Freedom of Speech
Okay, can we talk about Toon Wars as a straight-up freedom of speech issue now? A cartoonist in Germany is in hiding after drawing a cartoon—yes, an offensive one—that didn’t even depict he-who-must-not-be-drawn. A cartoonist at a daily paper in Ohio is under attack for drawing a cartoon that made fun of CNN for not showing the Mohammed cartoons, a cartoon that featured an image of Mohammed but with his face blurred out—which is precisely how Muslims in many Islamic countries depict Mohammed.
Blogger Eugene Volokh comments:
So I guess it’s not just that we aren’t supposed to draw pictures of Mohammed as terrorist, or of Mohammed at all; we aren’t even supposed to draw pictures that are obviously not of Mohammed, and that are meant to mock the inability to draw pictures of Mohammed.” (Via Sullivan.)
Volokh links to a story in an Ohio paper:
“They take the prize for being the most ill-intended, irresponsible property group,” he said. “Allah curses and condemns them and every Muslim in this community should curse and condemn them.”Julia A. Shearson, director of Ohio’s Council of American-Islamic Relations, said they want the Beacon Journal to apologize for running the “unethical” cartoon and want the paper to publish their letters to the editor.
After yesterday’s press conference, Bok met with several leaders. The cartoonist said he drew the cartoon to take a shot at CNN for “distorting a distortion” and not at the prophet or Muslims… .
Still, Muslim leaders said Bok’s cartoon was disrespectful because the prophet should not have been depicted in such a way. In fact, they said, there are no pictures or statues of Muhammad because he should not be confused with God… .
There are no pictures or statues of Mohammed? Really?
Curse you and your fact based reasoning!!
May a thousand whoresons wreak havoc on your houses!!