Muslims Protest Pictures… Again
This time it’s wikipedia that’s the culprit. And the pictures aren’t even offensive cartoons but medieval depictions, in some of which the dear prophet doesn’t have a face. New Humanist Blog reports here, linking to the NY Times.
Sometimes I really just want to tell every muslim who ever complained about other people’s transgressions of their arbitrary rules that their entire holy book offends me, as a freethinking human being, and that I demand it banned. Yeah, let’s make it an eye for an eye - I promise to stop drawing pics of Muhammad if you just get your religion off this planet. Argh!
Wikipedia to their credit explains on a FAQ page:
Since Wikipedia is an encyclopedia with the goal of representing all topics from a neutral point of view, Wikipedia is not censored for the benefit of any particular group.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! And please stand by that decision!
Depressingly it seems wikipedia has more integrity than certain European politicians. Also depressingly, a friend points out that there seems to be more people upset about some Muhammad drawings than about Sayed Pervez Kambaksh being sentenced to death for distributing some material critical of Islam. Quoth my friend Dologan:
Sad that basic, human, secular empathy doesn’t seem to elicit a similar response [as religious fervour]… A 23-year old is going to be KILLED for simply reading the opinion that the Quran maybe doesn’t really tell you to oppress women, and most people simply just don’t fucking care.
So far this day hasn’t really done wonders for my faith in humanity.
If I lived in an ideal world, I would love to live by the code, “Harm No One; Live and Let Live.” Unfortunately, in a world in which millions, perhaps even billions, of people are not willing to adopt that or a similar code, I don’t have such a luxury. I live in a world in which I must stand up for my rights and the rights of others. If I fail to do so, or am unsuccessful in my attempt, I may one day find that I have no rights.
Any ideology, religious or otherwise, that espouses intimidation, coercion and oppression must be opposed strongly.
Comment by the chaplain — February 6, 2008 @ 17:35
Well said, chappy.
Comment by Felicia Gilljam — February 6, 2008 @ 17:49