Cartoon furor exposes double standards Feb. 23, 2006. 01:00 AM HAROON SIDDIQUI Gary Younge, the New York-based black British columnist, has written this about the Danish cartoon controversy in The Nation magazine: "Muslims have, in effect, been vilified twice: once through the original cartoons and then again for having the gall to protest them. Such logic recalls the words of the late South African black nationalist Steve Biko: `Not only are whites kicking us, they are telling us how to react to being kicked.'" Confusion continues to mark the Western response to the issue. Some of this is because we are in uncharted waters. But something else is at work — double standards and insidious attempts at delegitimizing the Muslim protests. Notorious British historian David Irving has just been sentenced in Vienna to three years for denying the Holocaust. Radical British Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al Masri has been jailed, among other things, for inciting hatred. About time. Yet there's silence from freedom of speech advocates who were on their pulpits just days ago. Denying the Holocaust is not the same as poking fun at a prophet, some might say. Muslims might respond that the cartoons contravened the historical fact that Muhammad was not a terrorist with a bomb in his turban. Masri's case offers a better parallel. Besides terrorism-related charges, he was convicted of fomenting hate against Britons. Muslims said the Danish cartoons did exactly that to them. How does a democracy decide which hate is worse? In France, the Catholic Church last year won a lawsuit against a fashion designer depicting The Last Supper with semi-nude women instead of the apostles. Where were the noisy advocates of freedom of speech then? Or, do they pop up only to claim the right to bash Muslims? The cartoon episode has little or nothing to do with blasphemy. Some Muslims invoke it but that's a tangent democracies need no longer take. The real issue is that freedom of speech has limits, by law and by social dictates (self-censorship). Newspapers do not publish cartoons that may be hurtful, hateful, xenophobic or racist. Do thinking people want to make the case for resurrecting the old caricatures of fat-lipped blacks, hook-nosed Jews or cross-eyed Chinese? "I don't find the cartoons offensive," some people say. That's not the point. Nor is it that some Muslims think so. That's like invoking a lapsed Catholic to tell most Catholics what to think. It's best in a democracy "to let each group decide what it finds most offensive, so long as the implied taboo is not too onerous," writes Robert Wright in a thoughtful opinion page article in The New York Times. He is the author of The Moral Animal. "Look, here's an old depiction of Muhammad," some others say, to discredit the assertion that Islam forbids depiction of the Prophet. There's no denying such depictions exist. Miniatures featured Muhammad in various scenes but only a few showed his face, while others blanked out the space. Some centuries ago, Muslims came to a consensus against such depictions. We risk breaking the democratic balance when we poke people in the eye about their beliefs. Doing so to Muslims in these tense times is especially reprehensible. The worldwide protests are being portrayed as the work of radicals or of such governments as Iran and Syria. Some no doubt are. But manipulating the public is not the exclusive preserve of Muslim radicals or Muslim governments. Suggesting that only the fanatics are upset is to minimize the offence caused by what the United Church has called an "incitement to racial and religious hatred." Those defending the Danish newspaper keep saying it did not mean to offend Muslims. Really? Here's Flemming Rose, the editor who commissioned the drawings, talking about Danish Muslims: "This is about the question of integration and how compatible is the religion of Islam with modern secular society — how much does an immigrant have to give up and how much does the receiving culture have to compromise." And: "People are no longer willing to pay taxes to help support someone called Ali who comes from a country with a different language and culture that's 5,000 miles away." Sympathy is also shown poor little liberal Denmark that can't quite believe its portrayal abroad. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is in a coalition with the People's party, which has called Danish Muslims "cancer cells" and "seeds of weeds." It is pondering a total ban on Muslim immigration. Just think: Keeping people out because Steve Biko: `Not only are whites kicking us, they are telling us how to react to being kicked.'" Source

Is this getting alot of coverage in the muslim world via media?

