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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
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Iran's bestselling newspaper has launched a competition to find the best cartoon about the Holocaust in retaliation for the publication in many countries of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed. The Iranian daily Hamshahri said the contest was designed to test the boundaries of free speech - the reason given by many Western newspapers for publishing the cartoons of Mohammed.
"Does Western free speech allow working on issues like America and Israel's crimes or an incident like the Holocaust or is this freedom of speech only good for insulting the holy values of divine religions?" the paper asked.
It seems that the West called the Iranian newspaper's bluff and showed that they do believe in free speech. Unlike the Islamists, Jews did not rampage through the streets of Tel Aviv and attack Muslims. European nations did not ransack Iranian embassies. So, it seems this nutjob newspaper editor has egg on his extremist face. Indeed, reaction (or lack thereof) to this psychotic cartoon contest turned out to be a model of how civilized people respond when offended.
28 Comments:
Wayne, thanks so much for standing up to these lunatics and saying what we all really think.
These Isalmist fundamentalists are a cancer. They ruin societies everywhere they go. They offer nothing for the world but death and destruction.
I'm so tired of my so-called liberal friends defending this savagry in the misplaced name of multi-culturism.
Is it any wonder Republicans win elections? Too many "liberals" make excuses for these butchers. If they like the Muslim culture so much - move to Iran, already and see how long they tolerate you.
They want to publish a Holocaust cartoon? Fine, go ahead and publish it. Wayne is right. The reaction to the cartoon will be one of intelligence and restraint. Maybe the fanatics will actually learn something about becoming civilized.
posted by Chris L., at
2/08/2006 11:20 AM
They're acting like kids in a schoolyard. This puerile behavior poignantly shows that radical islam's level of consciousness is below sea-level. Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 12:42 PM
Hmmmm...
Maybe I could win this contest if I draw Muslim extremists dying in Auschwitz.
"if they like muyslim culture so much - move to Iran" There -people- you have an example of a yahoo that give bad name to the rest of western civilization. THat kind of answer in the year 2006 is proper of a red neck from Vitginia or florida or one of these God forgoten places.
Now, extremist -either Islamic or Christian or atheist- are a cancer. The point is to try no to fall in the trap of uncivilized eople, rather, try to use what 3000 (at least) years of civilization have given us... how can we call ourselves "civilized" after the past two elections anyway?
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 2:19 PM
Are you are all upset because you think only you have the right to do these types of things? Do not insult our Holy Religion- Islam. We are not lunatics. People like you are lunatics anonymous. We will teach you how to respect others.
posted by Muslim Unity, at
2/08/2006 4:55 PM
Dear Muslim Unity:
I think you have grossly confused respect with submission. We already respect peaceful people of ALL religions.
However, we consider terrorists, zealous rioters and suicide bombers to be barbaric savages that masquerade their bloodlust behind the veil of religion. We do not fear you and your cowardly sneak attacks.
Indeed, we will teach you how to respect women, gays, democracy, liberty and freedom.
No wonder why Muslim countries are failed states that produce nothing but terror and weapons. These people contribute nothing to the world. That is why they are always so angry.
Ever see a Muslim smile? That Arabian shit may work in Denmark, but if you people bring your shit to Oklahoma, we will kick your asses.
Mel from the great state of Oklahoma
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 10:37 PM
When the Islamic public is loudly and clearly outraged of the murderous and animalistic (yes, it is animalistic to murder in this way) activities of their own, they can be taken more seriously. When they understand that freedom of speech does not give the right to murder, they can be taken more seriously. I know many wonderful Muslims. Many. However the silence of the majority of the Muslim community supports the radicals in their behavior. It pretty much says that many of the quiet ones are living vicariously while pretending to be peace-loving. When they have Imams who preach murder, there is nothing sacred or spiritual about those Imams and little if anything spiritual about those who listen.
What's a real shame is that the US had to wait until the Towers were hit to start to gain some consciousness and Europe has to wait for something like this cartoon incident. You'd think the world would have joined in at a higher level to speak out against the cowardice barbarism of the Islamic Arabs when it was more confined to what the Palestinians were doing to the Jews. No one but the Jews really spoke out when the Christian Arabs were being mass murdered by the Muslim Arabs in Lebanon. Where were the voices. Thank goodness for something now, be it very, very late and rather costly.
I'm sure that many Arabs may miss the beauty in the following, though only if they choose to keep their eyes, ears and minds closed, and focus on punishing people for cartoons they may not like while ignoring the horrible cartooning that's accepted on somewhat daily basis in the Arab press against the Jews. The rest of you will discover or rediscover the beauty in these quotes by Golda Meir. They are so very, very true and so many more in the world are now allowing themselves to recognize it, helped unintentionally of course by Islamic extremists as well as by the silent Muslim world in the face of the extremism, for until the political leaders and the religious leaders in a predominantly Muslim country can rise to a level of consciousness and responsibility to actually tell their people to stop murdering others, and until parents there start to behave as parents and tell their children to stay home and start to instill some real values in them, this will continue. Please enjoy and pass along the following:
"I have given instructions that I be informed every time one of our soldiers is killed, even if it is in the middle of the night. When President Nasser leaves instructions that he is to be awakened in the middle of the night if an Egyptian soldier is killed, there will be peace." -Golda Meir
"Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us." -Golda Meir
"When peace comes we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons." -Golda Meir
And so I ask, when will they (yes, I used the "they" word) learn to love their children more than they enjoy living in hatred of others? And will we ever be able to forgive them for what they're forcing us to become if we want to remain alive and protect our families?
