Saturday, April 01, 2006

Danish Cartoon. Corrected.

Just read a fascinating comment in this week's Tigerweekly. In an article on South Park's take on Scientology and Islam, the author commented that both religions should learn from the Jews. I totally agree with the author.

It has been said in the article that the Jews "invited a Holocaust cartoon contest". The satire of the Jews has long been part of modern-day legend. It is all but easy to joke about one's misfortune. Much more so when jokes are about a religion.

I agree with the author. "The Danish cartoonist would have made a much stronger point had he drawn Muhammad as the innocent victim of a suicide bomber’s attack." Couldn't agree more.

It is a known fact that to all Muslims that the terrorists are all but following the Prophet's (sm) words by carrying out violence. I validate suicide-attacks as a valid means of fighting for freedom. Everything is fair in love and war. If it is indeed a war, then everyone has the right to use any weapon. If George W. Bush can unilaterally ignore Geneva Convention, the suicide bombers can ignore basic conventions of war, too. Is the war justified? That's an entirely different debate. Is it an act of Jihad? Is it Islamic? I don't think so. It is the Prophet (sm) and his words that are being attacked. By none other than followers of the religion he preached.

1 comment:

Monwar said...

"I agree with the author. "The Danish cartoonist would have made a much stronger point had he drawn Muhammad as the innocent victim of a suicide bomber’s attack." Couldn't agree more."

Idea ta bhaalo - tobe onekta 'chor palale budhdhi baare' type er!

"It is a known fact that to all Muslims that the terrorists are all but following the Prophet's (sm) words by carrying out violence."

I don't think that statement is entirely true. A lot of statements advocating, or at least, justifying violence can be found in both the Quraan and the Hadith from whatever perspective you view it (literalist or figurative). Most 'modern' muslims have successfully distanced themselves from the more 'unacceptable' (to put it mildly) intricacies of accepting Islam - look at you. I think one of the major barriers contemporary Muslims must overcome is to 1. Accept that religion is a totally personal matter and 2. Don't take criticism of theology (in this case the Islamic Theology) as personal. Most 'normal'/mainstream Muslims, whether they admit it or not, have already 'customized' Islam to their needs. Whether the 'hardcores'/fundies like it or not is a totally diffeent matter, and I believe this is a trend we will see from now on as witnessed by Christianity for almost 3 centuries.