Ameen, But it really has me worried and saddened! For the avg. sunni or shia muslim brother/sister, this might feed to negative thoughts they might have had about their sunni and shia brothers and sisters. Its strange how just yesterday it was in the news, that Irran was willing to fund Haamass to run its governmental operations and trying to encourage other muslim nations to do so. It was a great, great thing for the Ummah b/c this was a cross sunni-shia alliance under the banner of ISLAM. 24hrs later and these bombs have now gone off to resurrect and deepen the secterianism.

Callypso said: Khayr, it's in your character to indulge in name-calling, hyperbole, and expecting people to agree with you because you repeat the same thing again and again in capital letters. If you were right about people expecting Muslims to apologize for the actions of a few, I would be demanding that the Muslims of SOL issue a heartfelt apology for your behavior. I don't know what Sunnah you're following, but be true to the niceties of online discussions at least. Quit the ad hominem attacks. When you proclaim IGNORANCE/JAHILNIMO with a sense of ARROGANCE and expouse your Atheistic, Secular ideas and ridicule all that has do with RELIGION and in particular ISLAM, which is my way of life, the way of life of my ancestors and many other nomads, then don't expect ME to be all NICE about things in the name of 'DEBATE NICETIES'. Its like someone SPITTING ON YOUR FACE and saying to you-Please respond back NICELY! :rolleyes: Callypso, Is the Blindperson equal to the one that can SEE, is the Deafperson equal to the one that can HEAR? In the eyes of the Muslim, they are not and thus, get treated differently. Your AIM thus far in your writings has been to be CYNICAL of ISLAM and MUSLIMS and to DEMEAN what they VALUE. Callaypso said: Yes, America's embargo of Iraq is wrong, so let's go kill some Canadians is hardly a rational argument. Where did I say that? Why Jump the gun to NEGATIVE STEREO TYPING? quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So is it ok for a Muslim then to include in almost every conversation they have with an americann, that an APOLOGY should be made for AMERICANSS massacring kids in Falluja in Nov./dec. 2004? Or killing Afghani people from a Tomcat f-14 high up in the sky, like it was a video game? etc... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was under the impression that they already do. I've never met a Muslim who did not blame and dislike Americans for their actions (and inactions) in the Muslim world. The key isn't that Muslims blame Americans, it's that Americans by and large don't care. On the other hand, Muslims care what non-Muslims think about Islam, the Prophet, etc. Part and parcel of a religion seeking converts, I'm afraid. If Muslims don't like apologizing, all they have to do is stop. There's no law stating that CAIR is requires to give a press conference every time some Muslim does something unsavory. I have a feeling that CAIR wouldn't mind such a law though. They don't care what they DO TO OTHERS, yet they EXPECT EVERY muslim, all 1.4 billion, to always APOLOGIZE for 99/11. Muslims are by and large, required to Apologize and do some SELF-BLAME, if they want to raise an ISSUE that is brought about by NON MUSLIMS i.e. danish cartoons. So Muslims just can't stop APOLOGIZING b/c they would then be accused of being Hypocritical, not treating ALL ISSUES as Equal etc... Also, If a Muslim doesn't Apologize, they are then viewed as being HOSTILE or RUDE. (Refer to your earlier comments for a little proof!) The muslim has to apologize for everything related to Muslims and Islam-Tell me why again they have to do that??? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Okay, Khayr, you've repeated this a million times. When you say "has to", are you refering to legally? In which way are Muslims compelled to apologize? Can you give us some documented cases in which Muslims where dragged kicking and screaming to a press conference and told to apologize? Just one? A MUSLIM is BOOKED, JUDGED AND SENTENCED through PUBLIC ANTI-MUSLIM/RELIGION SENTIMENTS. Its the People that conduct the trails (refer to the Peer Jury system as an example) and form the SENTIMENTS that push for lobbying of bills and laws. Now can you reflect a little and not Equate Islam and muslims with Negative IMAGEERY!!!

