I am male, asian, Canadian.

For those who have not seen the news, a caricature of Prophet Mohammed in the Muslim religion was redisplayed on a magazine that has caused mayhem and controversy. The magazine picture mocked the God with a bomb in his hand and sitting funnily; this was done so that the author can demonstrate his freedom of speech. This has caused injuries and even deaths due to the heavy protest in the Middle East.

Here is my opinion:

1) Despite the fact he deserves the right to say what he wants, he is STUPID and PURELY STUPID in not considering the harm he initiated to the people and the values of the Muslims. Practise all the rights you want, but do it as you would want to be respected. (If you were to be respected for your religion).

2) I firmly believe that the Muslims CANNOT use religion as an excuse for TERROISM OR VIOLENCE of that sort. You can't just kill people or burn houses just because your values have been violated. For those who did such things, it was simply an excuse for the cowardly to respond. This act has got to stop.

What do you think?

I haven't seen a Muslim cartoonist make a cartoon of Jesus, or any other religion icon of other religions.

Yes the person has the right to express their opinions but you have to realize that its going to hur ta lot of people.

Because of few jerks, Islam is looked at the most violent religion when it happens to be the most peaceful.
Every religion has terrorists, but Muslims are standing out today because its all about the muslims and everything they say happens to be wrong.

Our problem is that we don't know enough about each other's religions to make such comments.

Maybe we need to educate ourself before we pass on judgements about other religions or express our views because we might not know enough information and might be making a fool out of ourself.

Don't bitch at me cuz it's only my opinion.

When I hear the word "Jew," yes, I do envision a stout older man sporting a beard and earlocks with a black hat and suit. Likewise, when I hear the word "basketball player," I tend to visualize Wilt Chamberlain.

Now, not every basketball player is Wilt Chamberlain, nor do all Jews dress as the Orthodox Jews do. Therefore, I don't hold them to such a stereotype, outside of my own mind.

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we all wear the black suits and hats, and have the huge beards?

well you seem to be trying on the beard part if you knew Rush wouldn't ripe it off your face

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no they did all of that in the middle ages

actually, they do it now.

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The actions of a few do not describe the beliefs of the whole.

that's true, but it's what people see and think of. What do you think of Jews? Do you think we all wear the black suits and hats, and have the huge beards?

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Well, assuming that the US has one of the highest murder rates in the world (I'm assuming since I don't feel like looking it up and the US, sizewise, is huge), logically (according to your incredible generalization, Phantom) you should be able to find a way to blame Muslims for that.

actually, I blame that on the media. Muslims on that part are innocent.

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Here you're basically saying Muslims had it coming because they're violent but in a post you made in the War and Terrorism section like... I dunno, within the last 2 days, you say the Koran is peaceful and people interpret it wrong in some books (or something to that extent). I really think you don't know shit and that you need to educate yourself better before passing judgement on any of these events. That's just my opinion though

That's correct. Like the talmud to the torah, it interprets it to the regular people. The Koran has a similiar book and that is how the violence is justified.

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You're going to hear about Muslims and violence in places where, hello! an overwhelming percentage of the population are Muslims. Doi.

Such as Denmark, Spain, and Russia?

Check this site out: (I know almost everyone hates Talk Radio hosts, but this site has things that CNN refuses to really report or show....educate yourself.)

www.homestead.com/prosites-prs

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Okay. But just because that is a Muslim custom and tradition doesn't mean it is right or even acceptable. Other people (not just Muslims) live in this world too and these radicals need to learn to live by the accepted laws of society.

Not right or acceptable by YOUR standards in YOUR socciety. These people you call radicals have different standards and just as you can't fathom the denial of free speech, I can't fathom the idea that people should be able to get away with ridiculing the prophets. With such a clash of cultures some anger is to be expected. You can't just force people to change to be more like you.

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I agree that people should be a bit more sensitive, but there is no law about sensitivity. There is a law about killing and murdering people.

Well duh, no one is saying that murder is fine. There are laws against killing people in Islam too - so what's your point? That sometimes Muslims commit murder? So do members of every religion honey, I really hope that wasn't the point you were trying to make.

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Criticism of Muhammad is often equated with blasphemy, which is punishable (by death) in some Muslim-majority or Islamic states.

Okay. But just because that is a Muslim custom and tradition doesn't mean it is right or even acceptable. Other people (not just Muslims) live in this world too and these radicals need to learn to live by the accepted laws of society.

I agree that people should be a bit more sensitive, but there is no law about sensitivity. There is a law about killing and murdering people.

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People shouldn't take it personally as I am allowed to think and say whatever I want about any religion.

Cultures differ. In Arabic countries (among others), to utilize a tight schedule doesn't work. Schedule a meeting and you'll be fortunate to get the meeting a few days afterward. My point is, cultures differ greatly and in a Muslim country people AREN'T allowed to say whatever about Islam, and in their minds this carries over to YOU and US as well.

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No. When you limit the freedom of the press, you limit democracy. Freedom of the press must be freedom of anyone to say anything they want.

There are three things wrong with this statement, at least according to US laws: libel, slander, and the "'Fire!' in the theater" rule. The press is not omnipotent.

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Wikipedia:
Criticism of Muhammad is often equated with blasphemy, which is punishable (by death) in some Muslim-majority or Islamic states. This is because the Muslim belief is that Muhammad was the messenger of Allah himself, and that his actions were willed by Allah. Many Muslims believe that to reject and criticise Muhammad is to reject and criticise Allah.

