Click image to enlarge.
CNN pixilated the cartoons that set off a world wide Muslim temper tantrum. If the cartoons are a distortion of Muhammad then CNN has distorted a distortion. Guess we'll never know what all the fuss was about.
Most of the mainstream media in the U.S., other than Fox News, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the New York Sun, took a pass on showing the cartoons. Editor and Publisher has a story on the media refusal to publish the cartoons.
It seems a little arrogant for a religion to demand that the whole world play by its rules. And a little wimpy for most of the American media to go along with it.
Christopher Hitchens considers the incident proof of "an aggressive intent".
Dear Mr. Bok:
I am a retired United Methodist minister. I have preached for over 40 years for interracial, interfaith, intercultural understanding and reconciliation. Alas, your cartoon this morning undid all of that. Your medium has an impact. You have a responsibility to be a positive force in the community. May I introduce you to a few Muslims to help you get over your sickness?
First, let me say that I like most of your political satire very much… but I feel that you exercised exceedingly poor judgment in taking on the whole Muslim/Mohammed issue. I was very disappointed to see you ignoring such strong societal taboos, obviously without fully appreciating how strongly held they are. Would you draw a cartoon depicting Jesus having sex with his Mother as a way of pointing out how silly this sort of symbolic sensitivity is? I think not.
Don't you think it's much more important to incite the anger of the average non-terrorist Muslim over things that matter more than finding out if the pen is, truly, mightier than the sword. We have, already, cracked that code. I suggest you might pursue nobler goals, like the rights of women, rogue nations developing nuclear weapons, support for manipulative terrorists, etc.
Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor… and you blew it.
hey uncle lucky, love the cartoon!this whole controversy is full of fodder though i do find the dannish cartoonist's cartoon in poor taste for depicting mohhamed as a terrorist and for implying that muslims simply like to bomb things a certain humorous irony arose the very next day when the newspaper the Dannish cartoonist worked for was shut down, why was it shut down?… a bomb threat. what better way to show how peaceful your religion can be.
reverend beaty, your sentiments are noble. however, the irony in your comment would make a cartoon rivalling some of mr. bok's best. while i'm sure you intended to suggest finding common ground, bridge building and the like, "may i introduce you to a few muslims to help you get over your sickness" sounds to most americans like a threat.
Dear Mr. Bok
I am a very sensitive reader who has dedicated a life to promoting compassion, victimhood, and entitlement. Unfortunately, many year's of work are now ruined by your silly drawing and I beseech you to swear off this life of satiric folly and go open a soup kitchen for homeless gay cowboys. I, too, am on acid. Robble robble, huff, huff.
As an American born practicing Muslim, I was shocked to see your cartoon.It not only went against my Muslim values, but also my American values of regard and esteem. However, Our Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) taught us to act in kindness and respect to even those who hurt us. It was wrong of you publish that tasteless cartoon and you have offended many by doing so. Speaking on behalf of Muslims- we forgive you, but also do not want to see anything like this ever again.
Dalia- The Muslims we see do not exactly act with respect – to anyone. Jihad is not and act of kindness.
Dear Mr. Bok,
I was scratching my head for hours and hours to find anything beneficial in publishing your cartoons but i honestly couldn't. The only thing your cartoon does is destroying bridges that some people are working hard to build. Yet as Dalia said, we not only forgive you but also ask god to guide you to the right path.
And in reply to Mr. Bingo, It is very unfair to blame 1.2 billion muslim people for the acts of few hundreds. You do not blame the christians for the priests who malested kids do you ?
Muslims are living in this country in peace and harmony with their neighbors, friends, and co-workers and the Comment by Hon. Rev. Beaty is a good evidence of what i am saying!
Saying that the Muslims you see do not act with respect makes me realize that you have never seen Mohammad Ali (great boxer and human rights activist), Hakeem Olajuwon (Great Athlete), and Ahmad Zouwail (researcher and Nobel Prize winner) and many others.
Attention Mr. Bok:
This cartoon establishes the fact that you are ignorant and prejudice. I am not against freedom of expression, and I do not think that any American would be, but do you think that means we should accept racist cartoons? Should we applaud those who exercise their freedom of expression by promoting hatred and bigotry through their ignorant cartoons? I don't think so. Any educated person would know that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)was a symbol of probity, kindness, generosity, and humanity. To degrade such a wonderful man is simply irresponsible and idiotic. It is sad that this newspaper would even publish such a symbol of ignorance and prejudice; the cartoon speaks volumes of your credibility and lack of intellect. I encourage you to go pick up a book a learn about Islam-the world's fastest growing religion- and the Messenger Muhammad (P), you will quickly see how you have wronged all those who believe in peace and bridging the gap between faiths.
Mr. Bok , freedom of expression doesn't mean to insult 1.2 billions of Muslims , and mocking on a religous figure our prophet Mohamed (Peace and blessings be upon him)whom we as Muslims dignify.
It is everybody's choice to believe in what he wants to believe of , but it is a duty on everyone to respect others' religous beliefs and figures. I believe before taking about the hundreds of Muslims who took a violent reaction , to reflect the question frst to yourself and to the media which uses its tool unproperly and not fully responsible of what it published while it is insulting an entire culture and it knows that so well. By all means there was no point except insult and hurt and spreading hatred. I believe that non of you are aware of how great was his personality (prophet Mohamed ) PBUH is . if you are interested in knowing more first hand about him you can check this http://www.amrkhaled.net/acategories/categories134.html
"Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) trusted the Jews and gave them all the rights of citizenship in Madinah, guaranteeing that no one would harm them, take any of their money, force them to convert, or intercede with their freedom to worship. He was great in co-existence when he was against using the Muslims loyal to him in Makkah to create tension among the people of Quraysh, even during the war between Makkah and Madinah "
for more of his great situations you can check this http://www.amrkhaled.net/articles/articles1244.html
It was addressed as a message for the west
Get over yourselves, you arrogant, sectarian, humorless, hypocritical bastards! How dare you have the nerve to demand tolerance and inclusion for a religion whose expressed actions are anything but. You people are bent out of shape about a DRAWING, and you don't have the guts to condemn the BOMBING OF WEDDINGS, BEHEADINGS OF HOSTAGES, and random SLAUGHTER of INNOCENT NON COMBATANT WOMEN AND CHILDREN!! (All of which are done in the name of the pixilated Prophet?!- Peace be Upon Him, indeed, because it certainly is not upon his followers.) Organized religion is a cancer of the ignorant, and *#@! you for having the gall to constrain human expression, expecting the world to conform to your Byzantine "utopia". You cannot have RIGHT and WRONG without CHOICE; forced ethos (regardless of how "good" it may be) violates human free will and it by definition WRONG. Will some rational Muslims please recognize this fact? It is not a sign of weakness. Or are you going to send me some hate email and firebomb my house? COWARDS. Have a coke and a smile, in the name of the Bernie Kosar, Peace Be Upon Him.
Instead of responding so viscerally and haphazardly, perhaps the critics of this cartoon, regardless of their religion, should take a step back and recognize what this cartoon is really about: it is making a jab at CNN and the American media who either refused to publish the original cartoons or decided to do so in a censored manner. It is not making fun of Muslims or the Prophet. We should also be thankful that the American government (unlike the governments of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Iran) had nothing to do with incubating and catalyzing the cartoon's distribution in a manner that was profligate, furtive, intentionally inflammatory, and wrought with ulterior (and misdirected) motive.
Antonia- I was wondering if anyone had actually looked at this cartoon. It is, of course, a jab at CNN. I wonder if the reaction is just an organized effort in response to some campaign. Can people really be so dim? Why no reaction on other cartoons on this issue?
dirka dirka dirka mohamed jihad! Bok ill put a jihad on you too!
Mr. Bok (peace be upon you)
Keep up the great work. Muslims have no understanding of the Bill of Rights. The 1st Amendment does not guarantee some one the right NOT to be offended. Hell, I'm offended every day. I bite my lip and move on. Keep it up!
Brian (peace be upon me)
Nowhere in the United States Constitution or the Bill of Rights does it protect anyone from being offended or offended by speech. Non-offensive speech does not need protection under the Constitution, the Supreme Law of the United States of America. No one would try and stop non-offensive speech.
Voltaire said around the time of the Founding of this Country that, "I may disagree with everything that you say, but I shall defend to the death you're right to say it."
Chipbokka: As Keith Richards once said, "There's no such thing
as bad publicity". Finally, Praise Allah… people are actually looking
at your blog and responding. Auggie, the righteous outrage is
your cue! Where are you buddy? And Brian, W has no understanding of the Bill of Rights, why would you expect a Muslim to understand them?
Dear Mr. Bok,
Thanks so much for the great cartoon. Refreshingly funny and I am inquiring into a subscription with your newspaper as a result. Keep up the good work, I'm recommending your paper to my friends.
Dara
Forgive me for saying it, Rev. Beaty, but it is hard to imagine this cartoon undoing 40 years of your interfaith efforts.
But, if it has, then I think it can only show how little those to whom you reached out valued your efforts.
I am at least as amused by your comments as by the cartoon. CNN is ridiculous for pixilating cartoons of Mohamet. Muslims are ridiculous for protesting cartoons. If the cartoons are in bad taste, (and none to my understanding were!) then the last thing to do, is to point them out for the world's delectation. Of the 7 major sects of Islam, only 1, the Wahabi have a prohibition on the representation of Mohammed. Of course the Wahabi are the ones which ban possession of the Bible in Saudi Arabia, and their Saudi bankrollers use their religious laws to catch Fillipino servants practicing their own religion, and sentencing them to slavery for indefinite terms.
Certainly Muslims get greater respect in Denmark, a Lutheran nation, than Jews or Christians get in Saudi Arabia. Until that changes, my sympathies are for the cartoonists, and my contempt is for the few followers of the paedofile prophet. If Muslims think they deserve respect, then they must show that respect by not burning embassies, not issuing fatwas against people who believe differently, and not murdering non-combatants.
A guy can dream, can't he!
Where are the christians firer bombing buildings when they run cartoons about jesus? There are none right? Because cristians and jews have been putting up with it for yars and we don't riot in the streets. If you took 10% of the muslim population as being the bad ones, accoring to the poster above there are 1.2 billion thats still 120 million radical american haters!! Get over hybocracy and conform to the American way of life and don't try to change us, it's you who need to change.
In reading the first comment by the Rev. John R. Beaty, I am reminded of the phrase purportedly coined by Vladimir Lenin to describe the Western pseudo-intellectuals offering their support for his "workers revolution".
The term was "USEFUL IDIOT".
The Rev. John R. Beaty is a "useful idiot" in every sense of the word.
If you give up your freedom to offend those that are easily offended, you will NEVER, EVER get it back.
Mr. Bok,
Thank you for this cartoon, and for the many more that I have enjoyed over the years. Don't be intimidated by the stupidity and ignorance of the critics (you were making fun of CNN, for goodness sake!). Don't spend any time listening to the silly senstivity of thin-skinned interfaith promoters. You're doing just fine. My only concern is that your newspaper might knuckle under. Be bold, you don't have to apologize for anything.
Thank you for having the courage to stand up against the intimidation of the Islamicists and their fellow travelers.
I have one questions for the Muslims who immigrated to the United States? Why did you come here? if you can't live under our constitution and understand that this is a secular society that welcomes all religions then please go back from whence you came.
threatening beheadings and calling for Muhammad to put curses on people does not nothing to advance the idea that Islam is a religion of peace.
Somebody needs to criticize the media reaction. You did an outstanding job. Don't buckle. The grand canyon was eroded one grain of sand at a time.
We don't have blasphemy laws in this country. We have the First Amendment. Those who didn't grow up in a truly free society don't understand that.
That First Amendment, and others like it, are the reason the US is a bright beacon to the world.
Great cartoon. CNN, the rest of the MSM and all muslims need a good tweak.
The US Constitution guarantees freedom of speech. It does not guarantee freedom from speech one may find offensive.
We should keep up the pressure on muslims until the arab world no longer persecutes non-muslims, and countries like Saudi Arabia repeal laws making possession of a Bible illegal.
For those muslims who immigrated to the US and can't seem to handle a free society, you are welcome to return home.
To Rev. Beaty – you are, as another poster put it, a useful idiot in that you are aiding our enemy by your stance. There are plenty of Muslims out there who are grounded in reality, and I'm proud to call several my friends. However, the warped worldview being imposed by hostile countries and many so-called muslims in this country does make it hard to identify the pure of heart. Please take a moment to assess your own position, and those with whom you are close in that religion.
Make no mistake, this is a war. The West, and the USA in particular, just hasn't realized it yet. It is time to choose sides. I know which one I'm on.
God Bless America.
Love your cartoon. Very, very funny.
later…
Thank you for your cartoon and your courage! And for the love of God and freedom don't apologize.
I really had a great belly laugh at this cartoon thinking how empty-headed CNN sounded in their bloviating excuses. I showed the cartoon to my wife and she roared out loud. Of course, we both know what it is like to be trippin' out, granted that it has been a few 24 hrs over the dam since those days of window panes. Anyway, thanks immensely for the giggles. Perhaps, ultimately, its just an "American thing."
Chip: My congratulations to you for standing up for freedom of expression amid so much fourth-estate cowardice.
The Boston Phoenix got to the heart of the matter on Friday when its edtiors explained that the paper would not publish the Jyllands-Posten cartoons “out of fear of retaliation from the international brotherhood of radical and bloodthirsty Islamists who seek to impose their will on those who do not believe as they do. This is, frankly, our primary reason for not publishing any of the images in question. Simply stated, we are being terrorized, and as deeply as we believe in the principles of free speech and a free press, we could not in good conscience place the men and women who work at the Phoenix and its related companies in physical jeopardy."
Would only that every paper in the country that's declined to publish the cartoons had been so candid about its concerns.
When a leader of the local Muslim community says of you and your Beacon Journal colleagues, "Allah curses and condemns them and every Muslim in this community should curse and condemn them," we understand of course the veiled threat that lies behind those words.
Never mind that your criticism was directed toward CNN, not toward Muslims. The point seems only to be that you and the Beacon Journal have exercised your right as U.S. citizens and as members of a free press to offer a viewpoint that some in the Muslim community evidently do not share. And for that insolence you are to be "cursed" and, by extension, threatened with violent retribution.
Mr. Abdoulkarim and his fellow believers are certainly free to abide by the strictures of Sharia if they so choose. But they have no right to intimidate others into doing the same.
Okay, riddle me this: I think abortion is morally wrong, and try to outlaw it, and am thus derided as attempting to impose my theocratic views on society. Muslims are upset over cartoons drawn by unbelievers, and, when newspapers buckle and refuse to run them, it is due to diversity, deferrence to religious sensibilities, etc.
Why is that? What makes Islam so special that a drawing of Muhammad is wrong, but something like Piss Christ is okay?
I think it is a very funny & original take on CNN & the US media as a whole. Thank you for the totally non-offensive cartoon showing how sometimes the media will drop objectivity or placate itself to specific groups at the expense of actually informing the public in general.
Zounds! The guy is a historical figure… he not only started a relegion, he led an army. And you say nobody can draw a picture of him? Pfft – or what, you'll wet your pants? Try taking a similar position with Jesus, or Hitler, or Mickey Mouse and watch the world draw pictures of your idol and make fun of your idiotic ability to get offended at the fact your dogma does not equal limitations on every one else's ability to act and think. Get over yourself Islam.
Other than the language in which it's written, there is no difference between the Qur'an that Usama bin Laden reads and George Bush's copy. Chapter 5:33 reads the same in both of them:
"The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom;
Bok's cartoon is accurate; Mohammad is brandishing a sword.
And Bok's target is quite rightly identified: CNN.
Noha,
Two things. Since you obviously did not see this as an insult against CNN, it is you who seems to have the "lack in intellect".