Salamun calikyum, I know some of you have heard and seen the news coverage of the bombings of the Iraqi Masjids and the Secterian Violence that has broken out. From the coverage, I've also heard that the Amerricans are More then willing to help REBUILD those Masajids that were bombed today....and to add injury to an already volitaile people, the British Foreign Minister was CONDEMING the ATTACKS on the Masajid (Public Relations BS 101)....how fouck'n convienant for them :mad: :mad: :mad: The nerve of these SHAYATEEN working their way at DIVIDING the UMMAH. I'm not blaming One Particular group, damnnn it, someone is BENEFITING from an all out SECTERIAN WAR BTWN MUSLIMS and it sure ain't the MUSLIM UMMAH. WHY in a TIME when the MUSLIM UMMAH was UNITED on an ISSUE (the Danish Cartoons), did this BOMBING of this scale have to occur? Who in the hell does it benefit and what purpose would it serve? Its already getting alot of PRESS COVERAGE and the GRAPHIC scenes and wordplay are in full effect. SubhanAllah! If you have a shred of Iman; for the sake UMMAH of the Rasul (salallahu caliyhe wasilm), that same UMMAH that you, your father,grandfather etc. come from, the roots that most of us come from, then pls make a DU'A that ALLAH BINDS (ALLIFA BAYNA QULUBIXEEM) the Hearts of the BELIEVERS in such a TIME of FITNAH.

Originally posted by Caano Geel: ok so do u guys wanna discuss this or do you wanna want to say what u believe and people to agree with you? I don't know if this is a Cynical QUESTION or a Sarcastic REMARK or a RHETORICAL question.... What was in the above quoted writing that the sister posted is what we DISCUSS ALMOST EVERY TIME an Issue is EXAMINED from an Islamic point of view. Clash of Principles-Word of GOD/Revelation v. Popular SENTIMENT and Moral Relativism.

So there is no room for discussion or preference in the law of Allah (swt), Allah (swt) said: "Allah is the one who legislates and judges, and nobody dares to comment on it" [EMQ Ra’d: 41] So there is no possibility of voting to decide law and order as the verdict is always with Allah (swt), Allah (swt) said: "Whatever it occurs that you have a problem, the verdict is for Allah," [EMQ Shura: 10]

Originally posted by Castro: quote: Originally posted by Khayr: Your 'COMMON SENSE' carries with it a BIASNESS tht is reflective of your place and time in HISTORY. So if I'm of this time and place in history, is it safe then to assume that either you or the sexaholic senile are from another time and place in history? I think that your JUDGEMENTS become EMOTIONALLY CLOUDED on such subjects because your a Father who has daughter. Point Blank~ That sense of being a Protective Father CLOUDS YOUR JUDGEMENT and you justify ALL YOUR REACTIONS as 'COMMEN SENSE', when dealing with similiar topics/subjects.

Salamun, Originally posted by Lidia: where was the public support when the other prophets received the same ridicule? 1. We are of the Ummah of Muhammed (salallahu caliyhe wasilm), so although we love the Anbiya, we don't follow their Sharias/Laws i.e. the Shariah of Nabi Isa or Nabi Musa. 2. The Prophet Muhammed (salallahu caliyhe wasilm)is the Messenger first and foremost to thosse that follow his Message/his Risalah. Thus, since as Muslims we follow his message (salallahu caliyhe wasilm), that relationship btwn the Messenger and his followers is very strong and is part and parcel of being a muslim-note the Shahada. So Lidia, Maybe that question can be posed to Christians, as to why they didn't fight hard enough when Jesus was mocked in a photo or movie? Maybe, you can ask your fellow neighbor as to where their PUBLIC SUPPORT is for the PROPHETS? Prophet Muhammed (salallahu caliyhe) and his Ummah are being insulted, so why can't you ask your Neighbor to stand up and show a public support for Prophet Muhammed (salallahu caliyhe)? Question, Do you love ALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS the SAME WAY, SAME LEVEL? If your honest answer is no and your mother happens to come first, father,etc., then inshallah, you might come to understanding a response to your own question. On a side note, One thing i've noticed from all this is that the MEDIA does a job of SENSATIONALIZING and MAGNIFYING anything and ALL that is done by MUSLIMS that the POPULAR SENTIMENT does not support. A chant of Allahu Akbar, is scrutunized and the camera magnifies the muslim's eyes, lips, moustache and beard 10x, such that the muslim becomes VILLIFIED and the average person says-OH, that Muslim, WHAT A MONSTER? Can't he/she just sign a petition and stop these protests? The MASS POPULACE becomes INCULCATED with these NEGATIVITIES.

