is in numbers.

I'd have to agree that Christiano is right about the lack of Muslim rage over the right kind of events. Sure, the sane muslims are very upset, but either they are very few in number or they're not nearly as upset as they should be. (I think maybe it's both.) The media and people in general aren't wondering where the Muslim resistance to terror is because it's their job to spread propaganda. IMO there just isn't very strong resistance to terror among the majority of Muslims. I hope someone can prove me wrong by pointing out all the news stories of marches, public gatherings, and the war-on-terror cooperation within the Muslim world that I've missed. But I expect that it pails in comparison to proof of the support or indifference to the jihadist movement.

Er, oh and I don't think there's anything wrong with well targeted generalizations within certain contexts: i.e. "These Muslims are a bunch of assholes." -- If you don't mean all Muslims, this is fine. Generally I'd direct it at the ones that are, oh you know, SETTING FIRES AND THROWING SHIT over some cartoons.

I've seen them (them = fundamentalist (so-called Christians)) protest a funeral of my friend's though. That was pretty awful. There we were at church, to say farewell to a man who was a volunteer, a performer, apolitical, and just a plain good person. Marching in front of the church were these AWFUL people with signs that said stuff like "fags burn in hell" and "aids is god's revenge," etc. They positively leered with delight at every pained expression of the mourners.

I think anytime someone thinks he or she has the right to do whatever (especially to other people) and that right is given by GOD, well we could be in trouble.

Hear, hear. What is the phrase... "your rights end at my nose"? Unfortunately, that seems to be a very Western/modern/progressive idea not shared in a whole lot of cultures.

A little tangent here, this is the crux of the issue, IMHO. The reaction of cultures who are being threatened by another, i.e., when their fine Muslim son comes home with an iPod, wearing a CokaCola shirt and wearing the latest Nikes. I don't personally believe that it means the end of their cultural mores, and would hope not; people should be able to adapt to certain superficial changes and still remain who they and their ancestors are, as they see fit to choose to do. But for some, globalization of culture and such is a real threat; maybe they see their own extinction. And perhaps the only option they see is violence like this. Maybe they need to understand other options besides taking to the streets. </tangentical_metathought>

Looking through the news for a specific article I read yesterday, I came across these that would be of interest to folks reading this thread:

A Muslim man with a fairly wide view of the issue, uncanny point about the probable cause and history: http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=4133

A rational editorial from Pakistan for the anti-cartoon side, including a number of questions and comments brought up in this thread: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C01%5C27%5Cstory_27-1-2006_pg3_5

Fifth paragraph cites some of the story of why the cartoons were published in the first place. Not the article I was looking for to answer the question of the intent, but it says a little about it. Also an interesting historical perspective, from a South Korean news source: http://english.ohmynews.com/ArticleView/article_view.asp?no=272271&rel_no=1

Anyway, just some stuff.

PS: The last link leads to some other sources and articles, this one of interest about a previous murder of a Danish film maker: http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?menu=c10400&no=196720&rel_no=1

That would be muslin, not muslim.

The fabric's name origin is from the Italian for a name-place in Iraq called Mussolo Mosul.

Muslim and Moslem both come to us from Arabic, and translate as, "one who surrenders".

On the actual topic, me wonders how many times Christ has been "cartooned" by people of Muslim faith.

This is like the Bush Guy, only RL....

you mean muslin. It's a pain in the ass to work with too if you don't know how.

Well, I'm impressed. This one bit raised an eyebrow for me but on everything else I think he's right on:



Alot of people have already been saying the majority Muslim world is in a Dark Age but it's interesting to hear it from his perspective.

Hey, I love the land of circa 1A.D. fashion

Setting up an SL carnival booth with respectful pics of Moham. and all proposed prophets and profiteers. 10k to the scripter with the best pie throwing anim!

Sit tight. S'all I have to say on the tit-for-tats.