Second, here is what I encourage you to do. Dont buy the damned paper! If Bok desires to learn about Islam, he will in due time. But dont expect him to "understand you and your sensitivities". For crying out loud, you sound like a little pansy!!!
I find it amazing how many folks profess to believe in the First Amendment — right up to the point that they hear or read something with which they disagree. At that point, they wish to not just oppose it, but ban it as well. That is the height of unAmericanism.
And if followers of a certain religion insist upon imposing their religious restrictions on freedom of expression upon the rest of us, that must lead to the unavoidable conclusion that said religion is not compatible with good citizenship.
Oh, and for those who have mentioned abortion as an imposition of religious belief, think again. One can clearly find secular reasons for laws restricting or banning abortion — reasons based upon science and upon fundamental notions of human rights — without ever getting into theological issues. The same cannot be said for restrictions on depicting a historical figure who started a major world religion.
These comments are a bunch of BS. These jihadist muslims are crazy angry and would gladly kill all of us precisely because we exist. It wouldn't even be enough that we all converted to Islam, we will all forever be infidels in their eyes.
Anyone who thinks otherwise, deserves to be killed in the resultant jihadist war that is surely fomenting on the crest of the next history wave yet to fall upon our beaches.
They just hate is because that's what they do. It doesn't matter what we do (or don't do). Placating these morons only delays the inevitable. We (all non muslim) are doomed to fight an epic battle (to the death) of every last jihadist muslim.
It's all just a question of time.
Fred
St. Francis, who according to legend had a cordial dialog with the Sultan (but failed to convert him), later had good advice for his brethren when rejected and insulted:
shake the dust of their city off your feet and go where you are welcomed.
Thank you for bringing together so many peacemakers and people of good will who also have the sanity of Francis. Let's hope some of the Sultan's followers will join you, and the outraged ones will take up residence in Mecca.
Keep up the good work.
And the CAIR folks are liars when they say their prophet isn't depicted anywhere. You can find many paintings of it him in Southwest Asia. Lots. You can find them on the internet as well.
Second of all, to the Muslims. Your rules apply to YOU. Not to anybody else or any country. If you don't like it, Saudi Arabia would love to have you. Heck, they don't even allow other religions there. We aren't dhimmies. Get over yourselves.
Kudos to Mr. Bok for drawing the cartoon, and kudoes to his newspaper for publishing it. To be honest, I am also grateful to the zillions of muslims who are going bonkers over the cartoons. Their rage serves to highlight the shallow legalism of their faith and the premeditated threat they pose to the rest of the world.
It is astounding that the media of western world are submiting themselves to the Islam. (especially when you consider their reaction to anything that Christians say) What ever happened to the vaunted independent, secular mind? I'll tell you what happened: those 'secular' minds are cowering in fear. Fear for their wallets and fear for their lives.
Behold the heirs of the enlightenment!
Pathetic.
Bok, et al,
Great cartoon, right on the money, and lots of sound responses in the spirit of the message. Also lots of stunningly ignorant tripe from the nutbag Muslims and the dhimmis like "Rev" Beaty.
If he really thinks this cartoon "undid 40 years of ministry" then he must have been an utterly worthless minister. Methodists in Ohio are due a significant refund of pledges!
Absolutely hilarious, and spot on! Good job!
Tatterdemalion wrote:
What ever happened to the vaunted independent, secular mind?
It's alive and well, and living in my head. Some of us secular minds are able to recognize religious zealots wherever we find them–and are not afraid to oppose them.
Sorry my little muslim moonbats…
If you happen to belong to a religious blood cult, and gleefully insist upon remaining firmly entrenched in the 7th century, don't go blaming the rest of us for YOUR poor decision-making skills. If islam and mohammedanadingdong (may he enjoy his stay in hell) don't like it, then come see me personally. I'm in the book, and will be MORE than happy to "debate" you.
Sorry to inform you that your illustrious fraud of a founder's ass is currently being used as the shaitan's umbrella stand, you spineless, petulant idiots.
Eric in Hollywood
One thing is very clear:
Being a Muslim means you have no sense of humor!
the cartoon made a good point, due to the threats of maniacal muslims, media outlets are distorting the cartoons in an attempt to protect themselves from thin skinned muslims. I'm not fooled one bit; unless we live by their rules they will continue to play the victim and blame us for the destruction of life and property they commit in their prophets name. We must change our culture to appease their sensitivities or they will bludgeon us with our own liberal club.
It seems tolerance means submission. Thank you Mr. Bok, you've gained another fan.
Shane
I'm with Bakalakadaka: Durka Durka Durka Mohammed Jihad! Team America had the right idea.
Now, go spread your sharia-BS on some pork rinds and masticate, muslim dogs!
Mr. Bok:
Don't you dare apologize. Our Muslim friends need to join the rest of us in the twenty-first century. They need to go out and watch the Monty Python movie The Life of Brian and then take a long, hard look at themselves.
Muslims, why is it that Christians can watch–and laugh at–movies and cartoons poking fun at Jesus Christ, but if someone like Mr. Bok draws a cartoon that isn't even directly about your precious prophet, you whine and seethe like heartbroken children?
Grow up! Act like adults! Don't behave like slobbering cavemen! Get a sense of humor and a sense of proportion. Instead of criticizing us for lampooning your magnificent prophet, criticize your co-religionists for cutting off heads, slaughtering children, and running the most inept and corrupt governments on the planet.
When was the last time you've seen an editorial, in one of the major media outlets, or one of our fine religious clerics supporting a ban on burning the U.S. flag. Although, I wish President Bush (PBUH) would make such a ban.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1360/1632/1600/mohammad.jpg
Thank you for your courage. DO NOT GIVE IN TO SHARIA LAW! Blaspheming and offending is a right that is yours to enjoy!! Never Surrender!
America has the values of regard and esteem…..what the hell are you talking about? America has the values of freedom of speech and expression. Right or wrong is decided by each individual according to his or her own dictates and sensibilities. But don't try to force others to succumb to your sensibilities. In doing so, you come accross like a complete idiot and/or nitwit. Or maybe even like a follower of a backward and archaic religion.
And the veiled threats would be taken more seriously except for the fact that the Muslim world just isn't what it used to be. It must suck when your glory centuries have long since passed and you are clearly ages behind the West. Strongly worded bluster and threats are about all the leaders of Islam are able to muster nowdays, and while it does put many in the West on guard (CNN, the US State Department), it is not at all impressive. I do not fear Muslim ire or retaliation, it will just hasten the inevitable, the end of Islam as it exists today. The Mother of All Culture Clashes, or MOACC, would end badly for the followers of Islam.
Right on, give 'em Hell!
Excellent cartoon. Too bad so many jumped on you early for insulting their prophet (can you say organized campaign?) when the target was CNN. The pixelated face was exactly what CNN did, so why did various muslims and methodist ministers not make the same outrageous statements against CNN last week?
This is America. Our media outlets may be filled with cowards who are afraid to exercise their first amendment rights, but if you try here what you do in other countries, I promise sincerely that those of us not part of the craven media will most assuredly exercise our second amendment rights. Peace be upon you – eternal peace.
There's nothing to be said at all to the Muslims who are "offended" at any of this. More they insist upon enforcing their views/beliefs on others, the worse it gets. And, noone should doubt the west's ability to *destroy* Islam. It is only a question of will. And with each passing day, we get a step closer. Muslims stand on the edge of abyss, and not realize it for their hate and intolerance. Better wake up and change your ways, or you'll find yourself extinct.
Dear Mr. Bok,
As a fellow cartoonist, I know people when pissed can read into a cartoon whatever they want. If you say that your intention in the cartoon was obviously a jab on CNN and not Mohammad, then what can I say but take you at your word.
Please, ppl, give the man a break. We can't let him be bullied. He was just doing his job, which is satirizing bullies
I'd applaud you for standing up to Islamic fundamentalism, but your cartoon doesn't do that – it just pokes fun of CNN.
Looks like some of the commenters are on acid too.
Has anyone seen the disgusting anti Semitic cartoons in al jazeera and other arab publications? But we don't see the Jews burning down embassies. The hypocrisy is stunning!
"The hypocrisy is stunning!"
I agree wholeheartedly. I'm especially mad at the so-called "Christians" who actually try to make everyone play by Islam's rules. Maybe they should ask themselves a question – "What kind of Christian am I?". Have they really read what Koran says about Christians and Jews? Well, maybe they should, as opposed to just buyng that "religion of peace" noncense.
No, did they REALLY try to read Islamic books?
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile – hoping it will eat him last."
Sir Winston Churchill
1) The cartoon is not racist. Claiming that any statements, conversations, or cartoons which have any element of Islam including in them, however remote, are racist is dishonest and a stretch of reality.
Islam is a "religion" not a race. Muslims include people of various races, from Orientals, such as Chinese, Fillipino, and others, to Asians, such as those from India and Pakistan and neighboring countries, Africans, who are often black, from various parts of Africa, especially northern Africa, Arabs, from South Asia and the Middle East, and so on. There are many Muslims throughout Europe, North America, and South America as well.
No, addressing anything remotely Muslim is not racist any more than addressing anything remotely Christian, Buddhist, or Jewish is in any way "racist" as there are people of various races who are participants in these various faiths.
2) The cartoon does not address Islam or the Prophet Mohammad. It addresses CNN's cowardly dihmminitude in avoiding the display of the cartoon.
They showed the cartoon, but not really. Why? Because they did so "out of respect for Islam."
No. They did not do so "out of respect for Islam." They did so because they are cowards and they fear for their lives and for their property. They fear that they will be attacked, kidnapped, tortured, their throats slit, their heads chopped off, their buildings burned down, and they also fear pressure.
You see, CNN does not fear this when they insult Christians, Jews, or any other faith, nor do they fear such violence when they insult pro-lifers, President George W. Bush, US soldiers, or anyone else other than Muslims, except, perhaps for left wing moonbats.
No, Kanye West can insult Christians in by dressing up like Jesus on the cover of Rolling Stone. No big deal.
Muslims can print insulting, desparaging cartoons and promote comic books and movies and Friday night sermons from Mosques denegrating Christians, Jews, Hindus, westeners, and others, not big deal.
CNN was and is acting cowardly, and the weak condemnation for Chip Bok's cartoon depicting CNN's phony reporting and pixilating one cartoon is right on the money. I hope to see more and more of these throughout all the press, print, and electronic, throughout the world, including the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa, and elsewhere.
Yes, it is time that Arab and Muslim states and countries actually stop being cry babies and little, immature babies and start "cowboying" up and start waking up and becoming more civilized in their behavior and stop having a hissy fit when their sensitivities are hurt, and stop their double standard of insulting others but being offended when they are looked at critically.
Remember, US President George W. Bush has stated over and over again that "Islam is a religion of Peace."
Let us start seeing some proof of this "Religion of Peace" from the religion of Islam.
All we have seen so far is the religion of violence, sadistic behavior, and hate.
William
Religion of Peace? The TRUE nature of islam shines through in this debate. The West now sees what the leaders of this "ROP" intend. We are prepared to defend our countries. Islamists hate personal freedom and intend to destroy it. Shame unto them.
It is a same that the MSM chooses to side with the deranged Muslims. As a few have stated, the Muslims should pack their stuff and move back to where they came from. This Religion of Peace crap is certainly a lie.
I say throw a few cruise missles into Syria and Iran. If they want to stay in the 7th century, bomb them back to it.
Mr. Bok,
A Blogger Beer high-five for you!
To those who say "freedom of speech does not include the freedom to denigrate our religion" I say go home. Here freedom of speech means exactly that (and more). When in your lands I gladly abide by those rules (and laws) but you are here now.
Guess what? The same freedom we have to ridicule Islam here in the USA give you license to ridicule other faiths as well. You have license to criticize our government as well. Of course in most Islamic nations that is also another exception to freedom of speech.
Mr. Bok, do not apologize and I hope you paper stands strong and firm. Our land is governed by the principles in the Consitution and from Washington D.C. not by the Qur'ran and from Mecca.
cboc – your next cartoon should depict CNN women donning burkas and the men putting on turbans – with a sign behind them that says “CNN employees must adopt Sharia Law” One character should be shown saying, “Maybe he will leave, if we lead the way.” A scowling “he” – standing with his arms crossed, while holding a scimitar is seen viewing the action.
Scared newspaper owners and editors are sending the message to whack-job Islamicists that they are ready to bow to any demand they might make – ready to assume dhimmitude. Obviously if said media types fold on mere cartoons, you can bet they will fold on anything and everything else demanded.
Great cartoon! CNN's self censorship is pathetic. We remember that CNN admitted to censoring it's news stories about the former Iraqi Regime in order to appease Saddam and cozy up to the former leadership. Too bad not enough people realize that. The mooselimbs need to get a sense of humor. Unlike in the U.K. and many other countries, the U.S. has a Second Ammendment that protects the First. That's why we won't/don't have buildings burning and people getting killed without realizing their own fate.
Great cartoon and right on target regarding those pompous and windy jerks at CNN.
Perhaps the good reverend should pack up his tent and take his road show of tolerance and understanding to Riyadh, where I am sure they will help him broadcast his message of love and understanding between the religions–NOT!
Well done, Mr. Bok.
Apparently The Reverend Beaty has been asleep for the last few years and is unaware of the nature of what we fight against. That, however, would be giving him too much credit. I am a former United Methodist minister myself. One of the reasons for the status of "former" is people like Rev. Beaty. Full of praise and charity for those who stand in opposition to Christianity, but hurls epithets at those who defend the faith. Quite frankly I was tired of being identified with him and his ilk. He appears to be one of those ministers who finds value in the message behind "Piss Christ" while blasting anybody who was critical of Andres Serrano for making it.
Rev. Beaty, we are at war with a group that was warring against us before we pushed back. When I see people with the honorific "Rev" before their name making threatening-sounding comments like, "May I introduce you to a few Muslims to help you get over your sickness?" I thing two things:
1) You have been watching wayyyyy too many B-movies. That sounds suspiciously like, "Maybe I could send Guido and a couple of boys over to discuss the matter"
2)It makes me wonder how much work for "reconcilliation" was nothing more than spiritual cowardice for not defending the gospel you were ordained to preach.
I for one have no problem with this cartoon, which was aimed at CNN and not Muslims (making me wonder if maybe you are just regurgitating talking points). I have no problem with any cartoon that portrays what we are fighting for what it is. Perhaps you think an Islamic theocracy would be a good thing. I do not.
I am so glad you provoked a demonstration. I hope Homeland Security got lots of photos so we know who all the looney, overly sensitive, hyperactive kooks are that threaten our sensitivities, and maybe even our security.
Smile. You're on candid camera.
I am offended by the National Enquirer and Cosmpolitan magazines in the grocery strore, but I don't advocate bombing grocery stores or condemning them. Freedom of the press and ideas requires all of us to be tolerant of the noble and the outrageous, alike. If CAIR and the rest of the intolerant are able to silence newspapers because they are "offended" how long will it be before they demand that bacon is taken off grocery shelves and that Piglet is removed from all holiday cards. Living in a free society requires all of us to be tolerant and to learn to live together.Anyone with such a thin skin, and so incredibly controlling, will always have problems livining in a free society. If these people do not want to live in a free society, then they can return to Iran or any other society that they choose. They can't have it both ways. Freedom of speech enables all of us to speak the eloquent,the outrageous, and the stupid. What would Will Rogers or Mark Twain say about all of this?
Mr. Bok: I salute you. Freedom of speech means that you have the right to say whatever is on your mind. If we have to put up with the KKK marching, the muslims can darn well live with cartoonists drawing. Bravo to you and to the Akron Beacon for protecting our rights!
"Interfaith work"? Is that where you all get together and sing "Imagine"? Sounds satanic to me. Rev. Beaty, may I introduce you to a few Christians to help you get over your sickness?
Mr Bok,
You depicted CNN as yellow-bellied cowards – great job! They would've gained a little respect, if they'd have been a little more honest about it, like the Boston GLobe.
