Did you find the Danish cartoons potentially offensive?

Question

http://www.thehollywoodliberal.com/muhammad_cartoons.htm
Didn't the event put into question freedom of speech in Europe? And isn't
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/25/world/middleeast/25iran.html?th&emc=th
offensive?

Answer 1

The cartoons are classic, like so many we see every day in our papers.

What is sad is that there are people in the West getting suckered in by the Arab propaganda and strategy. They try to use elements of our culture against us. For instance, by hiding among women and children after they attack. They believe, because of our laws, that we won't retaliate. The West did cower after the cartoon uproar. What a shame. This is the first opportunity that I've had to see them and found them to be to the point and funny like any good political cartoon.
**** em if they can't take a joke. It's isn't like they have any respect for us.

Answer 2

Absolutely, but anything put out as public discourse is "potentially" offensive.

It is the response to the cartoons that is the real telling issue. In societies where there is implicit respect for free expression, the cartoon issue boils down to one of "taste." The discussion surrounding them focuses on whether or not they should have been published.

In societies where singleness of thought outweighs personal expression, the cartoons were not simply poor taste, but an afront to their very identity. There was no discussion because there were no "sides" to discuss. Instead, violence was a logical and necessary response.

These are the stakes. We in the West cannot continue to assume that our values apply to every culture. We must understand that some of the things we take for granted run in direct opposition, even threaten, the ways of others, and --most important -- in some issues there is NO middle ground

Sometimes you have to choose one way over the other, and then decide how far you will go to defend your choice.

Answer 3

More that the cartoons stylistic attempt at Islamofascists humor. I found the subsequent obvious terror more interesting.

Newspapers, Television world wide fearing reprisal refused to show the cartoons. This was a major victory for the Mullah's They realized Western Media would print a lie fearing repercussions from the Islamic Terrorists.

That creates a complete open door for controling information.

Go big Red Go

Answer 4

No personally I dont find them offensive, but I can understand why the Muslim world was insensed, they're insulting to the Islamic religion.

The idea of Freedom Of Speech isnt exactly the US ideal here in Europe. It varies from country to country, some of which is legal and then again offensive speech isnt.

And as for the Anti-Semitic art, no thats not offensive to me, but again I can see why its controversial. I feel its done slightly better than the cartoons, as in its considered art, rather than plain mockery. I particularly find the "HoloCaus" one on the link shown interesting.

Answer 5

no not offensive but im not muslim.i have friends who are muslim and theyre not bothered as they say its a war of different peoples with 1 problem being freedom of speech and another beingthem fact the world does not understand the world! lol my family is chrstian im not but my mum even laughs when called a bible basher! she doesent take offence it is a question of freedom and how peope see it some muslims beleive the hole world is against them so probably took it like that but many arent bothered! hope this is fun!

Answer 6

It is offensive, but so what? Jerry Springer is offensive.

No, it did not put into question freedom speech in Europe. It put into question freedom of speech in Muslim countries. And the craven subservience of some of the European press and government.

Vive Charlie Hebdo!

Answer 7

some people got here around the cartoons offensive and needed to homicide the editors of the papers that printed them some muslims were very indignant some a lot less so some people seem for motives to be indignant........

Answer 8

NO..IT WAS'NT AN ATTACK ON YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.............BUT IT WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ABUSING YOUR RIGHTS.....USING YOUR RIGHT WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE DUTY ATTCHED TO IT..AFTERALL TO EVERY RIGHT THERE IS A DUTY ATTACHED TO IT.....

ALSO IT WAS JUST ANOTHER PROFF OF THE WESTERN WORLD BEING INSENSITIVE TO THE EAST...

SEE HAVE'NT SEEN THE CARTOON MYSELF..BUT POTRAYING GOD OF ISLAM MUHAMMD WITH A BOMB IN THE TURBAN WAS OFFENSIVE.......

AND JUST IF I AGREE IT WAS NOT....THEN AGAIN YOU MUST UNDERSTAND WHEN ITS BARRED IN ISLAM PUBLISH HIS IMAGE..WHY WOULD YOU TRY TO DO IT???

SEE AM NOT A MUSLIM...BUT A HINDU FROM INDIA....SO TAKE ME AS IMPARTIAL.....

ITS A FACT THAT THE WEST IS SO INSENSITIVE TO OUR FEELINGS......JUST FEW DAYS BACK I SAW A COMEDY WRESTLING SHOW ON SOME AMERICAN TV SHOWING MY GOD SHIVA FIGHTING IN A RING.......WHATS THIS RUBBISH
!!!..HOW CAN YOU INSULT OUR GODS....OUR BELIEFS...JUST FOR SOME FUN!!!

THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF HINDU GOD IMAGES BEING PRINTED ON TOILET PAPER IN EUROPE.......SO INSENSITIVE...SOMETHING THAT IS DIVINE AND SACRED FOR US.......YOU PPL INSULT IT LIKE THAT...AND HAVE NO CONSEQUENCE.........

TODAY IF YOU ASK AN MAERICAN ABOUT AN INDIAN.....HE THINKS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NATIVE INDIANS OF HAWAIII OR SOME OTHER REMOTE ISLAND......


WHEN YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND AND KNOW ABOUT OUR CULTURE,OUR VALUES....HOW CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT???....

WE ARE DIFFERENT..OUR SOCIETIES ARE DIFFERENT...YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP ON INSULTING SOMEONE EVEN IF UNKNOWINGLY........

YOU MUST STOP BEING SO INSENSITIVE ABOUT OTHERS AND KNOW THAT RIGHTS HAVE SOME DUTIES AS WELL....WITHOUT FULFILLING YOUR DUTY...YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THAT RIGHT........

WEST NEEDS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR SOCIETY AND VALUES BEFORE COMMENTING ON THAT.....
WE ARE TWO DIFFERENT DIFFERENT SOCITIES.....AND LIKE WE....YOU MUST RESPECT OUR FEELINGS.....

JUST ANOTHER POINT.....THIS PRINTING OF CARTOONS ALSO SHOWS YOUR INSENSITIVITY TOWARDS MINORITRIES IN EUROPE AND AMERICA.......IN INDIA WE HAVE ALL PL OF ALL RELIGIONS...HAVE YOU EVER SEEN US BEING DEROGATORY TO CHRIST OR MOTHER MARY???
OR EVEN IN ANY MUSLIM COUNTRY....
.
WHY ITS ALWAYS THE WEST.....BECOZ YOU ARE INSENSITIVE......STILL CERTAIN SECTION THINKS THAT 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES CAN'T RISE UP......BUT THINGS ARE DIFFERENT......NOW WE ARE ECONOMICALLY MUCH STRONGER.....WE ARE NOW PROUD OF OUR COUNTRY,OF OUR RELIGION......WE ARE GROWING.....WE ARE GETTING EDUCATED.....WE ARE SPEAKING OUT!!!!!

AND THATS WHATS THE DIFFERENCE B/W NOW AND THEN.....BUT THE WEST HAS NOT REALIZED IT FULLY!!

SO WHAT YOU THINK??..DO TELL IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ANY OF MY POINT

Answer 9

well... offensive and illegal are two totally different things...

I may be offended by Howard Stern... but value his right to free speech...

and I think both of the things you cited are offensive... but offensive is relative... free speech is not so relative (as long as you don't yell fire in a crowded theater)

Answer 10

Great point Like I have always said just depends who you are if freedom of speech applies to you or not