Originally posted by Castro: ^ Just common sense and some decency atheer. No western laws or morals. But that 'COMMON SENSE' has to have been CULTIVATED over time for how else can you tell btwn what is 'COMMON SENSE' and what 'ISN'T COMMEN SENSE'? i.e. that life is precious, that government paper notes are Money that can get you SHELTER, that murder is Wrong etc. Your 'COMMON SENSE' carries with it a BIASNESS tht is reflective of your place and time in HISTORY.

Originally posted by naden: Brother Khayr, I was hoping you would come back with a more substantiative support for your arguments but I am disappointed and frankly a bit bored. You want my reaction to these pictures? Here it goes: OH WOW, how many muslims can put on clothes (colour-matched and all), put together posters, and march in a group? Mashallah, we sure made our prophet(pbuh) proud!!!!!!! Proof of exactly what is in the pictures? I still think this is a trivial issue even a laughable one and I am leaving this topic now but will happily return if you present another argument. quote: Originally posted by Khayr: quote: This subject of cartoons is not only a trivial one but a serious distraction from the political and economic belittlement of the muslim ummah. Get this through your small, collective, and self-serving indignities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I just can't think of a Bigger issue that the Muslim Ummah has faced in our life time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That is your limitation, brother. Oh no wait, that is your choice. Naden, Check out some of these muslims and see if they thought that it is a 'TRIVIAL' subject! Enjoy! The proof is in the pictures and many more that you can find on the net. Oh I forgot on think, Layzie G., The issue hasn't been forgotton yet, sorry it keeps popping up on sol and all over the world! Naden, Just remember this, inshallah and that is that arguing for what is TRUTH/HAQQ is not about WINNING an ARGUMENT or Appeasing someone. Winning the Argument is not the Objective but rather stating what needs to be stated because it is the RIGHT THING TO DO AND SAY (no matter how unpopular it might be). Now how does the say going- A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS! :cool:

This subject of cartoons is not only a trivial one but a serious distraction from the political and economic belittlement of the muslim ummah. Get this through your small, collective, and self-serving indignities. ..... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I just can't think of a Bigger issue that the Muslim Ummah has faced in our life time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That is your limitation, brother. Oh no wait, that is your choice. Naden, Check out some of these muslims and see if they thought that it is a 'TRIVIAL' subject! Enjoy! Thousands came out in Turkey on the weekend In Syria In Karachi, last week In NYC The proof is in the pictures and many more that you can find on the net. Oh I forgot on think, Layzie G., The issue hasn't been forgotton yet, sorry it keeps popping up on sol and all over the world!