Muslims deliberately want to read something else into your cartoon which just isn't there. I suspect their motivation and believe they want to use it to gain political leverage which they'll use in an attempt to change our laws to suit their sharia laws. We'll be followoing this closely and anything ontoward will bring us out in the millions.
Say a big NO to sharia law.
Just added you to my blogroll and to my "check daily" list. Keep up the good work.
Wasn't it not so long ago that we were agonizing whether we could wage war on Ramadan? LOL…
This was a perfect moment for Muslims to speak out on a ridiculous issue that is being fanned by fundamentalists.
You cannot call tens of thousands jamming the streets in front of an embassy 'hundreds'. The acquiescence of the Muslim world speaks to a problem with millions.
Dear Mr. Bok,
Thank you for your incinsive cartoon. Know that I and many other freedom-loving people stand behind you in your efforts to provoke discussion and debate through satirical cartoons.
It's a shame that the majority of American media has been terrorized or threatened into not showing the Danish cartoons.
Kudos to you!
Bravo for using the power of the 1st amendment and for shaming those in the media that cringe before those that would deny it to us.
What does CAIR want? In 1998, Omar Ahmed, CAIR's co-founder stated:
"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faiths, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."
Got that Rev?
Sami Khorbotly,
No, we do not blame the Christians for the priests who molested children, we blame the priests who did the molesting, AS DID OTHER CHRISTIANS. When will the "peace-loving" Muslims demand accountability from the jihadists who bomb and behead innocent civilians? Your silence on the death of innocents in the name of Muhammed and your rioting outrage over a cartoon punctuates the ridiculousness of your position. You and everyone else in this country has no right to not be offended; what is most offensive to you, however, is that the cartoons (particularly the bomb in turban) are an accurate portrayal of what your religion has become, and in free countries you will not be able to hide the truth. If you wish to be protected from the shameful truth of these cartoons, there are many countries in the Middle East that will gladly take you in.
I'm a former Imam and I want to thank you for publishing the cartoons.
I think this cartoon is most appropriate. It's focused strictly on CNN, not Islam. I wonder what the Muslims would think should the Christians start burning mosques in the States over the publications within their countries concerning the Christian faith?
Or, perhaps, if the Jews burned mosques over the extreme anti-semitic comments, cartoons, and activities taking place in Muslim countries? I'm sure their outrage would know no bounds.
The bottom line is, whether or not practicing Muslims like it or not, that the world is seeing these radical factions of Islam, and wondering where the moderates are? I've heard conversations on radio from "moderates" of the muslim faith, but I only hear justification for this practice. I suppose we're witnessing first hand the true Muslim beliefs with the burning of embassies, etc.
I'd be willing to gamble that the next step will involve the murder of Jews and Christians at the hands of the Muslims.
Cowards.
That cartoon is hilarious! It's utter hypocrisy for anyone to claim that those original "offensive" cartoons should not have been published. Muslims need to get over themselves. They are total hypocrites. They must stop hating Jews. They must stop blaming the US for all the problems in the world. The radicals must stop the hate, murder and destruction. The moderates must stand up against the evil within their religion.
Until then, muslims are fair game. I hope to see a lot more muhammed cartoons and jokes about Islam.
And to the American media, you've just given me another reason to think you are worthless and pathetic, as if I needed one.
STAND UP FOR FREEDOM AND AGAINST SHARIA LAW!
I am amazed at the mendacity of the so-called muslims writing to express their outrage at the cartoons of Muhammed. The Fact is, Muhammed has been depicted many, many times in Islamic art.
See: http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007934
It's by Amir Taheri, a Muslim. It gives the FACTS.
I myself have a late 19th-century Persian painting that shows the Prophet on a black horse outside a large gate being honored by numerous figures surrounding him. So much for the claim that such depictions are offensive and forbidden!
Only those intent on imposing Sharia on the West, those intent on dhimmitude, are making such tendentious claims. This is the USA, and WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE INTIMIDATED.
Kudos for defending free speech and freedom of the press. Some of the most vulgar cartoons I have ever seen can be found here:
http://www.arabeuropean.org/archief.php?PHPSESSID=81932f8bf83cc449e75b9ac023f90f11
One depicts Hitler in bed with Anne Frank. One cannot engage in this kind of behavior and decry it in others. It's called hypocrisy. Muslims cannot be enraged by cartoons and then respond with the same.
This country has seen degrading images of Christianity for a long time. Tom Oliphant makes a living out of demeaning the Catholic Church.
Islam does not deserve special treatment. If you are threatened because of a cartoon, it is a dire warning of what's to come in our futures. Being intimidated into special treatment for certain "religions" in our society is the start down the slope of allowing "sharia" to become the law of our land.
Don't cave.
Loved the cartoon! Congratulations for upholding freedom of speech and what editorial cartoons are meant to convey – humor and satire. Keep it up!
I think the people who respond to this blog, for the most part, get it.
By the Way–I keep looking for Moderate American Muslims–anybody seen one, anybody hear one, anybody?
Let me propose a question! Who outthere in blogspace believes that American Muslims will assimilate into our culture over a period of time, like Irish, Italian, Polish, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Viatenamise(sorry to those I left out)?
Who outthere believe that Muslims are here to Islamatize American culture?
Seems to me that the answer to those questions is farmore important than any other!
It is sad when people refuse to accept that tolerance goes BOTH ways. So many people in these comments bashing Mr. Bok for being 'intolerant'… What is intolerant is one group insisting that every other person on the face of the Earth bow down and worship THEIR beliefs. What is intolerant is people being threatened, assaulted, kidnapped or murdered for the sole reason of printing cartoons. I am sure that God, Yahweh, Allah, Odin, Zuess, or whoever else an offended person worships have a thick enough skin to withstand the barbs of others. And if they are strong enough, then surely so are their prophets. Only an insecure, ignorant person would be up in arms over another person's drawings.
When Muslims stop doing things that offend me: Like, say, hijacking airplanes and flying them into buildings; suicide bombing pizza parlors, discos, shopping malls, cafes, weddings, hotels, children receiving toys and candy from soldiers; abusing, torturing, and cutting the heads off captives, including civilian captives; taking hostages in the first place; taking over elementary schools, starving and denying water and toilet facilities to the children, and then shooting them in the back as they flee; butchering athletes at the Olympics; throwing a Jewish man in a wheelchair off a cruise ship; denying the Holocaust while threatening an even bigger Holocaust; raping and abusing women and girls, kidnapping them and selling them into prostitution and slavery; engaging in female genital mutilation; practicing "honor killings"; slitting the throats of filmmakers on the street in broad daylight and leaving ugly threatening messages pinned to their chests with knives; publishing and selling the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" as great literature; praising "Mein Kampf" as great literature; producing vicious anti-Semitic cartoons, films, and "documentaries" that portray Jews as greedy, bloodthirsty vampires who kill Palestinian children and drink their blood or steal their organs; referring to non-Muslims as "kaffir" (unclean infidels) who need to submit to Allah or be killed (or at the very least accept second-class citizenship and pay debilitating taxes in order to remain non-Muslim; denying basic human rights to non-Muslims and Muslims alike; and rioting, burning down embassies and threatening random mass murder over cartoons,
THEN …
Maybe …
We can talk about being more sensitive of their "feelings."
Publish the cartoons! Free speech means speech that offends sometimes and if you can't handle that you should move to a country that doesn't allow free speech or anyone to be offended.
Congratulations Mr. Bok!
I loved your CNN cartoon. Keep up the good work. Never apologize.
Nelle
Mr Bok,
Thank you for having the courage to speak the truth through your work. You are one of the few journalists who is stepping up to the plate and framing the challenge we face in America and the free world. Islamic Fascists are attacking our beliefs and way of life in an unacceptable manner. They do not grant us the dignity of our humanity.
The Rev. John R. Beaty is a FOOL. He has no right to address you in the manner he has chosen. If his ministry has come to no end after 40 years because of your one cartoon that framed the truth, then he is a total failure. How dare he attack you for his own personal failure. The Rev. John R. Beaty is no Christian if he questions your right to present the truth in a dignified manner. He is a fool!
Keep up the great work Mr. Bok
Mr. Bok,
Thank you for your courage to speak the truth!!!
America needs more journalists like you who are willing to present the truth even when its a bit uncomfortable.
Please do not back down for truth and liberty are on your side.
Islamic fanactics should not serve as censors in America
Kudos to your great toons!! Keep up the great work!! I've never seen so many cry babies as those who posted here. Hurt feelings–get over it fascist pig lovers. You and your ilk are disgusting with your threats, tears, and baby ego's. To hell with all of you. And quit trying to impose your Values on everyone, sons and daughters of pigs…
Mr. Bok,
THANK YOU!!!
When Moslems will censor their own. How dare they attack free speech when they won't comment on the killing and raping. How dare Moslems even question our right to free speech.
thanks for the courage and please do'nt stop.
Mohammed does'nt rule here.
God bless America.
Very accurate cartoon, and it is a perfect jab at CNN.
I am extremely frustrated with the completely hypocritical reaction for the Muslim community concerning these harmless cartoons.
Even Muslims who claim to defend free speech are very sympatetic towards the "plight" of the "oppressed" Muslims everywhere! They refuse to completely denounce the actions of the radical, dare I say, majority, of outrageously violent Muslims.
In their weak verbal condemnations and typical silence, it obviously shows that Islam embraces the jihad and violent resistance everywhere. It is extremely disheartening to realize that reasoning with the Muslims is a waste of time.
Bravo Mr. Bok!
Liberty demands the truth be spoken in a dignified manner. Mr. Bok has met this standard.
I ask all who feel offended to ask why a man cannot speak his mind in a dignified manner.
Muslem fanatcis need to take a deep breadth and accept us or leave. They can return to where all is good and holy.
The vast majority of the terrorism in the world today is the work of people who believe they are following the words and guidance of Mohammed (pbuh) – even other Muslims acknowledge that fact.
We are constantly being told that this terrorism is not a part of Islam which is peaceful, and is the act of a fringe few who by their acts are desecrating a great religion. We are always reminded that their murder of innocents, mutilation, and depravity do represent the great and peaceful religion of Islam.
A reasonable person would believe that such heinous acts of terrorism and depravity in the name of the Prophet and Allah denigrate a peaceful Islam far more than any cartoon possibly can.
So, where are the protests, the marches, the righteous indignation toward these despoilers of Islam?
A truly peaceful religion should and would be the least tolerant of those who perform the most unspeakable acts in its name.
Typo — "We are always reminded that their murder of innocents, mutilation, and depravity do represent the great and peaceful religion of Islam."
Should be:
"We are always reminded that their murder of innocents, mutilation, and depravity do not represent the great and peaceful religion of Islam."
I apologize for the mistake.
Thanks for the honesty you cartoon provides.
Please d not back down from those who will say that you have offended Muslims. You have offended only those who will not speak out against the atrocities committed by Muslims. You offend only those who will not act righteously and say no to violence and terrorism. You offend the small and mean spirited who will not save a woman or child from abuse at the hand of a thug.
You hit the truth and those who are immoral are in pain to see that they are guilty of silence in regards to Muslim atrocities.
Thanks
I'm not sure why your cartoon is offensive. None of the people claiming its offensive explain why. It does not actually portray Mohammed. It makes fun of CNN, not Muslims. It acknowledges many Muslims are upset. I'm convinced that those claiming to be offended are actually just hoping to stifle all debate or comment on a topic of great current interest.
But even if it were offensive, that would be completely forgivable, because the punchline is so damn FUNNY. Comedy is really, really hard, and any successful joke should be applauded.
It is a shame that people can't accurately assess the truth of the humor being used. The target was CNN's policy. Muslim leaders who are deeply hurt by the content should also express how deeply they are hurt by the damage violent Muslims have brought on their own prophet. Ministers who say they lost years can't possibly be serious. Why would all leaders lump them in with all of Western culture? Unless they are guilty of the very thing they accuse the cartoonists are doing… considering every western as a thoughtless infidel. Perhaps they still only feel you are a thoughtful infidel.
Rev. Beaty (the first commenter), if the rather innocuous cartoon in question *truly* undid 40 years of work, then the fruit of that work was ultimately fragile and therefore doomed to fail at the first sign of discord.
If your work created an environment of "understanding and reconciliation" that could be simply, easily, and so trivially destroyed – then the work was doomed to certain failure and in reality amounted to nothing.
Muslims are proving to the world that they are the Religion of Peace, and of beheading, and of burning, killing, stoning, kidnapping, etc.
This is war, my friends. Peace be upon you indeed.
Don't back down and apologize, Chip. You have stand up to these thugs. Hopefully your boss has a little bit of backbone too.
I just saw a piece on TV about a company which is owned by the United Arab Emerites and who will now be in control of all US Ports. This is very scary! How can our government allow this.
Which brings up a very important question.
All the money we send to Arab nations for oil–is it now coming back to own us.
Who owns CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Time Warner–what stock positions do Arab nations take in these companys. Seams to me that some of you New York financial types might have answers to this question.
How mush Arab money goes to fund movies in Hollywood? Seams to me such information would be very interesting.
And would'nt you believe–HRC received donations from CAIR. What other politecos have they been funding?
We need to know!
Dear Mr. Bok,
Great cartoon! I hope you do more in a similar vein. It's refreshing to see that there are still a few folks with brains and spines left in the cowardly halls of the MSM. Free speech is one of the non-negotiable cornerstones of democracy, and if the Moslems and CAIR-ites around here can't handle that, then I guess they need to pack their bags for other lands.
Just say no to dhimmitude!
Christopher
Brilliant and refreshing. Thanks for taking a jab at one of the self-professed Ivory Towers of journalism. Don't back down, we are counting on you.
Wake up folks. The Muslims claim they're asking you for merely show respect to their religion. In fact, they're demanding your SUBMISSION to their worldview and beliefs. By threat of force, violence, and death.
Say no thank you to the imposition of Sharia Law.
Excellent cartoon Mr. Bok.
Dammit…conservatives the world over are going to get us all killed. >:(
Dag nab it! Liberals the world over are groveling in fear and will be just as dead after they surrender to tyrants.
Dear Mr. Bok:
I continue to be amazed, frustrated, and infuriated by those idiots who are behaving like dhimmis because of alleged hurt feelings of Muslims/Islamists due to the practicing of freedom of speech and expression, particularly the Christian leaders, who have never shown sympathy for the hurt feelings (and missing limbs, and starvation, and slaughter, and forced circumcision, and abasement, and beheading) of their co-religionists in the Islamic world.
Thank you for showing in your cartoon what a bunch of ridiculous wusses the CNN crowd are, and for showing by the reaction to your cartoon the irrationality and hegemony of the Islamists.
We'd better stand up for ourselves or the Dawa al-Islam will be here before we know it.
The cartoons in Denmark as with the one discussed here are a done deal. Though protests will continue for a time and the artists and journalists seen "at fault" by Islam may well be hunted down and slaughtered per the demands of many Islamic adherents, the rancor will die down as it did with the fallacious and absurd Koran abuse flap.
The real question is what next? Most of the tenents of Western civilization are an affront to Islam. What right, what value will next be forced to submit to Islamic sensitivities and therefore control? Our capitulation to the real and implied violence and threats of violence on the part of followers of Islam erodes the very basis upon which our values and civilization rests and moves us inexorably toward the Islamic model of submission.
Today it is freedom of expression and speech. The real question we should consider is what will Islam demand from Western civilization by threat of violence tomorrow?
Congratulations for your cartoon,but,you should print all of them. The American MSM is alwaays screaming and declaring Freedom of Speech, now is the time to show some spine and excercise that right. Those of us non-muslims, are not offended by the cartoons and our Constitution guarantees our right to speak out. The offended muslims should all get together and form their own nation, and leave the rest of the planet alone.
CNN did not pixelate the picture of the Virgin Mary depicted in female genetalia and elephant dung. It is clear they are afraid of Islam and not afraid of Christianity.
