Why aren't we talking about "Draw Muhammad Day?" May 20th

@Cycloptichorn,

Cycloptichorn wrote:

Imagine me, a white guy (sorta tan, but whatever) walking into a poor neighborhood, and a couple of poor black/latino kids hanging on the corner yell out, 'better watch out, white boy - dangerous around dark here!'

Is that a threat by them, or an assessment of the situation?

If that's a fair assessment of the situation; it doesn't matter if those printed words constituted a threat; the artist's freedom of expression was already being compromised by the status quo. This is precisely what the protest was designed to change.

By your own explanation a threat existed before the words were written, and the network obviously believed the threat credible enough to yank the show, which is one less thing that I'm allowed to view. This creates a de facto state of censorship by way of Death Threat, whether the threat be reiterated or not.

Strength in numbers in the natural world doesn't usually mean the prey will stomp the predator; but merely reduces the chances that any particular beast will be slaughtered. That was the original concept of the protest, and that doesn’t change regardless of how many bigots jumped on board.

1 Reply

@OCCOM BILL,

Quote:

If that's a fair assessment of the situation; it doesn't matter if those printed words constituted a threat; the artist's freedom of expression was already being compromised by the status quo. This is precisely what the protest was designed to change.

So tell me, do you think anything actually will be changed by this? Do you think your 'protest (lol)' is accomplishing the goal it set out to? What metrics would you use to measure this?

Do you think radicals will stop sending death threats to people they don't like, because of your cartoon?

To take a line from South Park, you have a real Underpants Gnomes situation here, Bill.

Cycloptichorn

1 Reply

@Cycloptichorn,

Cycloptichorn wrote:

Quote:
If that's a fair assessment of the situation; it doesn't matter if those printed words constituted a threat; the artist's freedom of expression was already being compromised by the status quo. This is precisely what the protest was designed to change.

So tell me, do you think anything actually will be changed by this? Do you think your 'protest (lol)' is accomplishing the goal it set out to? What metrics would you use to measure this?

I know of no metric to measure, but can only assume that every exposure to depictions of the prophet will have an incremental desensitizing effect, even if infinitesimal.

Consider that even some of the most self-righteous southern racists eventually grew accustomed to sharing space with black people. Do you think they’d have made the same progress if Brown v. Board hadn’t shot down separate but equal? More exposure continues to result in more desensitization and acceptance.

I doubt anyone had any illusion about things changing over night based on one silly online protest (I stated as much in one of my first posts on this thread). But you have to start somewhere unless you’d rather just wait for 6 Billion people to be intimidated into incrementally accepting the tenets of Sharia Law.

I can’t end world hunger with my mouth (spreading awareness) or my wallet either, but I’ll continue to use both towards that end.

2 Replies

It seems the message I'm getting here is take the message serious...but it's not a threat...but you should take precautions...but it's just a statement...but I understand they actually want the violence to happen...but it wasn't a threat...however the episode was pulled because Viacom said they were worried about employee safety...but nobody is getting hurt...but a house got burned...but this is just a manufactured fear... but but but etc.

Infra - A threat was made. Denying that is pointless. Especially as you continue to post how this non-threat is something to be taken serious by a group you seem to understand would rejoice in harm coming to Matt & Trey. I think you're pre-emptive argument doesn't work here. What of Lars Vilks being physically assaulted? What of his home being set on fire. These are not theoretical things; these are real events. This is not just some thing in people's heads--it's the bruise on the face and burnt curtains.

Cyclo - I do not deny that a person can actually make a statement of warning that is not a threat. Context is the key here, and in this case the people making the statement are people who specifically praise violence on the USA. It is not a kind warning to a stranger to be careful in a dangerous neighborhood, it was a threat.

A
R
T

1 Reply

@failures art,

You do seem a tad hysteric, as if you wish it was a full blown threat, so to make your statements. Thus, with others, escalating hate flow. Actual hate from some parties back and forth is real, but this kind of blow up is just stupid.

1 Reply

I visited the Facebook page. It's a regular carnival of hate. I fear it makes
Bin Laden's point better than he ever could: the West talks a good ballgame
about freedom, but when you get right down to it, it's all about hatred of
Islam.

2 Replies

@George,

That was me with the thumb up. I close to never post thumbs on posters opinions. Once in a while I break down and do it, in the case of George here.

0 Replies

@ossobuco,

ossobuco wrote:

You do seem a tad hysteric, as if you wish it was a full blown threat, so to make your statements. Thus, with others, escalating hate flow. Actual hate from some parties back and forth is real, but this kind of blow up is just stupid.

