Comments on: “Don’t depict (Muhammad/Jesus) in (Newspaper Cartoons/The Book of Daniel)!” http://www.bay-of-fundie.com/archives/16/don%e2%80%99t-depict-muhammadjesus-in-newspaper-cartoonsthe-book-of-daniel Keeping the Radical Right at Bay Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:26:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Tanja http://www.bay-of-fundie.com/archives/16/don%e2%80%99t-depict-muhammadjesus-in-newspaper-cartoonsthe-book-of-daniel#comment-12 Tanja Wed, 15 Feb 2006 06:01:26 +0000 http://www.bay-of-fundie.com/archives/16#comment-12 I was a little concerned at first (reading the beginning of this article), because I was thinking, "But you could say the same thing about the Christians," but you got around to that in the end. However, I feel I have to point out that the "moderate majority" -- whether Christian or Muslim" -- by its very nature is unable to combat extremism. The tools of the moderate majority are education and freedom of expression. The first is tremendously difficult in the face of an opponent that strictly controls what its followers see and hear, and it requires a tremendous amount of patience and (dare I say) faith that over time, the opponent's ignorance will be rectified (time that perhaps we do not have when planes are being flown into buildings). The second requires that it allow for the very opinions it objects to, for in "stamping out" the opposition, we become the very thing we are trying to obliterate. To do this thing you speak of would require the queer hybrid of an Extreme Moderate or a Moderate Extremist; I think we shall sooner find a Snark. Personally, I find the whole situation (about the cartoon) rather silly and sad and blown completely out of proportion. First, if it had been my call, I would not have printed the thing in the first place, sensing the catalytic potential for disaster. But at the same time, I'm not above a little irreverence, especially for my own religion. What a pity the Muslims didn't respond with a cartoon of their own. Then we all could have had a good laugh (at least those of us with a sense of humor). I was a little concerned at first (reading the beginning of this article), because I was thinking, “But you could say the same thing about the Christians,” but you got around to that in the end. However, I feel I have to point out that the “moderate majority” — whether Christian or Muslim” — by its very nature is unable to combat extremism. The tools of the moderate majority are education and freedom of expression. The first is tremendously difficult in the face of an opponent that strictly controls what its followers see and hear, and it requires a tremendous amount of patience and (dare I say) faith that over time, the opponent’s ignorance will be rectified (time that perhaps we do not have when planes are being flown into buildings). The second requires that it allow for the very opinions it objects to, for in “stamping out” the opposition, we become the very thing we are trying to obliterate. To do this thing you speak of would require the queer hybrid of an Extreme Moderate or a Moderate Extremist; I think we shall sooner find a Snark.

Personally, I find the whole situation (about the cartoon) rather silly and sad and blown completely out of proportion. First, if it had been my call, I would not have printed the thing in the first place, sensing the catalytic potential for disaster. But at the same time, I’m not above a little irreverence, especially for my own religion. What a pity the Muslims didn’t respond with a cartoon of their own. Then we all could have had a good laugh (at least those of us with a sense of humor).

]]> By: kevdo http://www.bay-of-fundie.com/archives/16/don%e2%80%99t-depict-muhammadjesus-in-newspaper-cartoonsthe-book-of-daniel#comment-9 kevdo Sun, 05 Feb 2006 17:55:15 +0000 http://www.bay-of-fundie.com/archives/16#comment-9 I think that this is a great posting. I agree the moderate muslims need to step up and I think you've tied it in well to moderate Christians. Great job. I think that this is a great posting. I agree the moderate muslims need to step up and I think you’ve tied it in well to moderate Christians. Great job.

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