To Gershon Kingsley–I say, if thats what you believe, and if thats what ends it, then so be it..
I will never, I repeat, never live under Sharia Law–never, never, never!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are a coward.
Luckmeister,
Love the blog. Political cartoons should cause us to think, challenge political correctness, and make us laugh…sometimes at ourselves. Sometimes, those who choose freedom can't handle the truth.
Three points:
1-It's a sad day when the French have the courage to print a cartoon which most US publications shy away from. During Desert Storm CNN said they are the world's news provider as CNN gave military secrets to "Sadamn" (sic GHWB)…well now CNN has arrived as the voice of the world, only to be surpassed by the frick'in French.
2-Your Muslim readers need to remember why they chose to come to the US…or if they are still at home, feel good that the internet has allowed them to speak their mind…even if it is in their kitchen.
3-Think GREEN. We need to get off the "Texas Tee" (Jed Clampett) and get hooked on "Switch Grass" (W). No one would really care about the Middle East and their 5th century ideals and methods.
Uncle Moonshine
I think that George W. Bush might be on to something.
He calls Islam the "Religion of Peace."
Perhaps we should ask him which spelling he is using for that word. Perhaps he really means "Pieces" as in "Islam slices and dices people into pieces," and "Islam blows people, splattering them into pieces all over the place," or "Self-proclaimed Islam adherents go to pieces when their sensitivities are ruffled, like a cranky, unruly child who needs to take a nap, throwing a temper tantrum."
Muslims have been behaving worse that a woman with PMS! The left and the main stream press in the US and elsewhere have been enablers, instigators, and cheer leaders for their violent, malicious behavior and should be receiving a severe spanking for their betrayal and for siding with the enemy – Islamofascists have declared us their enemy.
Are all Muslims violent, intolerant, vicious, vindictive, self absorbed, always looking for something which might be considered offensive, mentally insane, psychopathic homicidal maniacs all in the name of their religion? I do not know. It would be difficult to support such a claim, as difficult to support the claim made by Islamofascist defenders who, without ANY proof, claim that only a small percentage of Muslims behave in such as way, or support their "brothers" in their Jihad – hate and murder campaign.
By their own behavior, by their own action, and by their own words, Islam has presented itself as a sadistic, hate filled, violent blood and death cult, devoid of love, compassion, patience, tolerance, or vision, save for the vision to dominate the world by their religion and their religious law.
Instead of hiding our heads in the sand, and instead of cowering, instead of sanitizing such things as the 12 cartoons from Denmark, the fabricated cartoons included in the Islamists hate campaign to drum up violent response, and instead of withholding the visuals from the people under the lie that withholding them is "out of respect for Islam" when it is clearly out of fear of Islam and their violent henchmen, a courtesy they do not show Christians, Jews, Hindus and others when printing offensive materials and comments toward Christians, Jews, Hindus and others, the media must really exercise "free speech" and show what the crazed "Religion of Peace" representatives are really fuming over, thus allowing the people to see and judge for themselves.
I won't hold my breath waiting for the cowardly, irreverent toward peaceful believers – Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc., but "respectful" toward violent Islamists, out of fear, to actually really print the truth.
Kudos to Chris Bok for his clever cartoon, and kudos to the news paper for printing that cartoon.
William
It's a freaken CARTOON! I remember what my mother told me when I was in my youth, It goes something like this… Sticks and stones can break my bones but cartoons will never hurt me. Maybe all of you that are offended by a cartoon should grow up and stop acting like a two year old.
Hilarious! Keep up the good work!
I have been reading through different blogs over the last week concerning the publication of images of a religious figure, who shall remain nameless, unless the non naming is offensive.
One of the most interesting bloggers I have run across goes by the name of "egyptian sand monkey". In linking to his blog and then relinking to others I have run across a couple of questions I am curious about.
The first is about the people who brought the copies of the offensive cartoons back to egypt, when they added their own versions of cartoons ( not the ones that were published ) and falsely said that they were images are they guilty of blasphemy?
and the second question, reading deeper in the blogs i found that in the middle east there is a company that makes tennis shoes that have quotations from their book and figurehead stencled on the sides.
somehow the idea of someone running around and stepping on and smearing religious phrases and then telling someone else that it is not right to make a cartoon is bizarre
First intelligent and funny cartoon I have seen regarding the absurdity of all of this. CNN's actions were hysterical- and you captured it beautifully.
Great work. I found a new favorite cartoonist!
Excellent cartoon!! Freedom of the press forever!! THANKS for making a positive statement for a FREE PRESS.
Rev John Beaty, May I introduce you to some Muslims to help you get over your sickness?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2036538,00.html
http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/terrorists/fugitives.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Omar_Abdel_Rahman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramzi_Yousef
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalid_Shaikh_Mohammed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beslan_school_hostage_crisis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma%27alot_massacre
Liberalism is indeed a mental disease.
amen you got a friend here these fvcks can go and bomb one thing but draw a cartoon and omg its the end of the world
Kudos,Bok! from southern Ohio. Good on 'ya! After reading about fifteen of the above comments (blah, blah, blah), I see the victim culture has been well assimilated if not the concept of freedom of speech protecting the speech we hate, not the speech we approve. Oh, and Mr. Reverand, if what you spent a lifetime building can be destroyed with a cartoon that speaks truth to power, then you should have been in another line of work; obviously, your edifice was flimsy…that is, unless you were just whining and didn't really mean it?
I have been enjoying reading the robo-posted "complaints" from the usual suspects.
Freedom of Speech is in the Constitution. Howeer, being annoyed, offended, illogical, and wimpy are not things one finds there.
The people who are complaining should get in line for their beheadings right now because it won't matter if they tell the Islamic fascists that they surrendered a long time ago, they'll still be killed.
We can elminate the fascists now at a relatively minor price or wait until they are as dangerous as they were in Hitler's time and pay a much higher price.
To those attacking the First Amendment: you can have it when you pry it from the cold, dead remains of the Second Amendment.
To the Islamofascists: armed Americans are not easy prey.
One more thing: Can you call Mike Peters and tell him to grow a set? His pathetic attempts to blame America for the cartoons are just embarassing. Tell him to change his pants, buckle down and draw a *real* cartoon, not an apology to the Islamofascists.
What a great commentary on CNN's cowardly refusal to show its viewers newsworthy material. Clearly it's fear–not respect for Islam–that has lead to their decision, as they've had no problem displaying potential offensive images in the past (such as the one of Kanye West dressed at Jesus).
Looking through the posts made by those who claim offense at this cartoon (or claim to be representing people who are–or who they think should be–offended), I've yet to see a logical argument against its publication. The only people who should conceivably be offended are the folks at CNN.
Andrew, you da man. Mr. Beaty, I'd like to introduce you to a few more Muslims…to help you get over your ignorance:
Islamic Terror Attacks – The List:
Islamic Terror Attacks in 2006 and 2005
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/index.html#Attacks
Islamic Terror Attacks in 2005
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/attacks-2005.htm
Islamic Terror Attacks in 2004
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/attacks-2004.htm
Islamic Terror Attacks from 9/11/01 to 12/31/03
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/attacks-2001-2003.htm
About the list
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/TheList.htm
Where is the outrage from the Arab street, or people like yourself toward this ongoing terrorism directly at innocent men, women and children?
What about Darfur? Are you even aware of the genocide and rape practised there without a murmur of outrage from the Muslim street? I'm sure you realize that Egypt, directly north of Sudan, hasn't lifted a figure of her military might or Muslim influence to intervene in what is one of the worst genocides in modern history?
http://www.darfurgenocide.org/
http://www.survivorsunited.com/
I'm sure you watched the Beslan massacre along with the rest of us? Certainly you realize those were Muslim terrorists who perpetuated the murders of over 350 innocent people, mostly children? Where was the outrage from the Arab street then? Sure, there wasn't the typical dancing in the street; there were even condemnations. But we didn't see any protests at all did we? Were there massive, coordinated demonstrations or communications from Imams and Mullahs worldwide condemning the Chechan muslim terrorists, ehr insurgents? Nope. The comparative silence is deafening.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4211504.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beslan_school_massacre
These examples are why, for us, the construct of "Islamic Terror" is not a sinister or faulty one. They motivate us to define our enemies and allies in the War on Terror. Tell me you don't see the connection between militant Islam and terror across the entire freakin' globe? If you don't, you're woefully uninformed, mis-educated, willfully ignorant or plainly stupid. Most of the former can be rectified, but your statement above indicates you're pretty much stuck on stupid with what is fast becoming the defining issue of this generation.
Not all Islam, but militant Islam has broken its pact with freedom, humanity and modernity. And the toleration of these acts or of those who choose to tolerate them is no longer on my list of tolerable things. That includes this hyped up cartoon intifada. Embassies have been burned down and people have died — a priest murdered, damn it! Over some cartoons! I find these things immensely intolerable, and I refuse to tolerate them or submit to them.
My solidarity is with a fellow blogger:
"Let's not pretend that they seek to redress an insult to their religion. It is a mere pretext. They seek nothing less than our submission – our unconditional surrender to their rule. To them I say 'bring it on.' I will not submit. I will not surrender. I will not be a dhimmi. I did not escape Communism to live under Sharia. You are prepared to die for your religion. I am prepared to die for my freedom."
And I will never forget.
http://attacked911.tripod.com/
I would really like to say that I don’t hate all muslims. I would really like to believe that there are “moderate” muslims. But, right now I have come to the conclusion that I need to withhold judgement. All I hear is some slight lip service given to how peaceful they are, to how they don’t approve of the violence. But, most of the time this “lip service” comes with veiled understanding of why this violence has taken place. You can’t have it both ways. You either disapprove of the violence or you don’t.
There hundreds of thousands of muslims protesting in countries all around the world. What are they protesting? The publication of the cartoons.
Where are the hundreds of thousands of muslims protesting the violence of those who proclaim it is called for by their religion?
Where are the hundreds of thousands of muslims protesting the terror, inhumane treatment and oppression that is taking place in the ME?
Where are the hundreds of thousands of muslims protesting the violence against the Iraqi’s who have finally tasted freedom for the first time in 30+ years?
Until I see this side of the Muslims, I will continue to hold judgement against them.
Lol, I think it was fun. Muslims are big babies that cries for nothing.
If Moderate Muslim factions exist, they must be a small minority part of the Islamic world. Why?
I don't see them marching in the streets telling their brethern to be calm.
I don't see them on TV, asking for calm and tolerance.
I don't see them on the podium asking for tolerance, inclusiveness, acceptance.
I don't see any Muslim turning the other cheek. Were is the love?
I don't see, I don't see them–I don't see anyone! Whow! Could it be–could it bethey don't exist.
With due respect for my fellow UD alum's great abilities, this particular cartoon wasn't his best.
But the level of outrage over it is sickening. No one is compelling Muslims themselves to depict Muhammad. Rather, non-Muslims are choosing to exercise their freedom of speech.
What the Muslim complainers here need to realize is they have no right to impose their beliefs on the rest of us. Likewise, I would never force them to live according to my beliefs. That's called a free society.
The fact that so many Muslims cannot tolerate freedom of speech is unsettling, to say the least.
Why is Islam the fastest growing religion? Conversion or the extermination of other faiths? Somebody do a study.
And in reply to Mr. Bingo, It is very unfair to blame 1.2 billion muslim people for the acts of few hundreds. You do not blame the christians for the priests who malested kids do you ?
But you will, of course, notice how the REAL Christians decried those horrible acts, and sought to bring those priests to justice.
What are you "real" Muslims doing to stop your mental-defective fundie cohorts from blowing up more tourists, children etc? Especially the children; we all know how much Mohammed (peas be all up on him) loved the kiddies!
That the Prophit Mohammed would be offended by these cartoons is just absurd. If you want to look for something that would offend him, watch the next video of some suicide bomber walking into a crowd of children, screaming Allah is great, then blowing himself up.
Until there are riots around the Muslim world deploring these sort of actions, the riots over the cartoons are simply the height of hypocrisy.
All I can say is "Bravo!"
Terrorism pays (thanks to the useful idiots).
Thanks Mr. Bok!
Simple acts like yours are the building blocks of freedom.
Small-c in Canuckistan
Many thanks to YOU for this perceptive cartoon, and for the spine you demonstrated in drawing it. Sad, isn't it: today a person has to be brave for doing such a simple thing.
Thanks as well to your first poster for reminding me why I left the Methodists. Every time I start to think well, maybe I was being a little too hard on them, somebody like Mr. Beaty pipes up to confirm the wisdom of my decision.
These cartoons are just "chickens coming home to roost" for the islamic world. The anti-semitic cartoons, television shows, and movies coming out of the Arab, and Persian world have been coming out non-stop for decades. The use of religion to justify all kinds of violence has been the mainstay for islamic COUNTRIES and the leaders for decades.
The moderate muslims and the non-muslim excusers need to look at WHY so many people hate militant neo conservative islam.
Yes I am trying to envoke the stupidity of Ward Churchill when I say that. What is good for the goose…
HOWEVER, I understand why they are offended by the cartoons. After all they don't understand NON_VIOLENT protest when they see it.
These cartoons are not supposed to be deadly, they are NON_VIOLENT.
ALL INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE is coming from islamic leaders, not the west!
Re: Rev. Beaty's post:
"May I introduce you to a few Muslims to help you get over your sickness?"
Dear Rev. Beaty,
Is that a threat? Do the muslims include Osama bin Laden, or Mullah Omar? That's just the sort of dhimmi attitude I'd expect from a Methodist minister.
islam is a cancer in America that needs to be removed.DEPORT ALL moslems.Before it's too late.If they were born here send them to the land of their incestors!
Everything I need to know about Islam I learned from the Rushdie affair.
Why is this cartoon tasteless and offensive? If anything, CNN should be offended for Mr. Bok poking fun at them. And to those who are offended, grow up. Learn a little humility, and stop being so damned offended.
Let's not forget that it is not the West and free speech that needs the nation of islam, it is islam that needs the advances and the money of the West. Burning embassies and talking about how offended you are only makes you people look that much more ridiculous, and definitely says to the world that you deserve every single "offensive" cartoon that can be drawn satirizing you.
Hey Mr. Bok!
I just wanted to say that I think that people are taking this political cartoon too seriously. The cartoon in question is a CARTOON. I think that as a cartoonist, you have the right to 'draw' your own opinions! If others have a problem with the cartoons you draw or your opinion, then they should go get their own cartoon publishing company!
<3 allison
Wondeful cartoon. The rev doesnt have a clue about what is at stake here.
Free Speech is Free Speech is Free Speech. No Buts.
To defer to the irrational isn't politeness or tact — it's obedience. Good on you for remaining your own man.
Dear Dalia Mohammad,
Not intending to offend you for fear of my life, but the Islamic principle of Subrogation which places precidence of later Qur'an verses over earlier verses, tells me that I as a "non-believer have 3 choices: 1. convert to Islam. 2. Dhimmi, which allows me to remain a non-believer, but live as a second class citizen and pay a tax to Islam. 3. Death by beheading. Not a lot of peaceful notions in those choices. Your religion is based on hatred of the zionists and those who befriend zionists (Christians). Not a lot of peacful notions there either.
It took the West 1000 years to throw off the yoke of Christian Imperialism, and, by proxy, Monarchical domination, and I am not about to start giving ground to those who wish to force their particular mythology on the entire world. We tried it with the Spanish Inquisition. Let's nip Islamofascism in the bud, please. THERE ARE NO SACRED COWS IN OUR SOCIETY!!!! (No offense intended to the Hindus).
If I don't get the news from websites and I watch CNN, and if I trust CNN to be the #1 news channel (or whatever they claim to be), and if they do a report on these cartoons… Shouldn't I be able to see what the heck is causing all this madness in the Muslim World?
Shouldn't the cartoons be the basis of any reports about them?
