It's known that some Muslims are offended by this. Knowing this, some still choose to host them. You could be putting lives at risk. We can all agree it's wrong for people to use violence over something like this, but is it wrong to host a cartoon contest that may anger many people and serves little purpose?
Cartoon contest depicting Muhammed
- Thread starter rainforests1
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Part of me thinks that the Muslims who get so offended by this that they feel they have a right to respond with violence, they simply have to grow some thicker skin, get some perspective, and join the Enlightenment age. We simply can't live together in the same society with people whose values are so different.
The other side of the coin is that sometimes these kinds of events are intended as nothing but provocations by racists - like Pamela Geller and certain people in the zionist camp. They just want to prove a point - that Muslims can't co-exist peacefully with westerners. Which I think is incorrect - the "medieval" Muslims in western society amounts to a small fraction.
Then of course there are also other cartoonists whose intentions seem benign, like the Charlie Hebdo crew.
So is it ethically wrong to host a cartoon contest like this? It depends. If intentions matter, then it certainly can be wrong. For utilitarians, who judge by consequences, it's hard to say what the ultimate outcome of these kinds of events will be.
The other side of the coin is that sometimes these kinds of events are intended as nothing but provocations by racists - like Pamela Geller and certain people in the zionist camp. They just want to prove a point - that Muslims can't co-exist peacefully with westerners. Which I think is incorrect - the "medieval" Muslims in western society amounts to a small fraction.
Then of course there are also other cartoonists whose intentions seem benign, like the Charlie Hebdo crew.
So is it ethically wrong to host a cartoon contest like this? It depends. If intentions matter, then it certainly can be wrong. For utilitarians, who judge by consequences, it's hard to say what the ultimate outcome of these kinds of events will be.
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beancounter
The Fire That Burns Within
I'm sure the group was aware that such an event could be provacative, but I'm guessing their motives were primarily to raise funds and increase membership. Not to start a fight...at least not yet.
Ironically, the attack gave them more free publicity than they could have dreamed of.
And served to foster anti-Islamic sentiment. An endless cycle of self fullfilling prophecies.
Ironically, the attack gave them more free publicity than they could have dreamed of.
And served to foster anti-Islamic sentiment. An endless cycle of self fullfilling prophecies.
ledboots
Peace
Freedom of speech is incredibly important. If you don't like it, look away or peacefully protest, imo.
There was a controversy in the 1980s about an American artist who had put a crucifix in a bottle of his urine called "**** Christ" or some such similar thing. Some Christians were offended, especially because the art was partially funded by the government, but the piece wasn't censored. On tour in Australia, **** Christ was attacked (the art work, not a person) but still is on display in New York as far as I know.
Joe
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"**** Christ" appears to be a photograph. If the photograph is damaged or destroyed, then another copy is simply made from the negative. It appears that the photograph has had to be replaced by this method at least once.
See: **** Christ - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
beancounter
The Fire That Burns Within
It can be a defacto free speech issue when people become afraid to express their opinions. (It doesn't matter who or what the subject is)
Terrorism is specifically designed to make people afraid. It doesn't matter whether the terrorist is wearing a long beard or carrying a gun and pepper spray.
Terrorism is specifically designed to make people afraid. It doesn't matter whether the terrorist is wearing a long beard or carrying a gun and pepper spray.
ledboots
Peace
Agree completely. Isis jumped in, claimed responsibilty for the two shooters, and made threats about this being "just the beginning." Whether or not the shooters were affiliated with the terror group, the fear of retaliation stifles speech.
And thank goodness for the police acting decisively or there could have been a lot of dead bodies.
"Event featured Prophet Mohammed cartoons
Simpson and Soofi drove to Garland equipped with body armor and assault rifles.
Inside the city's Curtis Culwell Center, the American Freedom Defense Initiative was hosting a cartoon contest featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammed, which many Muslims consider sacrilege.
The two assailants drove up to the center and started shooting, striking a security guard in the ankle. But Garland police returned fire, killing the gunmen before they were able to enter the building."
ISIS claims responsibility for Garland, Texas, shooting - CNN.com
Spang
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The First Amendment does not state that Congress shall make no law . . . and also no one shall be allowed to react, violently or otherwise. Additionally, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should, or that it's even a good idea, like calling a cop a pig.
Or wearing bed sheets while burning crosses? Or organizing anti-Islam shindigs that lead to violence against Muslims?
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Here's an NPR article which explains well who the organisers of this cartoon contest are.
5 Things To Know About The Organizers Of Muhammad Cartoon Contest : The Two-Way : NPR
As you can see they have a clear agenda, and it seems that this agenda can probably be more accurately described as anti-Muslim / pro-Israel than general concern for the freedom of Americans.
5 Things To Know About The Organizers Of Muhammad Cartoon Contest : The Two-Way : NPR
As you can see they have a clear agenda, and it seems that this agenda can probably be more accurately described as anti-Muslim / pro-Israel than general concern for the freedom of Americans.
Pamela Geller and her organizations are basically trolls.
Judging by their ad on the NY subway, they would have supported the crimes against Native Americans and other indigenous peoples as well.
Judging by their ad on the NY subway, they would have supported the crimes against Native Americans and other indigenous peoples as well.
ledboots
Peace
Well, being a bigot isn't grounds for people to shoot them here in the US of A. Bigots get their say as well, part of free speech. Luckily they are usually taunted into submission by counter protestors (did this myself in the '80s in Georgia, USA against the Ku Klux Klan. There were hundreds of us counter protestors, and the few Klansmen that showed were old and pathetic.)
There's maybe a good 20 problems worth protesting or counter-protesting over. I'll never understand how people can pick and choose one or two without addressing the others. One of the reasons I don't protest.
beancounter
The Fire That Burns Within
Because people have limited time and resources, and have to choose which causes are the most important to them.
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ledboots
Peace
Why not protest, rainforest? You seem to have strong opinions and complaints on a lot of subjects.
I chose to counter protest the KKK rally back then because it was in the town I was living in. The grand pupa of the KKK lived in town, so showing up the bigot group leader in his hometown was very effective. We mostly pointed, laughed, and handed out popsicles to the kids counter protesting, and to the deputies who were there for crowd control. (I brought a cooler full, I like to feed people.)
Protests I attend these days are usually animal related, the most recent involving a car dealership, which had planned to have a live caged tiger at the dealership for a weekend sakes event. It was summer in Florida, and the cat would have been in a tiny cage in a parking lot in full sun. We won that one, and the business owner donated the money he was going to pay to "rent" the tiger to a Big Cat Rescue. Win, win!
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Most people don't have unlimited time and/or resources to devote to causes they might care about, and one can spread themselves overly thin. Or, someone might feel they would be more effective on one particular issue than on several others.
Anyway, focussing on one problem doesn't mean that you don't care about anything else. Not only this, but when I see a car with almost every imaginable leftist or rightist bumper sticker pasted on it, or a backpack with a similar assortment of buttons, I tend to question whether the person expressing those views is even thinking for themselves.
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The story of US communists and labour unions are also well-known.
Are these kinds of events in the past though, or is it still ongoing?
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das_nut
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No matter how bigoted they are, the blame clearly lies with the two men who decided to attack the venue with guns.
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