I'm not looking for a prophecy here osso, and thank goodness that nothing happened yesterday. That would have been awful. I don't want there to be threats, and I don't want things escalated either. I'm hurt that you think I'd want that kind of thing.

This is why I my support ends shy of making this into an event on a given day. As George said, plenty of hateful idiots on the FB page. That is certainly shameful.

As for "blow up" in terms of an overly absurd response to an action, two scenarios:

1) You draw a image of something that a group forbids to be drawn in their views, and in return a threat of violence is made.

2) You see people actually being assaulted and vandalized, and you draw an image.

Which is the over-reaction?

Additionally, what form/method of protest would you suggest to convey the message to religions that theocratic rule over others is not acceptable? Can I have your thoughts on Boob-quake? Were participating women hateful of Islam?

A
R
T

2 Replies

@failures art,

failures art wrote:

This is why I my support ends shy of making this into an event on a given day. As George said, plenty of hateful idiots on the FB page. That is certainly shameful.

The KKK is made up entirely of hateful idiots, whose every rationale is certainly shameful. This doesn't make defending their right to assemble, demonstrate, speak... or let's face it hate any less worthy of defense. The most hateful person on Facebook is entitled to his inalienable rights as well.

1 Reply

@OCCOM BILL,

Quote:

I can’t end world hunger with my mouth (spreading awareness) or my wallet either, but I’ll continue to use both towards that end.

So is that your plan, Bill, to keep encouraging the US to knock off a million here, a million there, so that you can reach your plan to end world hunger. A noble plan indeed.

0 Replies

@BorisKitten,

Try this:

http://islamcomicbook.com/

http://facesofmohammed.an3.es/muhammad/islam-comic-book-big.jpg

0 Replies

@failures art,

I think I tossed off boob quake.
Back on that, I'll have to re look.

0 Replies

@OCCOM BILL,

OCCOM BILL wrote:

failures art wrote:
This is why I my support ends shy of making this into an event on a given day. As George said, plenty of hateful idiots on the FB page. That is certainly shameful.
The KKK is made up entirely of hateful idiots, whose every rationale is certainly shameful. This doesn't make defending their right to assemble, demonstrate, speak... or let's face it hate any less worthy of defense. The most hateful person on Facebook is entitled to his inalienable rights as well.

Sure.

A
R
This doesn't contradict what I said here Bill.

1 Reply

@failures art,

You got it. Hate crimes are thought crimes. You have to ask yourself what's next, i.e. what would be the next sort of thought you might have which they could come after you for...

0 Replies

http://www.menassat.com/files/Image/burka.jpg

0 Replies

Update on Molly Norris, the cartoonist that was behind "Everybody Draw Mohammad Day":

On the Advice of the FBI, Cartoonist Molly Norris Disappears From View
Her work won't be in Seattle Weekly anymore, or anywhere else.

Wednesday, Sep 15 2010

You may have noticed that Molly Norris' comic is not in the paper this week. That's because there is no more Molly.

The gifted artist is alive and well, thankfully. But on the insistence of top security specialists at the FBI, she is, as they put it, "going ghost": moving, changing her name, and essentially wiping away her identity. She will no longer be publishing cartoons in our paper or in City Arts magazine, where she has been a regular contributor. She is, in effect, being put into a witness-protection program—except, as she notes, without the government picking up the tab. It's all because of the appalling fatwa issued against her this summer, following her infamous "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" cartoon.

Norris views the situation with her customary sense of the world's complexity, and absurdity. When FBI agents, on a recent visit, instructed her to always keep watch for anyone following her, she responded, "Well, at least it'll keep me from being so self-involved!" It was, she says, the first time the agents managed a smile. She likens the situation to cancer—it might basically be nothing, it might be urgent and serious, it might go away and never return, or it might pop up again when she least expects it.

We're hoping the religious bigots go into full and immediate remission, and we wish her the best.

2 Replies

@Irishk,

Wow. At least Salman Rushdie could write while in hiding....

1 Reply

@Thomas,

He was provided with bodyguards. I doubt Ms. Norris can afford that expense and apparently the FBI didn't offer. Easier to just become a different person, I guess.

0 Replies

@Irishk,

That sucks. De facto censorship via death threat. Score one for the proponents of superimposing Sharia Law over the Bill of Rights. Sad

Assholes.

1 Reply

@George,

George wrote:

I visited the Facebook page. It's a regular carnival of hate. I fear it makes
Bin Laden's point better than he ever could: the West talks a good ballgame
about freedom, but when you get right down to it, it's all about hatred of
Islam.

So WHAT ?
Freedom and hatred (or any other emotion) are unrelated to one another.

David

0 Replies

Why aren't we talking about "Draw Muhammad Day?" May 20th

Quick Links

My Account

able2know