tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18947592.post113963135883759097..comments2023-11-06T00:01:30.085+13:00Comments on New Zeal: Heather Roy on 'Those' CartoonsTrevor Loudonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17040453691836232676noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18947592.post-1139889391623936792006-02-14T16:56:00.000+13:002006-02-14T16:56:00.000+13:00The Muslim protests weren’t over Mohammed being la...The Muslim protests weren’t over Mohammed being labeled as a terrorist. They were protesting because a picture of Mohammed was drawn. They were angry because they were told to be angry at things like that throughout their lives. They have a medieval mentality that puts blind obedience ahead of logic and ethics. Many Muslims think the Koran is right because the Koran says the Koran is right. They get offended without having strong enough reasons to be offended. The reason they gave for finding the comics offensive was that it encourages “idol worship”. I somehow doubt the comic images will be worshiped.<BR/><BR/>Recent history has shown that many Muslims can’t bring justice without creating bigger injustices. The 11/9 attacks, London bombings, Bali bombings, suicide bombings in Israel and the Madrid bombings had political motives but killed mostly innocent civilians. Now Iran has punished an entire country with trade embargos for an action committed by a small handful of people from the news media. <BR/><BR/>This mentality is also shown by Muslims in NZ. In 2004, Craccum had a cover with a photo of a woman in a purdah showing some leg (shock horror!). Some Muslim thought that putting graffiti on the wall of the General Library somehow punished the editors of Craccum.<BR/><BR/>Not only do Muslims find it difficult to direct justice, they have trouble coming up with the appropriate magnitude of a response. In Britain there were placards that said “Behead those who insult Islam”. In the civilised world, people who respond to insults with murder are deemed psychopaths and are locked up in psychiatric wards for treatment and to keep the general public safe. When civilised people are insulted, they either inform the insulter why they find their action/statement insulting or they ignore and forgive them.<BR/><BR/>Muslims should be trying to fix their own broken societies rather bullying Westerners into submission. Ending torture and introducing democracy, press freedom and human rights would be a good start. Qatar is quickly heading in that direction and it would be great if the rest of the Islamic world went that way too.<BR/><BR/>Many people have been saying slogans like ‘free speech shouldn’t apply to things that insult a certain religion’. Most of these people are cowards who are focusing on criticising the lesser evil because it doesn’t threaten to kill them like many Muslims do. Others are saying it to ward off trade embargos on NZ products. The comics may have been mildly unethical but the Muslim reaction to them has been abhorrent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18947592.post-1139801670699460302006-02-13T16:34:00.000+13:002006-02-13T16:34:00.000+13:00I thought that might get a bite Scott. In my view ...I thought that might get a bite Scott. In my view the only legal restraint on free speech, should be defamation, incitement to voilence etc.Trevor Loudonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17040453691836232676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18947592.post-1139667550992394952006-02-12T03:19:00.000+13:002006-02-12T03:19:00.000+13:00Even the bounds of the law are a problem - you sur...Even the bounds of the law are a problem - you surely wouldn't maintain a prohibition on Cigar Aficianado magazine?Libertyscotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12741049550997300680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18947592.post-1139650776599271072006-02-11T22:39:00.000+13:002006-02-11T22:39:00.000+13:00doesn't make sense, badly worded sentencedoesn't make sense, badly worded sentenceRebel Hearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05360746393756155346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18947592.post-1139640288270281042006-02-11T19:44:00.000+13:002006-02-11T19:44:00.000+13:00Hi. Just to let you know, New Zeal has been added...Hi. Just to let you know, New Zeal has been added to a list of NZ blog links at <A HREF="http://www.longwhitecloud.org.nz" REL="nofollow">longwhitecloud.org.nz</A>.<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/><BR/>Rich.PaedsRNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882311855172654547noreply@blogger.com