Cartoon Prophet

I think that Christians in the West find it difficult to understand the level of shock felt by Muslim people at the Cartoon Prophet. I spent a few minutes this afternoon speaking with Aziz who is in many respects a thoroughly westernised Muslim - third generation born in the UK -steeped in the Dance music tradition in the UK - educated at Bristol University - and a successful businessman with interests in design and music. I certainly did not expect that he would simply shrug off or ignore what was being published - but his sense of outrage has taken me by surprise.

I sense that these feelings are rooted in the sense that the European media is deliberately setting out to cause offence, and in a subtly rascist way to challenge the existence of the Islamic faith in Europe.

While the publishers maintain that they are excercising free speech (something which I would wholly support) I have always understood that "free speech" consists of disclosing to the wider public a "real" cause or injustice or perhaps excercising a freedom which has real artistic merit particularly on behalf of victims - "free speech" is not the right to publish whatever you want with no regard to the consequences, or without regard to offence that would be caused - or indeed to publish in such a way as to create victims.

Comments

[Kimbo]

Just as the cartoons were published by a small section of Western society, so I trust was the broadcast of the beheading of Western hostages on the internet effected by just a few representatives of the Islamic world.

Who, I ask, has the more right to be upset?

[Tom Allen]

Kimbo - could I suggest that there is no comparison between the actions of hostage takers (who everyone of good faith would condemn) and the mainstream papers and press of several countries who have published the cartoon pictures - the point is that I was not personally upset by the cartoons but I am not a Muslim - but I am aware of how upset my Muslim friend is. The question for the BBC and others is whether they could have covered the argument without adding to the offence by revealing the offensive pictures which bizarely were originally commissioned for a children's book.

[Kimbo]

Thanks for the reply Tom.

I agree, there is no comparison and as an ordinary Christian bloke trying to live by our Lord's teaching (and failing badly I might add) it upsets me that so much anti-Western hatred seems to have been stirred up by this. I'm saddened that so many of our Islamic neighbours are so upset by a few "juvenile" (thanks for the adjective Mr Mandelson) pictures.

I'm an amateur cartoonist in my spare time and I've been writing and drawing gags for my parish for about 13 years now. Any human in the bible except Jesus is fair game for me. Humans make mistakes or do daft things. If I can draw (say) stuff like the dove returning to the ark on a surfboard or Marvo the Talking Wonderdog informing the disciples that the Sea of Galilee is "ruff"(OK, I do animals too)..... and those gags prompt people to read the bible references that accompny the jokes, then in my small way I hope I've helped spread the word.

I haven't seen the offending material and expect because of my hobby I would wonder what the fuss is about if I did see them.

Ignoring governments and media lying to us for a momemt, I'm not convinced that the ordinary man in the Middle Eastern street has the same access to "unbiased" reporting that we do.

Whether they're fair or not, televised scenes of angry mobs burning flags are bound to influence opinions of we Westerners.

I just pray that God will defuse things before further damage is done, but I also pray that understanding and recociliation is a two way process. BOTH sides need to understand the other.

Sorry for being so wordy and thanks for letting me express my opinion.

[Sara Connoley]

I think that you are absolutely right in pointing our the double standards of the Western press, and the absurdity of defending freedom of the press on these grounds. Kimbo seems to regard Jesus as being off limts (why - surely our faith should allows us to cartoon Jesus as well?) and yet not understand why Muslims think that The Prophet should also be off-limits. A classic case of religious double standards by a confessed Christian?

[Kimbo]

Double standards? I hope not. Setting myself the limit of not drawing God/Jesus/Spirit was one of personal taste, not fear of thunderbolts. As my work is downright pisstaking at times no one could accuse me of having undue reverence for much. Until God stops me though, I'm going to carry on taking the mick out of humans and illustrating their foibles. That includes prophets - OT/NT ones at any rate given my audience.

You're right about one thing though - I don't understand the Muslim reaction. To me it's like the Catholics getting militant if an Islamic paper had a joke about the pope in it.

