Cartoons ignite controversy
Peace. We would all love to have it, or would we? Some claim to be for peace, holding their rainbow signs and spraying stop signs with the words “war” (how clever—destroy public property to convey they are not in favor of war and destruction), yet when their true colors shine, they are not quite as tranquil or beautiful as those of a rainbow.
Recently, the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, published cartoons of Mohammad, which have spurred demonstrations and social upheaval among the Muslim population. Rioting protests have broken out, demonstrating an unreserved hatred towards those associated with this Danish paper.
Signs display such peaceful sayings as, DEATH TO DENMARK AND DEATH TO THOSE WHO PUBLISH CARTOONS. In fact, a Taliban leader has generously offered 100 grams of gold to anyone who will kill the cartoonist. The Danish embassy is only one of the buildings that have been set on fire; innocent citizens, as well as protesters, have been killed in these outbreaks of destruction to public property. The cartoons, in fact, arose due to the violence and intolerance Muslim immigrants have been unabashedly displaying towards Denmark.
The protesters obviously are aware of the notion that humans should have the right to freedom of speech. Others, however, are not so tolerant of hearing or seeing the views of those they oppose. Mobs of enraged Muslims decided that burning the Danish flag, as well as a stuffed pig representing Denmark was a better way to communicate their “peaceful” ways.
It would seem that the factious regime or ideology that hides behind the veil of “religion,” specifically the Muslim religion is to blame for such outbreaks. The politically-correct-obsessed left finds a way to term anti-American sentiment as praiseworthy and enriching to the diversity of our world, they will eventually be able to undermine society.
There seems to be a slight disconnect for me between what these protestors want and the way they exercise their desire to attain it. If one wishes to be respected by another it is not always a good idea to say you long to kill them when they merely disagree with some of your ideas.
Every thinking human being possesses certain convictions or beliefs. They place a certain amount of respect or faith in that which they believe, whether they are Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic, or Agnostic. What a man holds to be true is naturally something that has value to him and in many ways could be considered sacred.
It can be seen by the large number of diverse sects, religions, political affiliations, cults, and various other groups that exist today that humans do not all hold the same things to be sacred. Humanity has suffered greatly due to the animosity, warfare, and hatred that emerges from this disparity in beliefs. However, when emotions and prejudices are taken away, one can learn from the ideas of others and thereby freely discover what it is one should believe.
The protestors of this Danish newspaper could care less what others believe. They demand that artists smother their beliefs and refrain from portraying anything that may be offensive to them.
One of my majors is Studio Arts; I consider myself an artist and for someone to tell me what I can and cannot portray in my artwork is an infringement on my freedom of speech. Frankly, I am slightly dismayed at the reaction to these cartoons. Christianity, for instance, is spat upon daily and consistently made a mockery of in movies and on television. However, if Christians reacted to these continual affronts to their lifestyle and beliefs, the country would be in a constant uproar. Crucifixes are thrown in containers of urine and displayed as art work, yet Christians seem to find prayer more effective than violent protests of another man’s views.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and in America we value our right to speak our minds and share our views. There will always be those who represent the beliefs of others in an offensive manner, yet there is such a thing as tolerance for another representing his or her beliefs. In particular, there is a difference between these cartoons and the blasphemous mockeries of Christianity, which has no underlying ideology that dictates death to those who disagree with what it upholds.
Sympathizing with such protesters would be worse than being supportive of the KKK. An ideology, which finds anyone who asserts beliefs opposed to it as worthy of death, possesses irrational hatred that goes beyond bigotry.
Freedom of speech allows people to grow rather than whither into irrational beings who surrender their minds and bodies to the tyrant. True Americans can recognize the value in allowing others to present their beliefs. I am not sure everyone is aware of this beauty that American society offers.
Liberals are constantly labeling Christian speech as offensive; I was unaware that peaceful prayers could do great damage to a child’s ego and harm them for life, yet the liberals have me convinced. Perhaps we should protest prayer in schools and enforce death threats on violators!
Now, this factious regime would like to obliterate the representations that have been made of their leader by staging sadistic protests and shouting for the deaths of their fellow man, simply due to its intolerance for freedom of speech. It could just be possible that there is some truth in what these cartoons are portraying. That is just a speculation though, I mean, usually I go around saying I want to kill the people I disagree with too.
Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words will never hurt you. I simply cannot imagine how you can demand respect from someone you are simultaneously threatening to murder. If you want respect, should you not first give some yourself? You can wave your rainbow flags all you want and preach about peace and tolerance, however, I would like to embrace the peace that freedom of speech literally gives. My true colors are red, white, and blue.