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 11:32 PM
Who is this Muslim Unity guy? I'd rather speak with someone named Muslim Intelligence. Is there any Muslim Intelligence out there? So far I don't see any Muslim Intelligence in this column. I've seen it other places, so don't get me wrong. I'll just keep checking back here for a little bit to see if Muslim Intelligence shows up and says anything.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 11:35 PM
Muslim Unity says: We are not lunatics. People like you are lunatics anonymous. We will teach you how to respect others.
Muslim Intelligence would have said: Please show some respect in your dialogue. I recognize that you're not referring to me as a lunatic for, although I may be a follower of Islam, I am not an Islamic fundamentalist nor someone who believes in violence. And being an intelligent person, I recognize that the people who attacked the Twin Towers, who rampaged after -- of all things -- a political cartoon, who call for the murder of others, and who are suicide bombers in Israel and other countries, are lunatics who kill the innocent and damage the credibility of Islam and Muslims everywhere. I also recognize that you were clearly referring only to these extremists because I took a moment to re-read your comments. Further I recognize that it is my responsibility to speak out loudly and strongly against these atrocities, both when I'm speaking in an open forum made up of many different people of various faiths and backgrounds, and even more loudly and strongly when I speak in Muslim gatherings. For it is my responsibility to bring light to the world, starting within my own family, my own culture and my own religion.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 11:52 PM
This muslim intelligence guy sounds pretty good. Where is he?
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 11:53 PM
Yeah. Where is Moslem Intelligence?
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 11:54 PM
I wouldn't mind hearing from Moslem Intelligence either.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 11:54 PM
Actually I'd like to hear a little more from Golda Meir.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 11:55 PM
She died. How can you talk about Moslem Intelligence when you don't even know that Golda Meier died?
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 11:56 PM
Hey, but you can go to Google and look up "Golda Meir quotes" (this is the correct spelling of her last name) and find lot's of wonderful things that she said.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/08/2006 11:58 PM
I went to look up some of those quotes and found these as well. I'm beginning to get some real perspective here because I didn't come across any quotes from Arab leaders that sound remotely like these. I'm sure there must be some, so I'm going back to Google to look and will report back. If it the Islamic approach to incite fighting and murder, I can see how uncomfortable it must be for the Israelis to have to live along side that. I certainly don't want that kind of perspective here. I'd like to think it's just the extemists.
“We will not rest until we reach a permanent agreement [with the Palestinians] that would secure a safe future for our children and that would provide us with renewed hope to live in a region where people lead a life of co-operation and not, God forbid, where blood is shed.” Yitzhak Rabin
I believe that it is my responsibility as the prime minister of Israel to do whatever can be done to exploit the unique opportunities that lie ahead of us to move towards peace. Yitzhak Rabin
The sword alone cannot decide this bitter dispute in this land. Ariel Sharon
I believe that the conditions have been created that will allow us and the Palestinians to reach a historic breakthrough. Ariel Sharon
Like all Israelis, I yearn for peace. I see the utmost importance in taking all possible steps that will lead to a solution of the conflict with the Palestinians. Ariel Sharon
The ongoing conflict between us has caused heavy suffering to both peoples. The future can and must be different. Both our peoples are destined to live together side by side, on this small piece of land. Ariel Sharon
We extend our hand towards peace. Our people are committed to peace. We know that peace entails painful compromise for both sides. Ariel Sharon
We have an opportunity to break off from the path of blood which has been forced on us over the last four years. We have an opportunity to start on a new path. For the first time in a long time there exists in our region hope for a better future for our children and grandchildren. Ariel Sharon
posted by Anonymous, at
2/09/2006 12:19 AM
Hey, get a loada this. http://www.iris.org.il/quotes.htm
posted by Anonymous, at
2/09/2006 12:22 AM
I went to Google and typed in "Arab leaders quotes regarding peace." The first thing that showed up was "Belgium Muslim Leader Calls on Arabs to Use Danish Flag as Toilet Paper." Hmmm...
posted by Anonymous, at
2/09/2006 12:24 AM
I'm still looking for quotes on peace by Arab leaders.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/09/2006 12:42 AM
I can't find any peace quotes from leaders of any of their countries. The only quote I found when looking under "arab leaders quotes on peace" was the following from, get this, an Syrian text book for children. It says "Real peace with Israel would be treason".
No wonder common sense hasn't yet penetrated them.
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2/09/2006 12:52 AM
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