Order from Chaos

“What’s wrong with this picture???”.

Good Evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to another episode of -

“What’s wrong with this picture???”.

Today we feature Pope Benedict XVI, who said what was perceived by some to be offensive.
His words, quoting a 14th-century Byzantine Christian emperor, Manuel II Paleologus, and a Persian scholar, “The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war. “He said, I quote, ‘Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,’”.
The pope went on further to explain that Jihad which advocates “holy war” goes against the concept that violence in the name of religion goes against God and nature.
His conclusion was a call for dialogue amongst the cultures and religions of the world.
Many Moslems responded to this outrage against their religion and prophet by burning churches, rioting in the streets and burning the Pope in effigy. Some nations threatened breaking off diplomatic relations with the Vatican, and one cleric, Sheik Abubakar Hassan Malin, told worshipers in Mogadishu that the Pope should be killed for insulting the Prophet Mohammed.
The Pope immediately retracted his words, claiming they were taken out of context.

What’s wrong with this picture???

Well, if I say that someone is violent, and he responds by punching me in the nose, what does that say about my assertion?

It is no different than the pathetic, and outraged reaction of many Moslems when cartoons depicting Mohammed were displayed in Denmark, the media, and blogs throughout the world. Actually, their spread was more the result of the 'outrage' than the content of the cartoons.
It began on September 30, 2005, when the daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten challenged the call for self-censorship in the case of a group demanding special considerations. They asserted these demands were contrary to the Western concept of freedom of speech and self expression. They called for cartoonists to lampoon Islam just as they had the other religions from time to time, then published the results.
Several Imams in Denmark objected, and made formal complaints to the Denmark police, citing specific criminal codes against blasphemy- aimed at preventing malicious insult of a group; and another criminalizing degradation, insult or threat against an individual. The complaints were dismissed citing the right to free speech and recognizing no malice of intent.
The imams took their cause on the road, writing a 43 page document intended to enlist Islamic and world support to their cause. The reaction was so great that it included many Moslem groups, several Moslem nations and the UN, all demanding a retraction and apology. Jyllands-Posten defended itself well against the detractors and attackers, but the consequences went well beyond the newspaper. Worldwide demonstrations abounded, and many people died. Plots of destruction and murder, in reaction to the cartoons, were discovered and foiled. Danish (and a Norwegian) embassies were set ablaze in Beirut and Syria (well- you see one Scandinavian and you’ve seen them all). A Moslem consumer boycott against Denmark cost millions.
In reporting the incident, many major British and American newspapers refused to print the cartoons, thus preventing their public from making their own judgments. Many editors who did were fired for doing so.

It was no different than the reactive murder of the equal-opportunity basher, Theo Van Gogh. He had scandalized polite society for decades. His website “The Healthy Smoker”, epitomized his stance by its criticism of the politically correct anti-smoking crowd. He insulted a Jewish historian, inferring she got excited by the prospect of sleeping with Dr. Mengele. This did not make him a favorite at political and social fundraisers, but it was not a sentence of death, until he bashed Islam.
He produced a short film called “Submission” which told about the violence of women in the Muslim world. As a result, he had several death threats. Van Gogh did not take these very seriously and refused any protection - reportedly telling Hirsi Ali: "Who would want to kill the village idiot?" A university educated, supposedly well integrated member of Dutch society apparently would. His name is Mohammed Bouyeri. He shot Van Gogh eight times, slit his throat and stabbed him in the chest pinning on him a five page note. The note was essentially a diatribe against Jewish influence in politics.

As you know, faithful fans to this show, it is not our objective to answer but to ask questions to the show’s title. So, in all, we have several questions.

First, if Islam is a peaceful religion, why do the three instances mentioned evoke violent reactions?

Second, If the reactions are by only a violent few, where are the peaceful ones to at least criticize their acts and words? Corollary- Why are some of the biggest perpetrators of violence people of power and influence in the Moslem world who not only continue to maintain that influence, but through such acts, enhance it?

Third, why do these same people who are so offended by acts of blasphemy against themselves perpetrate acts of blasphemy, desecration, discrimination and murder against religions and people of religions not their own?

Fourth, why do those people who are not Moslem and who claim to want peace and justice, not condemn these words and acts of violence wherever they occur, even when they are done by people who claim to be peaceful?

And you, dear Pope Gregory XVI, since do you not stand by your words to point out that your detractors proved your point, What’s wrong with this picture???

Tune in at some unknown time to discuss an unknown theme on you’re favorite comedy talk show-

What’s wrong with this picture???

posted by Tiresias in Israel @ 1:05 PM