If CNN chooses not to show the cartoons, they should refuse to report on the subject in its entirely, and simply refer its viewers to places where we can see what the uproar is all about and make our own judgement. Isn't that what journalism is about? To actually present the facts surrounding a news story?
I think Mr. Bok's cartoon speaks directly to this issue. I support him completely, and if this is the beginning of a larger conflict, well, I'm not gonna stay sitting at home waiting for these extremists to come to their senses. Don't try to excuse what they are doing. Stand up to them, do not let them silence our voices… or in this case, our drawings.
And would somebody please show the Muslim World all the past drawings of The Prophet that can be found thru history and within their own culture? As we can see, our self-procalimed #1 leader in news is obviously not going to do it.
Rev. Beatty, perhaps you interfaith group failed to notice when the beautiful and ancient Bhuddist statues were blown to bits by the Religion of Peace or that Muslims cravenly attack the Jewish religion daily in children's textbooks in the ME? Perhaps you have failed to notice the events unfolding in Darfur? Or the fatwas and jihads issues with shrill regularity by mullahs?
That your 40 years of tolerance and understanding have gone down the tube in one morning is hardly the fault of any cartoonist. If your Muslim peers have stormed out of the building to issue jihads and fatwas you need to stop feeling so defeated. Reconciling the principles of Christ versus Mohammed isn't the easiest task. I take that back. It's probably impossible.
The Emperor (CNN) has no clothes.
Thank you, Bok. Spot on.
The same seems to go for most of the MSM, as we're beginning to see.
Don't be fooled by the Rev. John R. Beaty and his message. His message of bridge building an for over 40 years "for interracial, interfaith, intercultural understanding and reconciliation" is a guise for his liberal politics.
If the Rev. Beaty really was reverent, he should realize his message of inclusion is diametrically opposed to what Christ really said. What is reverent about not speaking the truth?
Great cartoon! Most of those "Muslims" writing in protest are obvious fakes (I'm not talking about the satirical posts). I wonder why they are doing that? Keep up the great work.
Love the cartoon!
Great work! Thanks for standing up for freedom of expression. I'll continue to stop by and check out your work.
ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM! ISLAM ISLAM, ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM. ISLAM? ISLAM. ISLAM ISLAM — ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM — ISLAM; ISLAM, ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM, ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM ISLAM. ISLAM, ISLAM!
Dear Noha,
Get over it dear. First question… what "race" are Muslims? If you accuse someone of racism then it should be because they made a comment or did something against some other race.
Second question… what proof do you have that your "prophet" was really kind, generous or humane? All you have to do is to read his made up book or the words of his companions to see he was a genocidal murderer and pedophile.
Third question… have you proof it is the "fastest growing" or are you simply relying on the word of your co-religionists. From what I have seen it may be the fastest shrinking as so many walk away from it.
Mr. Bok–
Stay strong on our freedom of speech. Muslims will have to get used to the notion that their holy symbols are entitled to no more protection than anybody else's in a free society. And, if they can't get used to that notion, they are certainly "free" to continue stewing in the oppressive dictatorships that they've created for themselves in the middle east.
"Why is Islam the fastest growing religion?"
In answer to your question, it is because people are drawn to be part of something bigger than they are, something stronger, and something that bullies the rest of the world while they are protected.
How many times have you seen the symbiotic relationship of a weakling on a schoolyard befriend that of a bully? So he can be protected; he then feels empowered to bully others with his new-found friendship.
Those who convert are closet bullies themselves.
We like our Beer, Whisky and wine.
We like our babes in Bikinis.
We like our age of marriage at 18 not 9
We have a 1st ammendment and We have a 2d ammendment to protect that.
If we don't agree with a fellow we tell him to soak his head, not take his head off.
As you muslim folks have stated many times,
We love life,
you love death.
So why don't you guys die already?
Rev. Beaty, Mr. Poad, this is not cause and effect. Kristallnacht was the "measured response" of the Third Reich to the killing of a German consul in Paris. Psychopaths don't need provocation, only rationales. Maybe Bok could lend you some vertebrae.
I thought it was pretty funny. If "on acid" is too offensive, maybe you could change it to "got really bad acne"?
Keep up the great work Mr. Bok!
Mohammed was a terrorist, and Muslims know it's true, that's why they are so pissed. They are all concerned about Islam's "IMAGE" because they know once the truth is known and spoken of openly, Islam is doomed.
"I am a retired United Methodist minister. I have preached for over 40 years for interracial, interfaith, intercultural understanding and reconciliation. Alas, your cartoon this morning undid all of that. Your medium has an impact. You have a responsibility to be a positive force in the community. May I introduce you to a few Muslims to help you get over your sickness?"
Typical handwringing from the "Reverand Clergy" So, Rev Beaty, How much wailing and gnashing of teeth was there from your quarter when "Piss Christ" was all the avante Garde rage? How about Madonna ala Elephant Dung? "You dont understand my boy, those were just artistic expressions and of course those artists are protected by the first amendment since they are satirizing Christians". Just shows how far mainstream denominational america has fallen. Just put on another Muslim hairshirt Reverend. You'll feel better.
Keep up the good work, sir!
Looks like I'll need to do some comment-fisking when I have time this evening…
To all the lily livers: I have no intention of being sensitive to any lunatic who wants to kill me because I know Muhammed was a pedophile. Islam is a religion of violence and intolerance. Any who say, "I am a Muslim and I have never, and will never, commit any act of violence."
You're not a Muslim. You're a Methodist.
Denny, NYC, NY
Here's some breaking news that should change the entire debate!
"I am a retired United Methodist minister. I have preached for over 40 years for interracial, interfaith, intercultural understanding and reconciliation."
It must have been a highly ineffective ministry if a cartoon could undo it all. Perhaps this is God telling you that your talents would have been better spent in other ways–such as preaching the Gospel.
Lesson to the Ummah and those goodhearted people who would wish to build bridges to Mecca where Muslims celebrate their brotherhood in a city locked out to the "impure" (Imagine someone who spends his entire life spoonfeeding the starvelings of Chad too "impure" (najis) to walk on the same ground as an Egyptian used car salesman)
Ready? Don't like what you see in a newspaper. Unsubscribe. Cast it in the garbage can. If you're really hurt see if there are legal means to address your grievances.
The Muslims instead go out with placards suggesting that heads should be severed (instead of screwed on). The add an "S" to the word "laughter" and call for Slaughter.
Hello Christian religionists! These people blow up their own children to kill other children, whereupon they rejoice, are remunerated and elected. This is the Muslim ethos. You don't build bridges to that. If you do, then you are an accomplice.
BTW they've been at it for 1400 years and wherever they are there is war. Endless strife.
I too am a great believe in interfaith dialogue… but if your religion doesn't even have faith in your own child's will to live, well per force with that particular religion it must become contra-faith.
The Aztecs plucked out hearts, but at least they did it in appointed places and times.
Well, my best friend's a Muslim, so don't accuse me of not knowing anything about Islam. And I'm an Evangelical Christian, so people have been dumping on my faith for a long time. So I will not take any whine from any Muslim about these cartoons seriously as long as I see the truly insulting and threatening things that are commonly published in the Arab (and other Muslim lands) press about JEWS. I will not take any whine from Islam seriously as long as their coreligionists are bombing, beheading, terrorizing, and threatening people whose only crime is not being Muslim.
What a bunch of babies.
I have no problems with your cartoon. Those who do should pull their heads out their butts and look at the many cartoons picturing Jews in the arab media. Quite a difference.
Kudos on the cartoon, and to anybody with a thin skin, please get over it.
Imagine how pissed they'd be if they saw this cartoon:
"Muhammed's Believe it or Else"
http://islamcomicbook.com/
It should be required reading.
Introducing (THWH). . .aka (To Hell with Him
Whenever I write about THEIR prophet henchforth, I will now insert (THWH) following each instance. For example:
Their prophet (THWH) was a warrior who created a religion to further his personal and territorial aims. In the process, their prophet (THWH) set into motion a societal dynamic that has brought untold misery throughout the world. It is time to say to their prophet (THWH), to Hell with You!
Is this provocative – GOOD!
How utterly ironic that liberals, who once marched for free speech years ago, are now intolerant of any views, while conservatives demand free speech for those who wish to exercise it.
The Muslims have turned the world upside down – and not for the better. Their thuggish attitude now has the whole world cowering in fear because they use threats and intimidation and terrorism to silence their critics.
Tiddy Mandello
London, England
My general impression of Islam is that of intolerant, homophobic, misogynistic, humourless zealots left far behind by the rest of the civilized world.
My faith (Christianity) gets dumped on all the time! But do you see us getting violent about it? Maybe we complain and threaten boycotts, but that is about it. These fatwas and jihads are such nonsense. And over a cartoon? If you don't like, don't read. But do not tell me that I cannot criticize a religion due to the fact that it remains in the 10th century. And to the Rev., you are a tool and are doing a great job of being a typical dhimmi.
Sad, sad commentary. Why, it's just sad, I tell you.
Just a few hundred malcontents murdering just a teenie-tiny few thousand can spur such an unprecedented uproar in the intolerant Judeao-Christian-Bhuddist-Shinto-Pagan-Atheist-Angostic community.
Sad and sick… Sick, I tell you.
Sick and Sad
I agree with the good minister, and think the president of Denmark, who is responsible for what the newspapers of his country publish, should march right into the largest church in Mecca and apologize to the world's muslims.
Warning Muslims: you are now entering the United States of America. You may on occasion be teased.
As a practicing Catholic I don't expect anyone of another faith to forgo meat on Lenten Fridays, nor do I expect the press to treat the word of the Pope on matters of faith as infalliable. Why to Muslims move to predominately non-muslim nations and insist non-Muslims conform to Muslim articles of faith?
Muslims have the right to worship in any way they see fit, as long as they do not infringe on the freedom of others in American or European society to worship or speak freely.
Meanwhile every Muslim country in the world persecutes all expressions of other faiths, and most treat women in the most restrictive fashion imaginable. Surely Islam does not condone honor killing or the blowing up of civilian children? Muslims need to focus concern on the murders and thugs who disgrace Muhammed, not a few cartoonists.
Fine cartoon Mr. Bok. Keep up the good work. How dare these Muslim thugs tell civilized people who is worthy of satire. Muhammad was an evil man. Go read his biography if you doubt me. Hard core Islamics are infuriated when the truth is told of Muhammad. About his child bride, about his murders and assassinations about his advocacy of lying and deception with the non-Muslim.
The real tragedy is that all Muslims are called upon to emulate the life of Muhammad. The life that Muslims call the most perfect life ever lived, the most worthy example for all mankind. This is why they go bananas over cartoon depictions. How can one dare to draw an image of this (allegedly) perfect man?
Muhammad said and did some good in his life but Muslims exaggerate this out of all proportion. Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler and Mao Tse Tung also had their kinder and better moments
How many Synagogues are there in Mecca?
I know there are Mosques and Synagogues in Rome.
Enough said.
Freedom of Speech doesn't mean freedom from being offended. We in the West must not back down to 12th Century islamic animals masquerading as humans.
As Nyholm, a writer for Jyllands-Posten newspaper said today: Freedom of Speech is Freedom of Speech is Freedom of Speech. There is no but.
Keep up with your cartoons Mr. Bok!
Damn fine work Chip.
Funny how there are supposedly so many moderate mohammedans and yet, while thousands enjoy rioting and killing over mild cartoon humor, none are available to condemn suicide bombing and beheading. Almost makes you think they *support* the latter…
"Death to all those who threaten cartoonists for making them look foolish and allowing fundamentalist fools the opportunity to prove how peaceful their religion is by promising to behead anyone who laughs." Or something like that!
Doug
To elaborate: Muhammad was a terrorist. Muhammad was the first Muslim terrorist. Muslims hate this basic truth to come out via cartoons and other means. Muslims much prefer the vapid bullshit of Muhammad being a man of peace same as Jesus, Buddha etc. His most rabid adherents emulate his terrorism today and have done so through the centuries. Islam is a barracks region. A religion of war, conflict, conquest and subjugation. Muhammad conquered many peoples in his last years. They were forcibly made Muslim. They became Muslim by the sword, not by preaching and missionary work
Mohammed's four immediate successors (called caliphs) spread Islam much further. Spread it at the point of the sword. The bloodiest conquest was India where 60 million Hindus were killed over a few centuries of blood letting
Mr. Bok,
No need for me to repeat all the supportive sentiments expressed here, but I wanted to add my name to the list. Keep up the good work. Thank you!
As time goes on, the sheer lunacy and inherent danger of Islam becomes more and more apparent. So there's at least one positive aspect to the cartoon jihad.
This whole "outrage" over these cartoons is, in itself, farcical. This is nothing more than Islamic Fascist fanatics disguising their political ambitions via religious "outrage". What spontaneous outraged people come with professionally prepared signs in both their native tongues(Arabic, Farsi, etc) & English! This is a way for them to exert control on those willing to be controlled. Imagine if something truly outrageous does happen, will they be "outraged" squared? Last thought, if they were truly outraged by a cartoon, it shows how bankrupt they are personally and how bankrupt of any strength their religion is. Now try to criticize them in any fashion, these same Islamic mutts will pour out of the coffee houses with fresh hashish coming out of their foaming mouths saying we are acting sacreligious. When the day comes, and I am pessimistic, when Muslims allow people of other faiths to fully integrate in their societies as those in the West allow them to come into theirs, then, I will show sympathy to their cause. Otherwise, STICK IT YOU JERRYS!
Bok you infidel swine–
The prophet (peace be upon him) has decreed what happens to sons of pigs and monkeys like you who insult our peaceful religion. Your intestines will be strung from the minarets of Mecca. What good is democracy if it allows people like you to express your worthless infidel opinions but foesn't allow me to behead your whole pig-eating family?
To All: When one does wrong, one does not have the right to dictate how others precievce or portray them. When Jimmy Swaggert and Jim Baker, did wrong and fell I was pained at the flood of editorials and cartoons that were put up about them and ostensibly about people of the same faith, of which I am one. But rather than get mad about the editorials, I know that the "MSM" does not care for what I believe, I took it in stride that that is what they are and what they beleive. Our faith did not suffer, as a matter of fact it has grown tremendously around the world. I knew that because of Swaggert and Baker we had to take our lumps, but unlike the Muslims who do not protest, critisize or defrock those who use thier faith to legitimize their crimes, we removed Bakers ordination and place Swaggert on "probation" disassociated from what they did and called it what it was, WRONG! I Muslims in the world did the sames then they may get some respect.
Mr. Bok,
Don't ever apologize for having ideals and the spine to speak up for them. Radical Muslims, Christians, Jews, atheists, and bedwetters don't have an automatic right to your "respect", but I suspect that many here who claim "respect" are in reality only hiding their lack of courage or their distaste for confrontation. We all have a right to express our opinion, and it's disturbing to see so many that would willingly give those rights away to avoid a fight. Keep up the good work.
Bok,
How dare you portray Islam as violent? Just for that we're going to burn down some embassies and stab some priests!
You disrespected our religion, and for this we will produce month-long TV dramas promoting the Protocols of the Elders of Zion as fact! And we'll encourage our (peace-lovin') imams to start calling our beloved Jewish and Christian brethren "the sons of apes and pigs" or something like that. No more Mr. Nice Guys! Maybe there are some tall buildings we could knock down, or some airplanes we could hijack and stuff! And beheadings! We'll start beheading people! Yeah, that's the ticket!
A fine and amusing cartoon. Rather innocuous, I would think; not offensive at all. But we see now that ANY public mention of Islam, in ANY but the most fauning and laudatory of tones, is enough to set off the folks at the Council for American Islamic Revolution (CAIR), barking rabidly for one's cartoonist head. The terrorists at CAIR/Hamas/al Qaeda can't kill us all with guns and bombs, but they're doing a fine job of eroding our freedoms. They've even got our President and State Department on a leash.