Bashir Goth has tried in his article "Cartoons put a great religion to the test" (WardheerNews.com, 10 February, 2006) to be too clever by half and has in the process laid bare both the bankruptcy of his argument and his malevolence towards Islam and Moslems. The very title of his article is of course offensive to Moslems and is indicative of a schizophrenic-personality approach to treating an important and burning issue: ‘important’ because it has brought to the fore how the West and The Moslem World see each other, and ‘burning’ because it is topical but, literally, too hot an issue to play with. . What is Schizophrenia? A mental illness in which the person suffers from distorted thinking, hallucinations, and a reduced ability to feel normal emotions People with schizophrenia do not have a "split personality," or an idiosyncratic way of thinking which is correctable through psychoanalysis. People experiencing an acute episode of schizophrenia have a sudden onset of severe psychotic symptoms. To be "psychotic" means to be out of touch with reality, or unable to separate real from unreal experience. People with this disease can experience periods of distorted sense of reality or ability to think and also hallucinations and delusions. ... When used in reference to the field of Analytical Psychology originally named dementia praecox, It was thought to be a disorder of body chemistry. it is characterized by a splitting apart of thoughts, feelings and actions. Jung acknowledged a physiological component in the illness but considered that its primary origin was psychological - the domination of personality by a split-off complex. Source Bashir Goth:Is he a Schizophrenic Muslim?

This video is very touching, that sistah with the purple niqab reminds me of a sahabi. Her passion, her conversion was head on -100%. Islam is her life FULL TIME and not Part time. MashaAllah.

SALAMZ, JZK pls do share with us more videos.

MashaAllah, It sounds beautiful, very...very nice, sawtun jameel-jeedan! Naden, Listen to what he says and reflect a little and in it, inshallah, you will find a proper response to your questions.

^^^ What a timing for such a decision!!! What a timing for such a decision?!!! EU is digging itself a HOLE, deeper and deeper

Originally posted by Pi: Gosh! As if Muqdishu didnt have enough problems. They have perverse 'pious' men too! I think every part of Somalia was able to get rid of these power-mongering pious men. Its high time that good ole Muqdisho did the same! ^^^ Still a Zero, no matter how many times you try to change your 'COLORS'...

Originally posted by Abraar: Bismillah Masha'Allah, the protest today was amazing. I went there along with my older brothers and subhanallah, it was quite moving and tear-inducing; to see thousands of Muslim brothers and sisters gathered and showing their love for the prophet (saw) and to feel that intense Islamic atmosphere was a great experience. Though the weather was bitter cold and somewhat unbearable, it mattered not and it stopped no one (from the very young to the elderly). I personally kept thinking about the rightly guided sahabas (may Allah be pleased with them) and the great lengths they used to go to protect our beloved Rasul (SAW) and to profess their utmost love and respect for him--how blessed were they to have been granted those opportunities. Insha'Allah, our message (and that of Muslims around the whole world) was received well and hopefully it will make a difference. MashaAllah, Does the GOOD of the UMMAH every get MUCH MEDIA coverage? Had someone burned a flag, would the coverage been different? We don't see these gatherings on the news-they are not emphasized and what is-is the NEGATIVES! I recall in the seerah about how the Sahaba went about protecting the Rasul (sallahu caliyhe wasilm), putting their lives before all him, putting their children's lives before him (mothers sending all their boys)...etc. I think at times, how do some of the muslims who view this Cartoon subject to be 'frivilous/trivial' or not worthy of 'Too much' attention, expect to get to Jannah. The Rasul (sallahu calihe wasilm) should never, ever.....ever....be a 'drag' in our lifes. His Honor is our Duty as Muslims and we protect it THROUGH character, through words, through our actions etc.... I just can't think of a Bigger issue that the Muslim Ummah has faced in our life time.

Salamz, The site has had a make over, with ghaado to be served in March, 2006.

