at February 6, 2006 11:29 AMTherefore there is a strong case for saying that the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, and those who have reprinted its efforts out of solidarity, are affirming the right to criticize not merely Islam but religion in general. And the Bush administration has no business at all expressing an opinion on that. If it is to say anything, it is constitutionally obliged to uphold the right and no more. You can be sure that the relevant European newspapers have also printed their share of cartoons making fun of nuns and popes and messianic Israeli settlers, and taunting child-raping priests. There was a time when this would not have been possible. But those taboos have been broken.I agree with all of the above - word-to-word! Posted by shanti at February 6, 2006 9:52 AMWhich is what taboos are for. Islam makes very large claims for itself. In its art, there is a prejudice against representing the human form at all. The prohibition on picturing the prophet-who was only another male mammal-is apparently absolute. So is the prohibition on pork or alcohol or, in some Muslim societies, music or dancing. Very well then, let a good Muslim abstain rigorously from all these. But if he claims the right to make me abstain as well, he offers the clearest possible warning and proof of an aggressive intent. This current uneasy coexistence is only an interlude, he seems to say. For the moment, all I can do is claim to possess absolute truth and demand absolute immunity from criticism. But in the future, you will do what I say and you will do it on pain of death.
I refuse to be spoken to in that tone of voice, which as it happens I chance to find “offensive.”
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LGF has a post with a transcript of the State briefing in question, and from reading that the “State Dept siding against the Danes” meme doesn’t seem to hold water.
Posted by: Prasenjeet at February 6, 2006 11:24 AM
That was interesting, Prasenjeet - that does make me happy. I understand that the current war in Iraq makes it hard for the administration to do anything remotely offensive to the Muslim base. It is a good thing they still remember the first amendment.
Posted by: shanti at February 6, 2006 11:29 AM
My lateest post on my blog is on a similar note…heres the link to it…….http://tamilpunkster.blogspot.com/2006/02/prejudice-against-hinduism-or-is-it.html
What bothers me about Islam and Christianity is this constant coercion……the idea that it either “their way or no way”. As long as they coexist with other religions its fine with me. But when they start this coercion…..pushing their religion onto other people thats when it irks me. I have had numerous”servants of the Lord” come up to me and tell me to convert to Christianity because as a Hindu I am cursed..and I will suffer eternal damnation in hell. My only answer is : in that case Ill stay cursed.
Great post by the way.
Megha
Posted by: megha at February 6, 2006 4:13 PM
Bad things happen when folks don’t realize that religion is a guide to life and not a rule of the thumb. Islam claims certain things that make you think that Charlie Chaplin might have had a hand in writing the book and people to “understand” the bible are equally idiots. The moment the fact that a religion is a “guide” and nothing mroe is forgotten, all hell breaks loose. better example : Hinduism and folks in the RSS, VHP and so on. Making sense am I? or not? I guess I’ve rambled enough. shall be back when I stop laughing about the stupidity of the religious fanatics”.
Posted by: Sriram at February 7, 2006 1:25 PM
Thanks so much for sharing this - I’ve always liked Christopher Hitchens’ writing and I agree with him as well…..
Aum Shanti,
Colette
Posted by: Colette at February 15, 2006 12:48 PM