Again, a fine cartoon. Please take care of yourself.
There is no way that anyone could consider what you just published as offensive. I am on both sides of the fence – two of the original cartoons went beyond satire to be gratuitously offensive, and I would totally understand boycotting that paper, just as I won't buy a filthy antisemitic rag like The Independent. However I do not boycott nations, commit arson, threaten death or even organise rallies about it, because I know that would make me a really nasty guy with no perspective, a vindictive, slimy, irresponsible bastard with a twisted agenda. If I did, anyone who wanted reconciliation with me would be fucking nuts. In any event what you drew was straightforward, innocuous humour and if that's all it takes to draw the ire of priests and Dems more fool them.
Mr. Bok, you rock!
This is one of the best blog threads I've read in a long time. Too bad commentors #1, #2 went and crapped all over the floor.
Then again, so what? They are free to say what they want. I, as an intelligent reader, can identify idiocy when I read it, and it does me no harm whatsoever.
A less intelligent reader will read #1, and then read one of the actual intelligent comments on this thread. The less intelligent reader will roll around both ideas in his/her head, and arrive at the right conclusion.
Namely, Rev. John R. Beaty has his head firmly up his ass. The less intelligent reader is now more intelligent.
A beautiful system, all the way. Brought to you by Freedom of Expression. Co-sponsored by the Freedom to Bear Arms.
You have to love the Religion of Peace, they're such pure hypocrites.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99305847@N00/98024501/in/set-72057594063926043/
Is not this whole cartoon controversy century old news?
In 1784, Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais penned the stage comedy Marriage of Figaro, which was later adapted by Mozart for the great opera of the same name. In Act 5, Scene 3, Beaumarchais wrote:
"I cobble together a verse comedy about the customs of the harem, assuming that, as a Spanish writer, I can say what I like about Mohammed without drawing hostile fire. Next thing, some envoy from God knows where turns up and complains that in my play I have offended the Ottoman empire, Persia, a large slice of the Indian peninsula, the whole of Egypt, and the kingdoms of Barca {Ethiopia}, Tripoli, Tunisi, Algeria, and Morocco. And so my play sinks without trace, all to placate a bunch of Muslim princes, not one of whom, as far as I know, can read but who beat the living daylights out of us and say we are 'Christian dogs.' Since they can't stop a man thinking, they take it out on his hide instead…"
It took me a while to figure out what the fuss was about. I mean, The Blessed Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) was depicted with the requisite blurring of the face and everything.
Then I looked at the 'toon again and saw the person on the left side of the couch: it's a woman!
Mr. Bok (piss be upon you), how dare you portray a woman without her veil?! What you have done here in this twisted, vile cartoon has destroyed everything I've worked fifty years to achieve, namely keeping women in their place. Now it's as if all 246 of those shameless hussies (pork be upon them) I killed for wandering outside their houses without a male companion have been resurrected. And as if the money their fathers and brothers paid me to do their blessed obligations has disappeared. You've destroyed my life's work. I'm going to have to wear a veil myself, now; I can't face the cruel travesty you've made of the world.
Great cartoon. Keep it up.
Freedom of speech is freedom of speech. That is the only way it can be. There are no buts…
One of the advantages of living in the West is the freedom of speech and expression – it is also one of the disadvantages. I totally support freedom of speech and expression – including mocking religion – ANY religion and ANY aspect of any religion – including MY OWN. If I disagree with what has been said or expressed via a work of art (or even a cartoon) I express my dismay via a letter to the editor, to the artist, to the advertisers supporting the person/artist, etc….but under no circumstances are violence and destruction of property /person permissible.
If those from non-Western traditions do not understand this, they need to either resettle in a country where they will not be insulted (Iran, Saudia Arabia) due to the long-fought for Western Tradition of Free Speech and Artistic Expression or learn to live and let live in the West.
The idea of "I believe in free speech, but not when it comes to disrespect for Islam or the Prophet. One must respect Islam and the Prophet!" Sorry – that is NOT free speech – that is censored speech – and that was the exact reason the Danish newspaper published the Muhammed cartoons – to see whether or not there was self-censorship due to Islam. Golly gee – that is exactly what the Danes discovered! Free speech is fine EXCEPT for when a Muslim's feelings are hurt.
Many of the Muslim demonstrators in London and throughout the world held up signs saying "Behead those who insult the Prophet/Islam" and other such violent, hatefilled placards. Where are all of the people – Muslims and non-Muslims – who are insulted/had their feelings hurt by such hate-filled speech threatening to burn the embassies of Jordan, Lebanon, etc.?
My feelings are hurt when I read about/see videos of beheadings, honor killing, child marriage, but I do not take to the streets burning Pakistani, Saudi, etc flags, or torching their embassies!
I have several questions I wish would be addressed:
1. why didn't the publication of the exact same cartoons during Ramadan (October 2005) in an Egyptian newspaper result in violence towards the Egyptian newspaper's offices and editors?
2. if such demonstrations were spontaneous where did all of those Danish and Norwegian flags come from? How common are such flags in people's homes? Due to the "zionist" plots having US and Israeli flags at home areof course understandable…but Danish and Norwegian?
3. why were three additional cartoons shown when these three were not in the original twelve? Where did these additional cartoons come from? Whose idea was it to add these to the original cartoons? And these additional three were worse than any of the original twelve!
4. if depicting Mohammed is against Islam, why are there so many depictions of Mohammed by Muslim artists – see examples listed below – in existence? Why were such paintings allowed then, but not now? The examples listed below are in Western Museums today. Would they be destroyed if in Iran, Saudi Arabia today?
Miniature of Mohammed re-dedicating the Black Stone at the Kaaba. From Jami Al-Tawarikh ("The Universal History" written by Rashid Al-Din), a manuscript in the Library of the University of Edinburgh; illustrated in Tabriz, Persia, c. 1315.
The Night Journey of Muhammad on His Steed, Buraq; leaf from a copy of the Bustan of Sacdi, dated 1514. From Bukhara, Uzbekistan. In The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Muhammad's Call to Prophecy and the First Revelation; leaf from a copy of the Majmac al-tawarikh (Compendium of Histories), ca. 1425; Timurid. From Herat, Afghanistan. In The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Journey of the Prophet Muhammad; leaf from a copy of the Majmac al-tawarikh (Compendium of Histories), ca. 1425; Timurid. Herat, Afghanistan. In The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
5. In the EU there are laws against hate speech – why aren't these demonstrators in the EU with placards saying "Behead those who insult Islam" arrested for inciting violence against non-Muslims?
Any insight from anyone out there?
Mohammed (piss be upon him) can bite me.
Good job, Bok
It's not about freedom of speech.
How could it be if the whole Cartoon uproar was artfully staged? If the Imams added three cartoons of their own (the most insulting) and then went on an Ummah-wide tour to whip up chaos 4-5 months after the fact? Obviously they expected and wanted the reaction to disunite the free world, unite their own, send out a message of fear and distract from Iran and Syria.
Against us, this is how it works.
Think of disrespect for the sacred as boozing. Somebody in Denmark gets drunk and the Imams whip up their masses against European Alcoholism. In solidarity other nations get drunk. People insist that getting drunk is a legal right. And sure enough it is. But getting drunk isn't really a virtue, it isn't a good way of life. All responsible leaders will say: "Drink responsibly!"
Excuse me for thinking out of the box, but respecting the sacred is generally good. Life is sacred. Amity and Comity are GOOD. If we lose the cultural virtue of exercising unlegislated self-restraint, it will be like losing the cultural virtue of drinking moderately.
Only the devil could be so clever as to force us to lose virtue to save virtue.
We've been had. We've been played. This is what they wanted and this is what they got.
Instead of teaching them that NOTHING is sacred, we would do far better to teach them that SOME THINGS ARE.
The lesson to learn is not only how awful Islam is, but how incredibly precious our Judeo-Christian tradition is. 3000 were murdered in the USA and there was no street level manhunt on Muslims.
Remember: What happened these past days was planned. They even added cartoons of their own. Doing the Muslims' bidding is being a Dhimmie!
Perhaps Mr. Bok would be really funny and really believable if along with attacking faceless prophets, he would also throw in a word of thanks to the "dudes" that created the far better ethos he enjoys. I'm sure he could do it riotously, for as G.K Chesterton said:
"It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it."
Time to take the cross out of the urine jug and give it a shine.
Until now Mr. Bok has used his brilliance to do what the conniving Imams expected, nay, wanted him to do: Mock. Will Mr. Bok now have the courage to do the unexpected? Say Thank you Moses, thank you Jesus? That could be the theme of a very funny and very thoughtful cartoon… and it would be the sweetest revenge, precisely because it wouldn't be vengeful!
personally, I loved the cartoon. even though it was a poor likeness (peace be upon me).
Rather than threaten, riot, burn, and murder over cartoons, why are not practioners of the "Religion of Peace" protesting in the streets against the fighting against, subduing and humiliating, and killing of non-Muslims around the world in the name of Allah?
The reason is because according to Mohammed, his god requires it:
"…fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)…" (Qur’an 9:5).
"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" (Qur'an 9:29).
"…fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere…" (Qur'an 8:38-8:39).
"Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not" (Qur'an 2:216).
“Muhammad said, ‘A single endeavor of fighting in Allah’s Cause is better than the world and whatever is in it’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 50).
"Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): 'I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them'" (Qur'an 8:12).
“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘I have been made victorious with terror. The treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220).
And if that is not enough to clearly demonstrate the nature of this god and his apostle, here are Mohammed and his favorite "wife" in their own words:
[Aisha said,] “My mother came to me while I was being swung on a swing between two branches and got me down. My nurse took over and wiped my face with some water and started leading me. When I was at the door she stopped so I could catch my breath. I was brought in while Muhammad was sitting on a bed in our house. My mother made me sit on his lap. The other men and women got up and left. The Prophet consummated his marriage with me in my house when I was nine years old” (Tabari IX:131).
“Allah’s Apostle told Aisha [his six-year-old bride and nine-year-old sexual "partner"], ‘You were shown to me twice in my dreams. I beheld a man or angel carrying you in a silken cloth. He said to me, “She is yours, so uncover her.” And behold, it was you. I would then say to myself, “If this is from Allah, then it must happen,?”’” (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 87, Number 139-40).
How does such a man deserve anything less than unreserved condemnation?
Rather than threaten, riot, burn, and murder over cartoons, why are not practioners of the "Religion of Peace" protesting in the streets against the fighting against, subduing and humiliating, and killing of non-Muslims around the world in the name of Allah?
The reason is because according to Mohammed, his god requires it:
"…fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)…" (Qur’an 9:5).
"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" (Qur'an 9:29).
"…fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere…" (Qur'an 8:38-8:39).
"Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not" (Qur'an 2:216).
“Muhammad said, ‘A single endeavor of fighting in Allah’s Cause is better than the world and whatever is in it’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 50).
"Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): 'I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them'" (Qur'an 8:12).
“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘I have been made victorious with terror. The treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220).
And if that is not enough to clearly demonstrate the nature of this god and his apostle, here are Mohammed and his favorite "wife" in their own words:
[Aisha said,] “My mother came to me while I was being swung on a swing between two branches and got me down. My nurse took over and wiped my face with some water and started leading me. When I was at the door she stopped so I could catch my breath. I was brought in while Muhammad was sitting on a bed in our house. My mother made me sit on his lap. The other men and women got up and left. The Prophet consummated his marriage with me in my house when I was nine years old” (Tabari IX:131).
“Allah’s Apostle told Aisha [his six-year-old bride and nine-year-old sexual "partner"], ‘You were shown to me twice in my dreams. I beheld a man or angel carrying you in a silken cloth. He said to me, “She is yours, so uncover her.” And behold, it was you. I would then say to myself, “If this is from Allah, then it must happen,?”’” (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 87, Number 139-40).
How does such a man deserve anything less than unreserved condemnation?
Rather than threaten, riot, burn, and murder over cartoons, why are not practioners of the "Religion of Peace" protesting in the streets against the fighting against, subduing and humiliating, and killing of non-Muslims around the world in the name of Allah?
The reason is because according to Mohammed, his god requires it:
"…fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)…" (Qur’an 9:5).
"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" (Qur'an 9:29).
"…fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere…" (Qur'an 8:38-8:39).
"Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not" (Qur'an 2:216).
“Muhammad said, ‘A single endeavor of fighting in Allah’s Cause is better than the world and whatever is in it’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 50).
"Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): 'I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them'" (Qur'an 8:12).
“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘I have been made victorious with terror. The treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220).
And if that is not enough to clearly demonstrate the nature of this god and his apostle, here are Mohammed and his favorite "wife" in their own words:
[Aisha said,] “My mother came to me while I was being swung on a swing between two branches and got me down. My nurse took over and wiped my face with some water and started leading me. When I was at the door she stopped so I could catch my breath. I was brought in while Muhammad was sitting on a bed in our house. My mother made me sit on his lap. The other men and women got up and left. The Prophet consummated his marriage with me in my house when I was nine years old” (Tabari IX:131).
“Allah’s Apostle told Aisha [his six-year-old bride and nine-year-old sexual "partner"], ‘You were shown to me twice in my dreams. I beheld a man or angel carrying you in a silken cloth. He said to me, “She is yours, so uncover her.” And behold, it was you. I would then say to myself, “If this is from Allah, then it must happen,?”’” (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 87, Number 139-40).
How does such a man deserve anything less than unreserved condemnation?
Rather than threaten, riot, burn, and murder over cartoons, why are not practioners of the "Religion of Peace" protesting in the streets against the fighting against, subduing and humiliating, and killing of non-Muslims around the world in the name of Allah?
The reason is because according to Mohammed, his god requires it:
"…fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)…" (Qur’an 9:5).
"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" (Qur'an 9:29).
"…fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere…" (Qur'an 8:38-8:39).
"Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not" (Qur'an 2:216).
“Muhammad said, ‘A single endeavor of fighting in Allah’s Cause is better than the world and whatever is in it’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 50).
"Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): 'I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them'" (Qur'an 8:12).
“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘I have been made victorious with terror. The treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220).
And if that is not enough to clearly demonstrate the nature of this god and his apostle, here are Mohammed and his favorite "wife" in their own words:
[Aisha said,] “My mother came to me while I was being swung on a swing between two branches and got me down. My nurse took over and wiped my face with some water and started leading me. When I was at the door she stopped so I could catch my breath. I was brought in while Muhammad was sitting on a bed in our house. My mother made me sit on his lap. The other men and women got up and left. The Prophet consummated his marriage with me in my house when I was nine years old” (Tabari IX:131).
“Allah’s Apostle told Aisha [his six-year-old bride and nine-year-old sexual "partner"], ‘You were shown to me twice in my dreams. I beheld a man or angel carrying you in a silken cloth. He said to me, “She is yours, so uncover her.” And behold, it was you. I would then say to myself, “If this is from Allah, then it must happen,?”’” (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 87, Number 139-40).
How does such a man deserve anything less than unreserved condemnation?
Sorry about the multiple postings. Browser kept sending an error message.
Anything that pisses of those scum sucking goat *#@! muslim bastards is a good thing. Their very existence is an offense to any freedom loving person. Before you call me a bigot, I didnt feel this way until allah the pig and his death cult followers were dancing in the streets after 9/11. Death to islam and all its converts.
Yosra says: "but it is a duty on everyone to respect others' religous beliefs and figures"
NO, it isn't. Inform yourself as to US law.
OR are you saying I should submit to the laws of a religion I do not follow?
Thank you for publishing what you did. It was necessary, and the responses you recieve confirm it. The west has no obligation to conform to muslim values. Indeed, the west MUST NOT CONFORM to muslim values. I pity those who's comments betray the fact that they view muslim violence as a force of nature that must not be provoked. Muslim extremists are not a force of nature. They are merely thugs. Shame on those who cower before them and call it "sensitivity". Your ilk have have a long and sordid history.