What outcry was there in the Arab nations when Saddam Hussein gassed the Kurds?

Some people on this planet need to get a sense of perspective.

[John Martin]

Kimbo - in order to understand the Muslim reaction you need to appreciate:
That Muhammad is not a Prophet he is THE Prophet so more in common with how we view Jesus rather than equal to the OT/NT prophets
Yes there was some reaction in the "Arab nations" when Kurds were gassed certainly in Jordan where we lived at the time it heavy news coverage and in Egypt. Saddam was an embarressment to many Arabs/Muslims.
The point for Muslims in the West (where the outcry started) is that the papers who printed the pictures are not Muslim papers they are "national" papers with Muslim readers and citizens who know that it feeds the prejudices of militant Muslims whose reactions they oppose.
In short its not the us and them that you seem to suggest - that that is the sense of perspective which we Christians need to cultivate with our Muslim brothers and sisters in the UK

[Kimbo]

Good morning to you John.

I did say in my 2nd post replying to Tom that I believe the understanding process should be 2 way, but I appreciate your answer. Believe me, conflict with Islam is a regular topic at our weekly bible study meetings, but I don't understand them yet. It may be worth noting that locally there was a multi-faith get together just before Christmas instigated by the Muslims and it went off well, so we're working at it.

Sara - briefly returning to the bit about me not making a target of Jesus. One of my early influences was Dave Allen and the hysterically funny sketches he performed. Here was a guy who would poke fun at the big chief too and I don't reckon Christianity suffered as a result. It's just my style is different.

Well it's been an interesting debate everyone. If my attempt at sticking up a web link to some of my artwork works maybe you could take a look and see if you get where I'm coming from.

God bless and sayonara. Kimbo.

[Carl Lezcano]

It seems to me that the Islamic people will look for any reason to commit havoc on the rest of the people.
Well we can see that they found another reason to burn and destroy other peoples property around them.
Don't forget that when the movie 'The Temptation Of Christ' hit the street the christians didn't start rioting and burning down the movie houses or blamed any Jew or Muslim.
I, like many other people, Christian and Jew, have become completely FED UP with the Islamic prople as a whole and their excuses and lies.
Their fairy tale book, the koran, is just an example of how they want to spread their hatred.

They are turning considerate people like myself against them, I'm ashamed to say, but I just get discusted and feel sorry for the inocent people that get their heads lopped off by these animals for any unimportant excuse. They and their whole culture are sick, and the sooner some country blows them off the face of the earth, the better.

[Tom]

Carl
There is no such thing as the "Islamic people" - "they" are as diverse and multiculural as the Christian faith which I presume you do have some understanding of. I specifically posted about the experience of one particular Muslim friend - not claiming that he was representative but almost the opposite in his highly westernised British identity. They key point being is that he was deeply shocked and offended by the Cartoons in a way that (having known him for 15 years) I had not anticipated. But he any many Muslims throughout the world would also utterley condemn the violent reactions of his brothers and sisters in the faith. My suggestion the press is playing into the hands of the Muslim fanatics - and perhaps that is the whole rascist point since it provides good stories and simply increases the stereotypes which you have fallen for.
Blessings
Tom

[Mohammad Ayub]

Any muslim will kill soon which make cartoon of our prophet.

[Mad Wolf]

Thanks for that very constructive comment Mo. Glad to see you hold dear to the premise that Islam is peaceful. Jesus loves you. You are precious to Him.

[Digital Pancakes]

Tragic as it and the subsequent loss of life was, I'm glad it wasn't Christians that blew up the mosque in Iraq.

[Jensen]

Charlie Hebdo
http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/medias/20060208.OBS5607.html

[Coach Outlet Online]

The nomination of the winner depends on the capability and spirit of the personality to finish the race.I liske the post very much as it contain informative in knowledge.I like pics of Chelsea shares of the beauty of running in Madison, Wisconsin.I want to congratulate the winner for the nomination race.I want to know suggestion from others.