Comic

Right so I said I would post about the current hoopla going on with the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) comic.

I think PissedOffPencil and Molly Malone have presented some good arguments and should also be included in the debate. As I said in POP's comments, this has become a flash point for Muslims around the world. My father did say that it was included in the Friday prayers he attends and I imagine his was was not the only all-male congregation where this topic was dicussed. I wouldn't be surprised if every single Friday prayers services around the world on Friday February 3rd didn't have this comic as its main talking point.

Why is this comic so inflammatory? Because it is about the Prophet (pbuh), the most important PERSON in Islam. His life and deeds are core to the practice of Islam - we use him as an example for ourselves (similar to how Christians use Jesus, pbuh). There are two main points to the comic that make it offensive:
1. It depicts the Prophet (pbuh). This is a HUGE sin in Islam - to make graven images. During the establishment of Islam, the people of Arabia were worshipping idols, statues of monkeys and rats. This angered God. Nothing should be worshipped but God, the creator of all things. Out of a fear that having his image created would lead to his worship, the Prophet (pbuh) forbid pictures of himself. NO ONE in Islam thinks of breaking this command. It is blasphemous to us.
2. This comic shows the Prophet (pbuh) as a terrorist, with a bomb on his head. It is this second point that angers me. What is the basis behind this thought?

The problem for me is that editorial comics are suppose to make fun, to be a satire, but I don't see the humor in this Prophet (pbuh) comic. What exactly was the person trying to say? That Islam is a terrorist religion, that from its inception, from its last prophet, it has enjoyed and actively encouraged terrorism? This is such an ignorant, racist point of view, I don't see any humor or profound message in the comic. What are we suppose to come away with from this comic, what deeper thoughts am I to be thinking? It's like a Klan member drawing a comic of a black man eating a white baby - its not funny and it has no basis in reality. Its like a little kid drawing a boogey man.

Why would you post this comic, alienating not just extreme Muslims but all Muslims, including moderate ones like myself? It is so blatantly racist, I feel like the strip came from the court of Isabel and Ferdiand, as a means to incite further violence against the Muslims. Don't think we Muslims don't see Crusade in all of these actions, including this strip. I suppose I just don't get it, pick and choose your battles - is this really the fight you want to get into against Muslims? Isn't there something better or bigger?

I'm all for freedom of speech. Fine go ahead and publish this piece of absurdity, just like white cafes had the right to deny service to blacks in the 1950's, but I'm going to participate in the economic boycott - hit them where it hurts! Don't get me wrong, I think the violent reaction to the comic is overkill - the last thing we need to do is prove this racist comic creater he was right about Muslims. Also, I understand Muslims are not the only ones who get made fun of, but trust me, we have NO sense of humor when it comes to our religion.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out...