Check out the response of the Muslim lawyer 37mins into the video

Originally posted by Pucca: -CPU (recently given to me, but i never got around to installing anything or even taking it out of the box...its no good now since the kids thought it would be 'cool' to see how 'fat' they were and if they could actualy 'crush' the computer by sitting on it and then jumping on the darn thing) stuff... Kids make the calmest of people Raise their Voice. Little shayateeeeen-at times! :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Digaale: Man Marries 58 Times in 50 Years Majed Al-Kanani, Arab News/Asharq Al-Awsat Saleh Al-Saieri JEDDAH, 19 March 2004 — In 50 years, Saleh Al-Saieri, a Saudi businessman has married 58 women, including eight Yemenis, and then divorced 54 of them. Every time the wives hear that Al-Saieri has found a new prospect, they begin wondering who is next to go. Al-Saieri’s extended family includes 36 children from 15 wives and he has married into 30 tribes across Saudi Arabia. As soon as Al-Saieri gets the itch to marry again, he draws lots between the current four wives to choose which one will be divorced. Under Islamic Shariah, he is not allowed to marry more than four wives at a time. Al-Saieri said, “I first got married to my cousin when I was 14 years old because of my father. The ceremony took place in Sharura, southern Saudi Arabia. A few months later, I divorced her even though she gave birth to my first son, Omar. He is now 50 years old and works as an engineer and a businessman.†“Six months later, I married my second wife. I loved her because I had known her when we were young. I started my marriage campaign immediately after the second marriage,†he added. He said, “My wives only meet each other occasionally. Each lives far away from the other. Some of my sons only found out that they were brothers through similarity of names at school.†“I married university graduates and illiterate women. The oldest wife I am married to is 40 and the youngest is 13, who I married just one month ago. She lives in southern Saudi Arabia,†he boasted. “I will stop when I reach wife number 60,†he concluded. An office manager handles all the requirements of the ex-wives and children. Until now, Al-Saieri has forked out SR6 million in payments and wedding expenses. Source Waryaadha, Leave my Awoow Jamaa alone! :mad: Gaabdhaa know this one- as long as the man got the loot, the list of brides never ends...

MashaAllah Northerner, Saxib, I'm coming for a visit inshallah if I get a chance to make a trip to that part of the world. Oman looks a bit like Al Ain but not as dry. So how's the Villa life saxib?

Originally posted by naden: My priorities are intact, thank you very much. How about this question: What would the rasuul (p.b.u.h) say and do about fellow muslims bombed daily and forced to live as second class citizens in countries all over the world? How would he react to that in comparison to idiotic cartoons from a non-believer? Exaltation of the rasuul is a duty, we must temper it with reason or else we are on a very dangerous slope to deifying him (as has happened in another faith). He was a man who brought our message and non-believers will always target him for ridicule. That is their folly. Our fall as an ummah will not come from these cartoons but from the maiming and decimation of muslims. quote: Naden, Where are your priorities? Infact, this was one of the reasons why it was done b/c some people viewed that Muslims would React in an 'Unwanted' manner if such pictures, stories about their prophet (salallau calihe wasilm) came up...and if the 'Lion'/Muslim was taunted by EVERYONE, then it would Weaken HIM and exhaustim HIM. This thing has United muslims and Divide some b/c it just brings things to the forefront -HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLINGLY TO DO FOR THE PROPHET (salallau calihe wasilm) ? Its in our face, co-workers talk about it, its all over the net and Television etc....and Alhamdulillah, the Muslim WORLD hasn't Forgetton about it and inshallah, won't. Its a high priority if not a #1 priority to Muslims b/c this was intended to SPIT AT MUSLIMS and inaa lugoo xaaro ummada. Once you start to HIT AT at the FOUNDATIONS of a HOME, then its MEMEBERS have a RIGHT to REACT and be CONCERNED and make it a #1 PRIORITY (at least in their hearts), or else the REST OF THEIR HOME might COLLAPSE and NOTHING might be left for their Children, their GRANDCHILDREN. Infact, their Grandchildren might ask-WHY DO WE HAVE A DIFFERENT HOUSE THEN OUR GRANDPARENTS? The RASUL (salallahu calihe wasilm) is one of the FOUNDATIONS, if not Thee FOUNDATION PILLAR of the DEEN. Pls don't try to take my comments as trying to incite an agrument or bully you or hate on you. Its just that as humans, we tend to become COMPLACENT (accepting) of our CIRCUMSTANCES and as members of the Muhammedan Ummah, we shouldn't do so (AT LEAST NOT IN OUR HEARTS). Fi Amanillah