Overreact Much?
Posted By Ardellis on February 19, 2006
Let’s talk about the reaction of some portions of the world’s Muslim population to the publishing of some insulting cartoons in Denmark, shall we? On the one hand, while it is perfectly allowable by law in a free country to be an insensitive, bigoted jerk and to portray the revered founder of anyone’s religion in a insulting way, it is still not a good thing to do, even if only from the standpoint of good taste. On the other hand, when you protest a portrayal of your faith as being violent by committing violence and making death threats, you do tend to undermine the point you are trying to make: that the cartoons were wrong, and that your religion is not about hurting others.
Believe me, I know what it feels like to have your religion made the object of other people’s tastless humor. I am a Witch, after all. Every October the mainstream media finds the most unbalanced and flamboyant people they can who call themselves Witches and hold them up for the general population to shake their heads and laugh at. Don’t think it doesn’t insult me. And don’t think that I don’t bristle every time I hear a difficult or unlikable woman called a witch, or portrayed as one in a cartoon.
But do I put on green face-paint to protest my portrayal that way? Of course not. And if I was being accused of being prone to violence against those who disagree with me, I would most certainly not march out into the street and start wreaking destruction on the nearest people who look like or might be associated with the people who pissed me off. It’s a stupid thing to do, and it just makes the original insult look all the more accurate. It would undermine my cause and make the bigots look right.
I’m not saying that Muslims need to grow a sense of humor about their own faith. It would be helpful, but it’s not required. What’s required is the ability to calmly and maturely articulate the hurt and the anger in a way that opens up dialogue. Because rioting in the streets and attacking embassies isn’t going to help them get the respect they want; it’s only going to ensure that they don’t.
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