Draw Muhammed Day

I dont think that people who believe in this religion really need any reason to go bananas. After all they actually believe that anyone who leaves this religion of peace deserves to fucken DIE! lol
On top of that everyone who doesn't convert to their fairy tale once again deserves to die. You really think you can reason with people like this?

I agree that poking the lion in the face with a stick is gonna have some negative effects, but wtf do you suggest we do?

Isn't that what all racists say???

Je Suis Charlie.

The Paris terrorists no more represent Islam than the IRA do Catholicism or the Westboro Church Baptists. They are violent twisted people who hide behind perverted religious dogma to justify their actions.
Mocking the religion these people exploit isn't a blow for freedom of expression; it's a small-minded petty reaction that accomplishes nothing but perhaps alienate heretofor tolerant people.
In recent years there seems to be a growing trend from self-styled "progressives" to denegrate religion in the vilest possible terms, claiming some sort of moral and intellectual superiority in doing so. It must be sad to have so little of value in one's own life that it's impossible to respect anyone who does or understand how they might be offended.
Organized religion has a lot to answer for. Faith does not.
By all means, question, analyze, and challenge all authority, including religion. But along with the freedom to do so comes the obligation to do so responsibly. Not for fear of reprisal or concern for not being politically correct but because we should at least try to elevate ourselves beyond the antics of 10 year-olds in the schoolyard.

Canadianbiker, I read your opinion here and I read it on GTAM, but I just don't agree with it.

I do not believe anything is safe from mockery, especially not religion or any sort of ideology.

This whole series of events relating to the depiction of Muhammad plays out almost like a tragic comedy:

1) There is nothing in the Quran saying Muhammad should not be depicted, but then a few hundred years later some Iman decides that isn't cool and convinces all of his followers to be offended by this.

2) Insert hundreds of years of fighting, more people getting offended, this battle became even more prominent as now information is global and is transmitted fast. Even at times when mocking was not intended, like displaying historical artwork or simply depicting the founder of Islam, people still got offended and demanded such things never be done.

3) Once offended Muslims created such a controversy over things that weren't meant to offend, such as historical artwork, that's when believers in free speech said 'oh, that innocent picture offends you? Have a look at this' and the pictures that mocked Muhammad took off with a vengeance.

4) As a result of feeling mocked by the world, a great number of Muslim people protested these depictions. People where killed, buildings burnt, etc, all over what -- just some hurt feelings because an Iman convinced a bunch of goat herders a few hundred years back that it was wrong to depict Muhammad and they should all be offended.

So sorry... I don't agree with your stance. I know these pictures infuriate Muslims, but I don't care. Depictions of Muhammad do not physically hurt anyone -- only feelings. You can't compare this to people discussing or depicting actual violence like rape or pedophilia, so while limits on free speech maybe should exist on topics directly related to violence, limits of free speech should not be placed on topics that merely offend or hurt feelings.

Just how far are you willing to let ideology control what we see or read?

Depictions of Muhammad -- offends some, ban it.
Depictions of women out of burkas -- offends some, ban it.
Depictions of alcohol -- offends some, ban it.

The difference is that you can make fun of every religion out there and no one is gonna storm your building and kill 12 people.

Yetti, you got the time line wrong...

Muslims around the world went nuts about the cartoons published in a Danish newspaper, they killed people, burnt shit, etc, then a Draw Muhammad day was started to make fun of the idiocy behind this.

The Draw Muhammad day is relatively new (from wikipedia):


And I didn't even start this thread anywhere near DMD, which is May 20th -- so to me everyday can be DMD.

I just saw the news & can't believe they killed a few people because of this. It's called freedom of expression. If someone made fun of my santa claus, do I go about wacking people? Gimme a fuckin break. My heart goes out to those who died.