Shame on the first poster, the 'rev' who is nothing but a damned dhimmi fool!!
Hey Rev, ever here about a chap called Jesus who warned about not building your house on sand???
Gee, to think you have idiotically wasted 40 years of your pathetic life building your house on lies….
You are what is called a useful idiot…and the Muslim world will slice your neck from ear to ear once they are done with fools like you!!
What a digusting display of dhimmitude and cowardice from a supposed man of the cloth!!
Shame on you and thank God you are retired from your apostate efforts!!
Mr. Bok,
Well done. I was not familiar with your work previously, but I'll be looking for your cartoons in the future. Best wishes for a successful and prosperous 2006.
-jcr
I remember learning in school that each and every citizen in the USA has the right to free speech, no matter the content (I seem to remember neo-nazis marching, all types of art depicting Christian symbols in blasphemous manners, etc.). It may disgust and offend others, but the speaker has the right to do just that. Sometime later in life I formed the belief that not only is every American afforded that very simple right, but that each and every one should be obligated to secure that right for his fellow citizens.
Any person in this country who doesn't believe in that very basic right (perhaps there's a reason it was placed FIRST on the list out of ten?) also has the right to pack their bags and move to a country whose laws may be more to their liking. I certainly don't want them here.
Nice job on the cartoon. Keep it up and keep giving the rest of the US media a good example they apparently can't live up to.
And to anyone who wants to burn something in the US in response to the Danish cartoons: come to my city and burn an embassy in the name of your religion. You'll find a real attack on Islam facing you in the streets before you're done.
As an American, I admire and served 4 honorable years to protect, 'Freedom of Speech', in part because freedom of speech is freedom of thought!
I want all people to have the right to say, "Muhammad is the Truth-Telling, the Infallible, Who tells all the world to turn in adoration to The Glory of God, Baha'u'llah!"
I want all people to have the right to speak of Muhammad's teachings that every human has a RIGHT and a DUTY to turn toward the Holy One promised by Jesus, (Matt 24:14, Luke 21:24, Matt 24:15) to come in what we now call the year 1260 AH (May 23, 1844CE). His holy remains are interred atop Mount Carmel in God's Holy Land, protected by humans submissive to the Will of God for THIS Day and Age!
Oh! Say what? Muslims KILLED the Holy One? July 9th, 1850?
If we really wanted to insult Islam, we could just tell people how old Aisha was, what happened to Medina, the entire 9th surah…..
Excellent job.
This subhuman filth has no place amongst 21st Century man.
Keep up the good work, and the worshipers of the pedophile prophet out of the West.
You don't like it muzzies? LEAVE.
Thank you for the cartoon – take that CNN!
On a separate note we don't need to worry about the Islamo fascists – just like we defeated the Nazis and the Communists we'll defeat these racist, murderous religious fanatic bastards.
Enjoyed your cartoon. A bit disapointed with all those who say they have been building bridges with the Muslim community, and think that these cartoons will bring those bridges down. Seems to me the Islamic world has been the ones rigging the bridge with high explosives (that might make a nice cartoon). The bridge means nothing if traffic doesn't flow both ways!!!
The retired Rev. John R. Beaty is so very humble he forgets to mention his work as an anti-war activist:
http://cleveland.indymedia.org/print.php?id=9405
Yes, you do so much for Peace when you protest America as the Great Satan, our enemy as the hapless victim of American Oppression and you talk out of both sides of your mouth regarding US Servicemen and women.
Rev. Beaty wants us to know that he is very concerned about our soldiers overseas who brutally rape, torture and murder innocent Iraqis.
I find it interesting that the leftist Christians today are eager to demonstrate compassion with people who blow themselves up, yet label as "sick" those who express themselves with pen and ink.
If Rev. Beaty's 40 year old Bridge to Peace with Islam is so weak it cannot survive a cartoon, it was never built on the Word of God in the first place, and deserves to return to the dust of this earth.
Freedom forever!
And NO respect to those Dark Ages savages who want to muzzle the whole world!
Bill
Mt Clemens, MI
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com
Here is what the muslim religion is about.
Rev.Beatty wants to be Reverend Relevant
you americans (some of you are good people but most of you are pansy and idiot, i don't want to insult good people because of the other idiots, like you do that on 1.2 billion muslims) are thinking your state is very peaceloving and you are thinking every muslim is killer, because you only see what your goverment and your media shows you(some good people except). you don't know to read and don't know about out of your country. you don't know how america kills people in the world and you don't know how america killed innocent people, just pressing a button, and you don't know how american army beats little innocent boys, and you don't know how american army violate innocent little girls!
you only seeing what your goverment wants to show you. what you think about ıraq war?? you just think it was for providing democracy?? no!!! for petrol. your state is very big mouth monster that kills people just for %$^^$" petrol!!
firstly you correct yourself and your goverment than criticize the others. Because you are reason of many terroristic activities on the world. no people want to attack to your lifestyle, but if you kill people for one or more gallon petrol, they will attack and they are not wrong.
if you correct yourself, maybe world can be a peacefull place.
be respectful to other people's sensitivities. may be you don't have any sensetivities yourself but there are people practising islam and they are very sentitive..
Good on you, Mr. Bok. At least somebody is standing up for satire. Up here in Canada we've had one major magazine republish the "Danish Cartoons" and now it's being threatened with hate crime charges. I see also the EU is caving in and agreeing that the UN should be the arbiter of what's blasphemous or not. At least there's one chap in Akron not afraid to defend Western freedoms. Carry on, sir – you do us proud.
Yes, M. Emin, all those peace loving Thais, teachers and Bhuddist monks, being murdered and beheaded in the name of Islam, is the fault of the U.S., or its it Israel. Innocents being slaughtered in Russia, all on account of Americans? Memo to Putin, you are an American puppet now. The Beslan massacre was not in Chechnya, but in North Ossetia, a predominantly Christian country, what did that have do do with the Americans? Christian East Timor had to fight a bloody war of independence from Indonesia to stop the Islamic hordes from slaughtering its people, what is the connection to America? Christian and non-Christian black Sudanese are being eliminated through genocide being committed by Islamic Arab Sudanese, yet it is America's fault according to you. Islamic Eritrea continuews to wage war against Christian Ethiopia (an island of Christianity surrounded by Islamic states), yet to you that is America's fault. In Nigeria, islamists are waging what could escalate into civil war with their imposition of Sharia law on non-Muslims in lieu of secular Nigerian law, while slaughtering Christian and non-Christian Nigerians, yet this is the fault of the U.S. according to your oh so learned opinion. Let us not forget one lonely province of China, at least the Chinese know how to deal with their domestic problems casued by Islam, but you can blame that too on Bush, the Americans, the U.S., Israel, or Arial Sharon. Thank you for reminding us that we must respect Muslim sensitivities and be thankful for being murdered in the name of Islam.
What would happen to the Muslim world if we (finally) created an alternative fuel. quit sending the foreign aid, quit buying oil….
IoshakaFultz- Bok han't mocked Islam. That's the whole point here. To be so childishly sensitive is to lose all credibility. My tolerance for Moderate Islam has been destroyed by their absurd demand that no one dare bring Mohommed into any converstation. Blind, mindless knee-jerk reaction is what I have seen. Elementary children can analyze satire better. Get a grip.
Go FUCK YOURSELF M. EMIN. Fuck other countries sensitivities because theyre a bunch of pussies. Fuck the middle east. how fucking dare you accuse our troops of beating innocent children. Why dont you talk about how many people saddam killed before we took his peice of shit ass out of power. people die in was you piece of shit. Your blow your terrorist ass up. FUCK YOU
Dear M Emin
While America is not a perfect place, it is a lot better than many other parts of the world, especially the Middle East. No one said that the United States is utopia. We do criticize and berate and argue with our government, our fellow citizens, and our press over many things. But to say that until we become perfect we do not have the right to criticize others is complete nonsense.
Why don't you use the same confused logic toward yourself and your culture? As many problems and injustices exist in the US, they are just a drop in the ocean of injustice that exists in the land of Islam. Why don't you fix the problems of your own nations before you criticize the west and a few offensive cartoons? If you dimwits spent as much time bettering your own societies as you do rising up and condemning others, you would have better things to do than curse infidels and raise your children to become bitter, violent, and misguided malcontents.
No one says that all Muslims in the world are murderers. But we are criticizing the Islamic faith, because the sort of violence that we are seeing in our times has existed within Islam for hundreds of years. You, like many Muslims, don't seem comfortable with this fact. So instead of pondering such a concept, you immediately attack the motives of the person making the argument. This might be a good debate strategy in the Muslim world, but it is completely flaccid in the Modern (Western) World.
For the sake of your society, culture, religion, and future offspring, please do all you can to enter the modern world and become peaceful members. The Western world is very weak, wishy washy, and tolerant (pansies indeed), but only to a point. If you threaten the very existence of the most gentle pansy, even the most liberal nations of the West, just remember; a wimp who is backed into the corner can become a true Satan, the ultimate infidel. Then you'll wish you were only up against a few boorish cartoons.
America is self-centered and unaware of the outside not because of ignorance or stupidity, but because her citizens have better things to do with their time. Such it is in the modern, advanced part of the world.
Curt Olson
Hollywood, CA
M. Emin,
Most of us don't think "every Muslim is a killer". You obviously don't think well of many of us, but please don't make the mistake of thinking we're stupid. We happen to be well informed enough to realize, in contradiction actually, to what is generally presented in our mainstream media, that a significant and growing number of Muslims are, in fact, killers. They have turned the Muslim religion all over the globe into a religion of rape, blood, slaughter, anti-every-other-religion bigotry and pure, murderous hatred. This is indisputable and on the record. I can offer you multiple quotes from multiple leaders of the Islamic faith to support that statement, but the best proofs are the actions of the militant Muslims who are carrying out their religion of blood and slaughter on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. We're simply judging the tree by its fruit.
Militant Islamists are the people we speak of, not peace-loving Muslims whose faith has been hijacked, who can't speak out against these insanely overwrought protests because they fear for their own safety – their very lives.
You're right. Many don't value the sensitivities of the religious in the West. That is certainly true. They're free to do so. They don't value the sensitivities of Christians and Jews far more, believe me. I can offer you mountains of more evidence to support that sad reality. Frankly, we value the sensitivities of Muslims more than we value the sensitivities of Christians and Jews in the West – and that isn't very much. I agree that should change. I don't think those cartoons should have been published. They were in bad taste, patently offensive, and for no good reason. (I would have preferred some cartoons satirizing the current state of militant Islam myself. Seems to me that would have carried a heavier weight of truth behind the satire.)
So, I agree they were offensive for no good reason. But how does that justify such a crazed and lawless reaction? How does that justify marching in the streets, inciting to murder? How does that justify threatening other nations, any nation, with another 9/11? How does that justify the killing of people, over cartoons for crying out loud, over cartoons, when Muslims themselves have been prolific in publishing example after example of anti-Semitic and anti-Christian cartoons themselves and are still doing so today? Very sensitive, these folks who are demanding our sensitivity.
Some of us do value the sensitivities of religious people. I try to. But I don't know of anyone who values the sensitivities of radical, militant Islamists other than militant Islamists. Do you think we should be sensitive to these people's "sensitivities"? Are you telling us that you support the manner in which these protests have unfolded? If not, why not condemn them and get angry at them, laugh a bit at them as we do?
Yes, we prefer our freedoms to the "sensitivities" of militant, embassy burning, to hell with freedom, blood thirsty, priest-murdering "protestors" who find it appropriate to act this way over some offensive cartoons they probably haven't seen published in an obscure, independent Western newspaper. Yes, we allow folks to criticize our leaders, political and religious, without being threatened, blown up or shot. We don't throw our cartoonists in jail. We allow people to choose their own religion without fear of imprisonment or death if they convert. We actually allow people to argue about ideas. We like freedom of speech, religion and ideas. We're barbaric that way. And you think the world can't be peaceful until we correct these freedoms? You actually believe the way of militant Islam and these cartoon protestors is the way of peace? Do you think they're being sensitive?
"Thank you for reminding us that we must respect Muslim sensitivities and be thankful for being murdered in the name of Islam."
By the way, in case you didn't know, the price of gasoline has skyrocketed in the U.S. just like it has around the globe. We're not experiencing any benefit of all that "killing for petrol" you speak of. Please. Do you really think it makes sense for us to spend hundreds of billions of dollars, spill the blood of thousands of lives, not to mention the cost of alienating ourselves from most of our allies, for the control of Iraqi oil? Don't you think we could have simply forked up a couple hundred billion instead as a far less costly expenditure? Don't you realize that Iraq isn't even one of the chief suppliers of oil to the U.S.? Where is that puppet U.S. government that is taking over and exploiting all that Iraqi oil? Iraqis have set up their own government, Mr. Emin. And we haven't taken over any oil whatsoever. Those claims are not only outrageous they're ridiculous and, frankly, plain stupid. When we leave Iraq without touching any of the oil, I hope you'll remember your anger was based on an unfounded anti-American falsehood and not simply jump off into another baseless reason for hating Americans.
I leave you with a quote from one of our infidel, Jewish Western philosophers who knew something about standing up for freedom:
"As men's habits of mind differ, so that some more readily embrace one form of faith, some another, for what moves one to pray may move another to scoff, I conclude…that everyone should be free to choose for himself the foundations of his creed, and that faith should be judged only by its fruits". -Benedictus de Spinoza 1632-1677, Dutch philosopher in 'A Theologico-Political Treatise' (1670)
"Everyone should be free to choose for himself the foundations of his creed, and that faith should be judged by its fruits." We're only judging the tree by its fruit, Mr. Emin. You accuse us of being blind to the faults of Americans. How so, when it's the mission of the liberal wing of our media and universities to fully and completely educate us about these facts? Believe me, we know the allegations. We're not blind puppets of a government propaganda machine that only allows us to see what they want. We live in a country of free ideas. Don't you realize that? I don't know where you hail from. Perhaps you live under the tyranny of a totalitarian or dictatorial government like most Muslims in the world do. Perhaps that colors your perception of things. We're not blind, Mr. Emin, and it's precisely because we are free. It is you who fails to recognize the terrible reality of the ascendancy of a bloody, murderous, militant Islam, fueled by fanaticism and hatred, which seeks global hegemony as the main threat to freedom and peace in the world.
Big Pharaoh's Ten Commandments
1.Thou shall not have westophobia. The west is not plotting against Islam, they don’t give a hoot about your religion nor the religion of this old Hindu man walking in downtown Calcutta, India. The West is busy with far more important things.
2.Thou shall remember that millions of Muslims in Europe have far more rights than non-Muslims in Arab/Muslim lands (for more info, contact the Christian villagers of el-Udaysaat) So quit playing the victim here. I simply don’t buy it.
3.Thou shall understand that the West is a pool of ideas and people. In the west you will find: Non-muslims who love Islam (Karen Armstrong and Prince Charles), non-Muslims who hate Islam (J-Posten and Oriana Fallaci), converts to Islam who love Islam (Murad Huffman, Roge Garoudi), converts out of Islam who hate Islam (Hirshi Ali and Ibn Warraq). So for heaven’s sake, you can’t paint the West with one brush.
4.Thou shall understand that the West gets their info on Islam not from your preaching nor from the books you translate to them but from your actions.
5.Thou shall riot and protest when Muslims kill other Muslims (for more info, contact the Shia families of Iraq and Darfur Sudanese)
6.Thou shall try to riot and protest when Muslims kill non-Muslims. If that’s not possible, at least try to do commandment 5.
7.Thou shall NOT riot over cartoons published 4 months ago. Try to riot over cartoons published 2 months ago. At least it might make more sense that way.
8.Thou shall not boycott an entire nation because a single newspaper, TV channel, radio station, politician, actor, actress, etc, etc, in that nation said or wrote or drew something that offended you. Why? Because its stupid and childish to do so and it further hurts your image.
