Religion

rug

(82,333 posts) Sat Nov 30, 2013, 06:23 PM Nov 2013

Yes, We Have a Right to Offend Muslims. And Everyone Else.

Nov. 26, 2013
by Ed Brayton

The Muslim Times has a ridiculous article entitled “Do atheists have the right to offend Muslims?” That may be the easiest question in the world, next to “Would you like some more pork?” And that question may offend Muslims too, but I couldn’t care any less.

Recently some atheists at the LSE Freshers day were asked by university authorities to remove T-shirts depicting the Prophets Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them both) sharing a beer together. Well, to be more exact, they were asked to remove “Jesus and Mo” cartoon t-shirts, where “Jesus” is depicted as a cartoon caricature of the real Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) and “Mo” is ostensibly a ‘body double’ of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Such conflicts are proliferating, and present an interesting challenge to our democratic society in the UK: do atheists have the right to offend Muslims?

On the face of it, this may seem a simple question, and most people probably will start reading this article with a fixed opinion on the issue. But it’s actually a rather complicated question!

http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/2013/11/26/yes-we-have-a-right-to-offend-muslims-and-everyone-else/#more-24104

I'm sure he won't mind when I note his internet posturing will not likely salvage his career of performing before "dazed illeterates".

After spending several years touring the country as a stand up comedian, Ed Brayton tired of explaining his jokes to small groups of dazed illiterates and turned to writing as the most common outlet for the voices in his head. He has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and the Thom Hartmann Show, and is almost certain that he is the only person ever to make fun of Chuck Norris on C-SPAN.

It didn't help Dennis Miller either.

3 replies

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Highlight:

Yes, We Have a Right to Offend Muslims. And Everyone Else. (Original Post) rug Nov 2013 OP

that would be a cool t-shirt but... madrchsod Nov 2013 #1

Encouraging people not to deliberately set out to offend one another struggle4progress Nov 2013 #2

As a reminder, the cartoons that they thought might be 'harrassment' or 'offensive' muriel_volestrangler Dec 2013 #3

madrchsod

(58,162 posts)

1. that would be a cool t-shirt but...

Reply to rug (Original post)

Sat Nov 30, 2013, 07:03 PM

Nov 2013

i`d go with a pepsi.

struggle4progress

(118,291 posts)

2. Encouraging people not to deliberately set out to offend one another

Reply to rug (Original post)

Sat Nov 30, 2013, 07:06 PM

Nov 2013

doesn't seem to me any major threat to democracy

As a general rule, I don't think people have a right to be unoffended, and I'm even pretty sure there are now and then times when it might actually be a moral duty to offend someone

But it's still good advice to try to get along with everybody so far as one reasonably can

I once heard a member of the War Resisters League describe an afternoon he spent in New York. He'd gone there to debate Vietnam with a rightwing hawk. The radio show didn't last all that long, so afterwards they both had many hours before their scheduled trips back home, and the resister invited the rightwinger out for lunch or coffee or such. The fellow was surprised but accepted, and they spent the afternoon chatting. At the end, the rightwinger thanked him effusively, saying he'd been in New York about twenty-four hours, and in that time nobody but the resister had treated him with any decency

It matters. It doesn't change institutions. And it doesn't change the gross dynamics of political struggles. But at the human level, it matters

muriel_volestrangler

(101,321 posts)

3. As a reminder, the cartoons that they thought might be 'harrassment' or 'offensive'

Reply to rug (Original post)

Sun Dec 1, 2013, 08:23 AM

Dec 2013

The last frame of this cartoon: http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/02/15/plot/ , and the image at the right of the masthead (ie "stop drawing holy prophets in a disrespectful manner NOW!" and "How ya doin'?&quot .

It's strange the the Muslim Times writer didn't actually bother arguing. He just quoted the ECHR, as if that somehow proved his point. Then he waited for anonymous commentators to try to make the argument. Perhaps he didn't want to be tied to the failure later.

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