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no they did all of that in the middle ages

I'm no history major, but I do know that the Inquisition (at least) was politically motivated*. I dunno if you're referring to anything else, because I'm no history major.
*Unless the History Channel is suddenly biased.

You're saying that Muslims are more violent than people of other religions. Well, assuming that the US has one of the highest murder rates in the world (I'm assuming since I don't feel like looking it up and the US, sizewise, is huge), logically (according to your incredible generalization, Phantom) you should be able to find a way to blame Muslims for that. So about 80% of Americans are Christians of various denominations and Muslims are actually the religion with the lowest crime rate in the US - Go.

You're going to hear about Muslims and violence in places where, hello! an overwhelming percentage of the population are Muslims. Doi.

I'm really confused about where you stand Phantom. Here you're basically saying Muslims had it coming because they're violent but in a post you made in the War and Terrorism section like... I dunno, within the last 2 days, you say the Koran is peaceful and people interpret it wrong in some books (or something to that extent). I really think you don't know shit and that you need to educate yourself better before passing judgement on any of these events. That's just my opinion though

The actions of a few do not describe the beliefs of the whole.

Besides, there are Christians today who blow up abortion clinics. There are always going to be extremists, no matter the religion.

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Do you hear of Christians beheading school girls? Do you hear of Jews running into resturants and blowing themselves up?

If you've studied wars, everyone's equivalent evil comes out.

Example: In the 19th century, European nations invaded Africa and Asia and killed several of those who practiced their traditions and did not accept Christian dogmas. That's Christianity triumphing and saving the world.

Most of the Muslims we hear about are, well...brute and a bit extreme in their ways, but to say they are the only violent modern group is extremely biased, needless to say.

Turn off the news and do a little exploration of your own, focusing on more than just the part of the world that is fed to you.

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Thank you, but you must look at my point. Do you hear of Christians beheading school girls? Do you hear of Jews running into resturants and blowing themselves up? Go look at Micheal Savages website and you'll see the attrocities that the Moslems do in the name of God.

no they did all of that in the middle ages

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Yes, Muslims are the only people to ever kill anyone. It's all their religions fault and they should thus be ridiculed and looked down on.
You're a moron phantom.

Thank you, but you must look at my point. Do you hear of Christians beheading school girls? Do you hear of Jews running into resturants and blowing themselves up? Go look at Micheal Savages website and you'll see the attrocities that the Moslems do in the name of God.

Mormons are not considered christian

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If a newspaper depicted Joseph Smith in a way that could be considered offensive to me, and my fellow Latter-day Saints

sure it's an insult to you but to them it's a serious breach of their religous laws

Yes, the Danish reporter was stupid, was thinking ahead, and had really no reason to depict the Muslim's Prophet that way.

But, Muslim's get a grip! Seriously, to put it in a perspective of my religion: Mohammed is the founder of the Islam religion. I'm Christian, LDS (Mormon) to be precise. Though we technically call Joseph Smith, Jr. the restorer of our religion, it's about the same thing. If a newspaper depicted Joseph Smith in a way that could be considered offensive to me, and my fellow Latter-day Saints, yes, maybe I would not patronize that newspaper. Maybe I'd be disturbed. But I would burn the flag of the country and all the surrounding ones as well.

First the Muslims said, "The streets of Denmark will run with blood." Then "The streets of Scandinavia will run with blood." Then it was The streets of Europe.

Come on! Get a hold on yourselves!

Yes, Muslims are the only people to ever kill anyone. It's all their religions fault and they should thus be ridiculed and looked down on.
You're a moron phantom.

The cartoons were much nicer that what the moslems have done in the past. I saw them and I don't really see how they could have been offensive in the face of what THEY have done. Don't you think that they make comments about "infidels" and other comics? In fact, they don't just stop there, they kill them.

I think what they did was wrong. The pictures were something done by people who are ignorant and don't know about other religons.

I have not read the entire thread, so excuse me if i restate something that has already been discussed.

The issue that has incited rage for the past few weeks is not over one cartoon. It was a series of cartoons printed in a Danish newspaper about 5 months ago.

Someone brought these cartoons to a Muslim area and started circulating these things to stir up controversy. Muslims had every right to be offended because it was in direct violation of their religion. The problem is with the reaction from some people. A prominent moderate Muslim from the Middle East went on record and established that the cartoons were offensive, but that he did not see the need to riot over the issue. What started out as peaceful protests have escalated to attacks on Dansih ambassadors and have now been deemed by some riot leaders as a Western attack on the Islamic religion. This behavior has not been condoned by any of the leaders of the Muslim relgious institution that I have read about.

I believe it was within the cartoonists' rights to print the cartoons, but I also believe that an apology is due. The Prime Minister of Denmark has done what he can to try to smooth things over, but his attempts have not been enough. A week ago, the protestors were simply demanding an apology, which they did not recieve. Now this issue has escalated, and will take much more diplomatic work to solve the issue than it would have had an apology been given. I believe that the cartoonists were responsible for giving that apology and for that they can be blamed, but not for utilizing their right to free speech in their native country.

A question: Do you think the cartoonist knew enough about Islam to know that they would be offending the practioners of that religion?

It can be argued that they did not know that it was offensive and therefore that they could not have known what violence would ensue when the cartoons reached the Muslim world.
That does not change the fact that they due owe the Muslim world an apology, at least as a start.

Yes your right but it mocked their faith and violated the Islamic law preventin images of Allah or the prophets to be made this prevents idolitry

Muslims do not use religion as an excuse any more than any other religion the violent members of islam are extremists and reviled by most of the islamic community same as the nuts who bomb abortion critics and call them selves christian are reviled by the rest of their faith community