So the Arabic world of Islam is offended by the caricatures of the prophet Muhammad in some European newspapers, one of which was a depiction of the prophet wearing a bomb-shaped turban. I specify "Arabic" world because it appears that at least American Muslims, though seemingly genuinely offended by these caricatures, are not burning, looting, and pillaging their neighborhoods.
It is hard to feel pity for those who seem intent on such destruction. Americans are still reeling from 9/11 and are still sending loved ones overseas to fight in an increasingly unpopular war. And as we read the daily papers and listen on the TV and radio, there seems rarely a day when Americans don't suffer casualties. And then we see these same people whom we believe we are fighting to protect virtually dancing in the streets whenever the US suffers casualties.
And yet as the caricature story continues to unfold - and yes, I believe Arabic Islamic "leaders" are stoking the fires - I cannot help but to at least wonder if the West can ever get off its "high horse" and realize that we are talking about an entirely different culture and mindset.
The Islamic prohibition against such caricatures and images is part of not just a religion which may be a 'part' of one's life but a religion that for many IS life in its entirety. Should Christians be so intimately tied to our religion? I think so but judging by a typical response to the "offense", it would appear that Christians may tend to be as "in your face" as the careless Europeans who insisted on reprinting these cartoons just to prove a point about freedom and liberty without acknowledging the enormous responsibility that comes with it.
In the movie, "Bruce Almighty", the main character makes a direct challenge to the Almighty since his own meager, yet adequate, life is not quite to his own satisfaction. The Lord decides then to directly confront "Bruce" and endow him with Divine Powers. The problem with having been granted this Power is that Bruce did not have the Wisdom that would have necessarily been required to properly exercise such power.
So we in the West thumb our noses at the Islamic prohibition against images as "idolatrous" because we don't see it their way. But when we also choose to thumb our noses at respect and decorum, what is it that we choose instead to worship?
2 comments:
I have to say that I’m not real sure if I care that they are offended. I am tired of this country bending over backwards to appease Muslims. I know not all Muslims want to see the destruction of the U.S., but the overwhelming majority do. The caricature, in my opinion is correct. These people have taken a noble religion and have desecrated it almost to the point of no repair. How can they be offended by something that is correct? Most of these so-called people of Allah are violent murderers; we see it everyday on the evening news. Most do not try to get their point across in acceptable ways, they preach murder and destruction. I have no empathy for these people. If they want respect and acknowledgement then they have to be shown the error of their ways one way or another.
Syria, Iran and other nations that are Muslim continually preach hate and the destruction of us the “infidels.” Are we to stand by and let this happen? We must use every means at our disposal to put down what may one day be another 9-11, perpetrated by more “peace-loving Muslims” whether it be military force or showing even the ones that we are targeting what they have become. We have tried to be diplomatic with these people, now it is time to decide how much longer we should live in terror of this religion gone awry. I understand and respect your opinion, but when I stop seeing Muslims killing innocent people everyday,then I may be a little more sympathetic to their cause. Until that time comes I couldn’t care less about their feelings.
I see your point, Jason, and it is hard to disagree. As I stated, it is hard to feel pity for a people who are as "in your face" with their own sense of righteousness as we in the West are with our sense of freedom and liberty, especially when this self-declared righteousness or liberty causes harm directly or indirectly.
Whether we have tried to be diplomatic to these people, I think that history can bear out that these people have been more enslaved by the West than anything else. And with a such a spotty history that can easily be exploited by these Islamic "leaders" is enough to cause such reactions when further evidence of such profound disrespect are manifest in a free society.
No one can reasonably excuse this violent behavior, and I hope that I have not come across in such a way because this was not my intent. Islam teaches such prohibitions against images in much the same way as Judaism and Christianity in that man can tend to reach for something or someone who can actually be "touched" and "seen". It is then when the correct focus is distorted.
It is a sound teaching that should be respected by all. This is what true liberty is all about. We can actively choose to be disrespectful, or we can choose to refrain from that which does far more harm than good. Even if Muslims did not react so violently, would the behavior of the press then be ok?
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