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Journal dead sun's Journal: Cartoon Madness 10

Journal by dead sun
Eh, I've been silent on the issue for a while, but I figured what the heck, why not throw in my two cents. Everybody else is doing it.

I was nearly of two minds to the ordeal. One side of me said it probably wasn't the best idea to publish images that would provoke this sort of reaction. That was the first thought, one of those what do you expect to happen when you insult a whole religion thoughts.

After I sat down and gave it a little harder thought, I've made up my mind on a second conclusion. Screw anybody that takes offense to it. Go ahead, voice that you're upset. Great, get it out. Then get over it. Denmark has certain freedoms, like every other civilized country on this globe. Things can be published that offend people. Maybe it isn't nice, maybe it isn't even ethical, but it is a right afforded a free people to say, write, and draw what they damn well please. If you don't like it you're free to voice that, you can attempt to get other people to stop listening, but screw you if you're going to try to silence somebody.

I think I'm going to write to the Star Trib and see if they'll seek republication rights to the images. Not because I think the images are in any way wholesome or right. I think anybody that seriously published those images as a statement about Islam or Mohammed should be made into a joke like a KKK newsletter would be treated. No, I'm behind republication because I'm with free speech. Down with any group claiming we cannot say something. Say it is wrong, say it's offensive, but don't mess with our rights and liberties. Get people to stop listening, don't silence.

Mad props to the leader of Denmark who refused to make an appology for the press. That is, by far, one of the most brilliant things I've ever heard from a politician. A big screw you, you don't have a right to not be offended. We do, however, have a right to free speech. We need more of this person everywhere.

With that stance firmly in place, what the hell is up with the embassies being burned and all that? The countries hosting the embassies can't be bothered to keep their population in check enough not to destroy property of a different sovereignty? To their credit they at least tried, though I wonder how close it'd be to a declaration of war if they didn't. And hey, Islamic leaders are condemning the actions, claiming they just reinforce the stereotypes being portrayed in the cartoons. Will anybody listen?
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Cartoon Madness

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  • Do you remember Chip and Pepper's Cartoon Madness on NBC Saturday mornings? I used to love that. They showed Captain Caveman and a bunch of old cartoons. They were nice and inoffensive.

    Sorry... you sparked a childhood memory.

  • A big screw you, you don't have a right to not be offended.

    I hear ya... but read this [slashdot.org].
    • Not so much a counter argument I think but rather a call for calm and rational thought about what is going on and why. Such is always welcome in my journal, and I wholeheartedly agree that this situation needs more calm and rational and less off the cuff and hate.

      I wouldn't so much say it's like pissing in the holy water, that physically fouls property belonging to a cathedral. Perhaps if these cartoons were nailed to a Mosque's door I'd be with you in that analogy. What it is more akin to, in my mind, is
      • You have one important oversight... the World is *not* a Democracy.
        • I don't think that's an oversight on my part. The world is not a totalitarian theocracy. The world is not a singly governed entity. The upset theocracies can ban whatever they please on their soil, but they're powerless to do likewise off of it. Freedom of speech in free countries is not up for compromise, and those who would attempt to stop it can screw off. I wholly support Denmark's leadership in refusing to issue an apology.

          Worse than the people under the theocracies who don't understand what a free pr
          • The world is not a totalitarian theocracy.

            The problem in my opinion is that one who views the world through democratic lenses can only reason on the side of democratic policy. Similar to sunglasses tinted red, every shade of the rainbow will be influenced by the red lenses. The same goes for any political and socio-economic structure. Which is the reason I stated in my argument that... "I am influenced by my environment", which boils down 4th generation US born, Muslim Indian-American. I can only make judge
            • Overall, Islamic Fundamentalists have deemed the US a *schemer* and not to be trusted. The US had deemed Islamic Fundamentalists a *threat* to freedom.

              Seems to me like a contest between Blue (liberal) & Red (conservative) states on a global front.
            • The problem in my opinion is that one who views the world through democratic lenses can only reason on the side of democratic policy.

              That is clearly and demonstrably false. There are many who've chimed in on this affair who live in free nations that have claimed the cartoons should never have been drawn or published. The whole talk back section on the BBC site covering this is full of members of democracies that are calling for censorship. Sure, they aren't calling for a repressive theocracy, but they're

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