The paintbrush/pen/pencil/crayon is mightier than the sword. Or hey, even needlepoint if you're up for it. The possibilities are endless. "Seattle cartoonist launches 'Everybody Draw Mohammed Day'," by Jamie Griswold for the Associated Press, April 23 (thanks to all who sent this in):
After Comedy Central cut a portion of a South Park episode following a death threat from a radical Muslim group, Seattle cartoonist Molly Norris wanted to counter the fear. She has declared May 20th "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day."
Norris told KIRO Radio's Dave Ross that cartoonists are meant to challenge the lines of political correctness. "That's a cartoonist's job, to be non-PC."
Producers of South Park said Thursday that Comedy Central removed a speech about intimidation and fear from their show after a radical Muslim group warned that they could be killed for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
The group said it wasn't threatening South Park producers Trey Parker and Matt Stone, but it included a gruesome picture of Theo Van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker killed by a Muslim extremist in 2004, and said the producers could meet the same fate. The website posted the addresses of Comedy Central's New York office and the California production studio where South Park is made.
"As a cartoonist I just felt so much passion about what had happened I wanted to kind of counter Comedy Central's message they sent about feeling afraid," Norris said.
Norris has asked other artists to submit drawings of any religious figure to be posted as part of Citizens Against Citizens Against Humor (CACAH) on May 20th.
But drawings of one "religious figure" in particular will provoke death threats and accusations of hatred and racism.
On her website Norris explains this is not meant to disrespect any religion, but rather meant to protect people's right to express themselves.
Me and Snowman are participating, and probably also collaborating. Who else is joining the event?
The idea is that we should be able to break their religious doctrine without them being offended. You know, seeing as how it's not our religious doctrine.
Besides, it does not say at ANY POINT in the Quran that you can't create an image depicting Mohammed. At any point. Ever.
What it says is that you're not supposed to worship the image, rather than what the image represents. The stance against images of him is a tradition passed down from when a small group of Muslims--you guessed it--took a small passage from the Quran and blew it out of proportion.
Similarly, I read in school that there was a group of Christians way back when that were strongly against depictions of God or Jesus. Hell, such Christians still exist today as a minority, but people don't seem worried about offending them.
I've done my research, and it looks like the majority of well-educated Muslims aren't even slightly offended by a non-malicious image of Mohammed, anyway.
This sentence has never been used in a manner that didn't make its creator look arrogant and simple.
Says the person who is about to draw something that will offend people because he was offended by something they did. Just because someone does something bad to you doesn't mean you should do something bad back. This is portraying Muslims as a whole as a bad, violent religion. You need to understand that there is a fine line between extremists and most other Muslims, which holds up in many other religions.
Simply saying that they are bad and need to be taught a lesson is rather ironic. Remind you of anyone?
I'm not participating, and if I did, it wouldn't be to "offend" people.
For the love of God, don't assume such horrible things about people. I explicitly stated that most Muslims are peaceful people and that most Muslims you'll meet on the internet won't even care about depictions of Muhammed.
Muslims are an unfairly untrusted social group right now and I would never do anything bigoted against them. If someone engages in this to "hurt Muslims", they're a sick person. Muslims, throughout history, are generally a peaceful and thoughtful people, inventors of algebra, surgery and the hospital, and in reality, they're more thick-shelled than you give them credit for.
I'm accepting of all religions. I'm even dating a Jehova's Witness. Religious bigotry is sick and I'm offended by the accusation. Learn where I really stand before you say such horrible things.
I'd like an apology, as I'd do the same for you if I wrongfully accused you of something so hurtful.
I'm not participating, and if I did, it wouldn't be to "offend" people.
For the love of God, don't assume such horrible things about people. I explicitly stated that most Muslims are peaceful people and that most Muslims you'll meet on the internet won't even care about depictions of Muhammed.
Muslims are an unfairly untrusted social group right now and I would never do anything bigoted against them. If someone engages in this to "hurt Muslims", they're a sick person. Muslims, throughout history, are generally a peaceful and thoughtful people, inventors of algebra, surgery and the hospital, and in reality, they're more thick-shelled than you give them credit for.
I'm accepting of all religions. I'm even dating a Jehova's Witness. Religious bigotry is sick and I'm offended by the accusation. Learn where I really stand before you say such horrible things.
First of all, learn to read, and show me where I said Muslims are bad. You're talking as though I've personally attacked their religion, when really, I don't give a **** about any of this. I'm just pointing out the flaw in this entire thing.
I never said you said Muslims were bad. You said they were generally quite easily offended, however, which I have reason to believe is untrue.
You also accused me of something very hurtful without evidence. I corrected you.
You misinterpreted something, it's not your fault. Just apologize and we can discuss this more civilly, but know this:
I do not dislike ANY religion nor its members. I do not think YOU dislike any religion, nor its members. We are both accepting and civil people. Neither of us is prejudiced in any way, as far as I know.
I have no problem with you and I'm not trying to insult you, but I am upset about your accusaitons of bigotry.
Link.
Me and Snowman are participating, and probably also collaborating. Who else is joining the event?
My sister was bitching to me about it...
Because, you know, I'm not a *****.
Not all muslims are messed up like the terrorists
Besides, it does not say at ANY POINT in the Quran that you can't create an image depicting Mohammed. At any point. Ever.
What it says is that you're not supposed to worship the image, rather than what the image represents. The stance against images of him is a tradition passed down from when a small group of Muslims--you guessed it--took a small passage from the Quran and blew it out of proportion.
Similarly, I read in school that there was a group of Christians way back when that were strongly against depictions of God or Jesus. Hell, such Christians still exist today as a minority, but people don't seem worried about offending them.
I've done my research, and it looks like the majority of well-educated Muslims aren't even slightly offended by a non-malicious image of Mohammed, anyway.
I just said it's not a moral issue.
This sentence has never been used in a manner that didn't make its creator look arrogant and simple.
Says the person who is about to draw something that will offend people because he was offended by something they did. Just because someone does something bad to you doesn't mean you should do something bad back. This is portraying Muslims as a whole as a bad, violent religion. You need to understand that there is a fine line between extremists and most other Muslims, which holds up in many other religions.
Simply saying that they are bad and need to be taught a lesson is rather ironic. Remind you of anyone?
For the love of God, don't assume such horrible things about people. I explicitly stated that most Muslims are peaceful people and that most Muslims you'll meet on the internet won't even care about depictions of Muhammed.
Muslims are an unfairly untrusted social group right now and I would never do anything bigoted against them. If someone engages in this to "hurt Muslims", they're a sick person. Muslims, throughout history, are generally a peaceful and thoughtful people, inventors of algebra, surgery and the hospital, and in reality, they're more thick-shelled than you give them credit for.
I'm accepting of all religions. I'm even dating a Jehova's Witness. Religious bigotry is sick and I'm offended by the accusation. Learn where I really stand before you say such horrible things.
I'd like an apology, as I'd do the same for you if I wrongfully accused you of something so hurtful.
First of all, learn to read, and show me where I said Muslims are bad. You're talking as though I've personally attacked their religion, when really, I don't give a **** about any of this. I'm just pointing out the flaw in this entire thing.
You also accused me of something very hurtful without evidence. I corrected you.
You misinterpreted something, it's not your fault. Just apologize and we can discuss this more civilly, but know this:
I do not dislike ANY religion nor its members. I do not think YOU dislike any religion, nor its members. We are both accepting and civil people. Neither of us is prejudiced in any way, as far as I know.
I have no problem with you and I'm not trying to insult you, but I am upset about your accusaitons of bigotry.