9.Thou shall incorporate the values of liberal democracy. The Catholics of Italy, the Anglicans of England, the Buddhists of Korea, and the Shintos of Japan have done so. I don’t see a reason why you can’t do so as well.
10.Your leaders should know that what was OK in the year 706 might not be OK in the year 2006. I won’t get upset if you changed a few things in the laws and regulations as long as you continue to profess faith in me, pray to me, fast during Ramadan, give alms, and perform Hajj if you’re capable of doing so.
http://bigpharaoh.blogspot.com/2006/02/10-commandments-yesterday-night-i-had.html
some wrote:
..Why dont you talk about how many people saddam killed before we took his peice of shit ass out of power. people die in was you piece of shit. Your blow your terrorist ass up…
dear excited friend
why don't you talk about that, USA supported and armed saddam against of iran before the indentation crisis and then saddam became a calamity. i didn't supported and armed saddam, america done that
but you can't see that because you don't know anything other than that your goverment let you to know 
put your blinkers away and buy a sun glasses.
i don't want to insult anybody or any religion
i'm a muslim and other people is my friend whatever they are believing, i never want to insult anybody.
it's very worrying to see some people are calling terrorism as "islamic terrorism". this definition is absolutely meaningless. because islam never contains any aggressive action inside. some unlearned people trying to apply rules 1400 years old. they are just reading koran and trying to apply directly to present time. it's not true. the thing we have to is readin koran and learning the gist, then we need to apply new advisable ideas for present time (and this is what i'm trying to do).
real muslims are never hurt anybody. islam is the first thing against hurting.
please don't call anything as islamic terror.
M.Emin- How can the Musslims who believe what you profess stop the terrorists who claim they are just following Islamic jihad as decreed by their faith? How would YOUR life change if they take over?
there is two type of problem:
1- Unlearned people believing in islam. they are very easy to collimate for bad things. you can see this type in the middle east. usually this type of people induced by CIA (or others) with their faith. these type of people is very unlearned. this situation is providing very good condition for USA govrmnt, because if these people were knowledgeable about islam they would live in peace. at this time it's very hard (may be impossible) to educate these people, because USA gvrmnt and CIA is manipulating them continuously. think about afganistan. usame bin ladin was a person of CIA and he was an inflammatory tool to provide USA usable condition to attack on afganistan.
do you think bin ladin catched?? definitely no! there is a hotel in makkah which belong to ladin and bush's son
this is very funny game huh?? it's very easy to kill tons of people just by pressing a button from home 
moreover, do you know many innocent village was destroyed from sea based rocket launcer in the iraq? you can see a huge crater place of many village?? there was many innocent men, women, little boys and girls.
moreover somali (in south africa) has very rich gold mines and now repressed by american army
these are very funny pictures. WHY DON'T YOU CARTOON THEM?? because if you do that you can never publish, because there is one way freedom, no two ways like you think.
2- Some people doing bad things using name of islam.
do you think two towers attacked by muslim people?? certainly no. is that logical to going two huge airplane between uncounted radars and hit to WTC?? it is impossible to do without CIA's help
. USA gvrmnt has needed a pretext to attack on east and done it itself. doing something and accusing somesody is very easy for USA gvrmnt. and very easy to apologize after killing many innocent people. "ah! sorry a shot you because i figured you out a terrorist, but you were not," LET'S CARTOON THIS.
haha! maybe this is my last typing. maybe USA make a confusion here and shot here in few hours
then apologizes again 
nobody can say these attacks was only for taking freedom and democracy and never will be until USA folk wake up.
M Emin
You make some very outrageous claims. Do you have proof of any of this? Particularly the part about the CIA sponsoring the terrorist attacks on the WTC on 9/11. My guess is you don't have any proof. You are just parroting what you have heard in the Muslim world, which has no basis in reality. Yet you claim that Americans are in the dark about everything, and that our government controls what we read, watch, and learn. Have you been in the US long? Have you ever been here? We have freedom of the press, and we have internet access to any site that exists. We have multiple sources of information. Do any Muslims have freedom of the press? Do they have any access to information other than what the mullahs and imams want them to see? Show us, M Emin. Proof. Not crazy claims and questionable "facts". I for one am waiting with baited breath……
And finally, why don't you fully educate yourself before demanding that we do so.
Curt Olson
Hollywood, CA
my friends been US and he is man of social-science and he graduated phD on univesity of Wisconsin.
he has same idea about you (most of you, some people excepted) are not reading and just orientated by government.
I'm a high civil engineer and we have same media resources like you and we are educating ourselves. there is no imam restricting us and we are free like you. here we are not living at dark age like you think of
. you don't have enough information about islam i can see. in islam there is no imams restricting people. some unlearned muslims are going wrong. but the manipulations done by external forces (benefiting from this situation) is getting harder to educate these people.
i don't want to accuse anybody. but how do you explain the hotel belonging to bin ladin and bush's son?? this is not fictive, some of my agnates was there many times.
moreover how do you explain USA and UK seizing petrol in iraq? if these was only for taking freedom there, why US are seizing petrol??
moreover how do you explain somali and others… i have some friends came from somali here and they are displaced-person here, because they were repressed by US army in somali. why people leave their home???
who is colonist ?? i'm not, and you??
i'm not anti-american, please don't understand me wrong. i just want you to criticize yourself.
please don't angry i don't want to sadden anybody but the things US doing are not totally unsuspecting)
M.Emin- where do you live and why do you accept such ridiculous tales about hotel ownership as truth? How can you be so naive to think that you are well informed while Americans are duped by the CIA? Have you ever lived with an investigative press?
i'm from turkey.
fish lives in the sea but it doesn't know what is the sea. be a jumping fish and try to look at the sea from outside..
nobody can tell me US is very unsuspecting at the east. Your government is not only trying to take peace and democracy to there, they are colonising there and peace is the only pretext.
why don't you explain seizing petrol??
Great cartoon Chip! The comments on it have also been throughly entertaining. Obviously a sense of humor is not a requisit requirement for Muslims. That's too bad because a lot of nasty business could have been avoided if it were. Man, Muhammed (MACPOHG) really blew it there.
I wish I knew where all of this "seized petrol" was; it doesn't seem to be making it to my town, based on the price of gas…
"go open a soup kitchen for homeless gay cowboys."
Posted by: Dr. Phineas J. Windbag | February 07, 2006 at 07:06 AM
Hey! I hear they (the "gay cowboys") were really dirty sheepherders much like the rotten insurgents that hate us so much! On behalf of cowboys everywhere, I am offended! A pox of your head, you son of a silly person! I fart in your general direction! May all of your legs of lamb taste like chicken, and your chicken taste like everything else!
For all who commented, truly bad , very bad to see the extreeme side of the west who are so prejudice and wh dont give any respect to any religous beliefs.
Those who speak of freedom , think first of yourself and you are offending others' beliefs making the feel uncomfortable in your countries to practice their religon freely while they see you hurting them by offending their prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) by people who knows nothing about him.
The Muslims dont protest for the articles and news that talk about the terrorism that some Muslims do..that is the freedom of speach.
But can we generalize the same and say that christianity allows for extra marital sex because 99% of the west movies reveals that…ofcourse non sense.
We dont generalize and we respect our prophet Muhamad (PBUH) and same goes for prophet Jesus (PBUH)
For rdd who says that they make trials for the priests …. who told you that we dont do the same here
and why not we go ahead and generalize on all the americans after the Abu ghareeb jail scandal that was published in Iraq and we say that all the americans are responsible of that …while this is done under their name of their country
and why aren't any one is offended for those who were tortured in public in TV in Iraq … and then some one comes and say " Iraq experience freedom for the first time for 30 years" .. how clear a media brainwashing !!! WHo is doing terrorism here ?
you can go to CAIR website , and you will find more about the prophet PBUH and know more about him to make clear judgement
http://www.cair.com/muhammad/
About how muslims dont get great sense of humor because Muslims dont take religon or the religous figures by anymeans as a joke and this is the difference. The west can accept jokes in their religons , but Muslims dont , religon is indeed important and treated with respect..and not a joke.
Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) was excelled in leadership, politics, trade, strategic planning at times of war and economics…etc. and to that history bears witness.
In the book written by Michael Hart, "The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History", he ranked Muhammad (PBUH) number one. Though we have our reservations regarding the inclusion of prophets among scientists and famous scholars, for prophets are in a category by themselves.
If we Muslims give Muhammad (PBUH) too much attention…why wouldn’t the religion be called “Muhammadism” or any other word derived from his name? If you notice, all religions have names that are derived from either the name of a person, a place or a group/tribe. Think about it…”Christianity”, “Judaism”, “Buddhism”, "Confucianism" …etc. Islam is the only religion whose name has an independent meaning, it’s derived from the word “to submit” in Arabic…to submit to the one and only God, to submit to His wishes and commands
ME Muslim:
You might as well accept the fact that people are going to offend what you hold dear. It doesn't matter: they still have the right to say it, and you have the right to still hold it dear. If there is merit to what you believe it will withstand criticsm: that's the marketplace of ideas.
Barring criticism of a subject only furthers the the ignorance you bemoan.
Respectfully yours,
David
ME Muslim,
I have frequently seen in print your ideology referred to as Mohammedism and its votaries referred to as Mohammedans. Once again it is Mohammedans insisting upon a self imposed label specified within the canonical text for this ideology so that a claim of uniqueness may be made. You have made a most circular of argument, proving your postulate with the postulate itself.
john wrote:
I wish I knew where all of this "seized petrol" was; it doesn't seem to be making it to my town, based on the price of gas…
i suggest you look at agreements after occupancy of bagdad. US and UK has seized iraq petrols for 30 years. please watch news carefully, not only american-football matches
batman wrote:
Obviously a sense of humor is not a requisit requirement for Muslims.
we have very much sense of humor but insulting Prophet Muhammed(PBUH) is not humour for me.
These is contempt. we are never insulting valuable things for you.
As we are accepting of varying belief systems, we must also be accepting of the fact that some people lack the ability to comprehend a cartoon.
congrats bok, well done!
to M. Emin
You are insulting the most precious thing our western culture has–Freedom of Speech.
All freedom begins with freedom of speech. The right to private property, the right to political diversity, the right to religious
diversity and the right to economic prosperity. I suspect that this is the reason Islam is attacking free speech.
You are in the grasp of a culture that keeps your mind closed by hanging the sword of Ala over your head. You will never understand this because you don't understand that religion is a matter between one man and his God and not one man
and the society he live with.
Dear Mr. Bok,
I am sorry that your cartoon was taken the wrong way. I am one of Mrs. Bok's students and she showed us the cartoon and I realize it was only a joke made to get a laugh but it was unpleasing to others. I personally thought that it was funny and if I was reading it from another's perspective, I wouldn't get upset. Well have fun making other cartoons. Some of these are really funny (especially the ones about Cheney!!! lol).
Dear Mr. Bok,
I am sorry that your cartoon was taken the wrong way. I am one of Mrs. Bok's students and she showed us the cartoon and I realize it was only a joke made to get a laugh but it was unpleasing to others. I personally thought that it was funny and if I was reading it from another's perspective, I wouldn't get upset. Well have fun making other cartoons. Some of these are really funny (especially the ones about Cheney!!! lol).
I am impressed by M Emin's commentary throughout this discussion. Not so much the content, as the effort made to express his viewpoint and perspective on the issue(s) at hand. You got to give credit where credit is due. M seems to be an educated, thoughtful, and moderate (for Turkey) Muslim. I am afraid that M is not typical in the Muslim world. If this was so, then the only clash of cultures would exist on forums such as this one.
I will say this, however M Emin…..
If more Turkish people watched football (American football even better) matches on television, maybe they would have less time and energy to stone female journalists for not wearing headscarfs. If the Islamic world is being misjudged by the West, it is more than a little bit due to the actions of Muslims that we see and read about in the media. Our views are affected by the words of Muslim leaders, and the silence of the peaceful majority that we have heard so much about but have not seen or heard of yet.
Let's hope that there are more M Emins out there.
Curt Olson
Hollywood, CA
M. wrote:
"i suggest you look at agreements after occupancy of bagdad. US and UK has seized iraq petrols for 30 years."
Can you (or anyone else) point me to more information about this? I'd like to read up on it. I'm a pretty well-informed citizen, as far as keeping up with the news is concerned. But I'm not familiar with the details of the agreement of which you speak.
Big Mouth wrote:
You are insulting the most precious thing our western culture has–Freedom of Speech.
..I suspect that this is the reason Islam is attacking free speech.
..
I'm not insulting freedom of speech, i'm just saying it's boring thing to see my valuable things (Prophet Muhammed) are showed as farcical.
Islam is never attacking any freedom. You just misunderstand me and you don't know anything about islam that you talking about. I did not attack anything here. i'm just speaking, if there is a Freedom of Speech.
Curt wrote:
maybe they would have less time and energy to stone female journalists for not wearing headscarfs.
you are tottally misunderstanding Muslim culture here. if somebody is doing something like you say, it is not a part of islam. probably they are very unlearned or they are provoker (that i cited before). don't think these action are caused by islam. islam never attacks.
there is nobody stones women not wearing headscarft in Turkiye. adversely there are people repressing women wearing headscarft. but this contidions are getting better with the time. we are not cave man.
did you see american army beating to innocent young boys on the TV?? maybe it is more like a cave man technology that your army uses to give freedom to the world?? there are much more examples you can see to stop and deliberate.
Berry wrote:
As you muslim folks have stated many times,
We love life,
you love death.
So why don't you guys die already?
—
We don't love death my friend
We just don't afraid of death. The important thing is what you do before you die in Islam,got it??
Barry wrote:
We like our age of marriage at 18 not 9
There is no muslims marrying at 9. this is bullshit. maybe your culture can contain these ugly things underground.
M Emin:
Even if I grant that you are right in insisting, repeatedly, that "it is not a part of Islam," unfortunately Islam–like Christianity, Marxism, democracy, etc.–is an abstract idea. Ideas are tools, guides, but, unless something has radically changed, not corporeal flesh-and-bones THINGS. Conflating abstract ideas for the actions of people or for actual entities existing in the corporeal world is dangerous and leads to very confused perceptions and actions.
In the end, any idea, whether it be a religion, a philosophy, or a scientific principle, is only as good as its use. If you don't recognize this, I recommend you brush up on your philosophy, theology, and political history.
Further, you greatly over-estimate the ability and effectiveness of the CIA and the US Government in general. The CIA could no more orchestrate what you propose than I could fly by flapping my arms.
M Emin
It seems that you aren't as informed as you should be, especially when you accuse Americans of being blissfully unaware of what goes on in the rest of the world. After all, my friend, this is from your own country. Perhaps your government is feeding you conflicting information.
Aliye Cetinkaya, from the Turkish news daily "Sabah" had to be rescued by her fellow journalists when about 30 cartoon protesters started throwing stones at her. Some of the protesters noticed her while some of the protest leaders were reading the Koran into a bullhorn. The mob accused her of being sexually provacative by letting her tresses be shown in public.
I am not sure if I agree with you that I am misunderstanding Islam. Maybe you are the one who is misunderstanding Islam?
And I should correct you on something. It was soldiers of the British army who were beating the youths, not American. And the youths (in their early teens) had been throwing stones at the soldiers before and reportedly injured one or more of the soldiers. A provocation, perhaps? And in response, Tony Blair criticized his troops for their actions and promised a quick investigation into the matter. If only Syria and Iran had such diplomatic leaders.
Al Queda has one thing right about America and the West. We do love life. Because we have alot to live for. Al Queda claims that Muslims love death more than we love life. This seems to be the result of life in much of the Muslim world being unbearably meager and full of despair and suffering. The promise of paradise and 70 something virgins would be a welcome reprieve to such a life.
Curt Olson
Hollywood, CA
The majority of U.S. AND European news sources refuse to publish 12 rather benign cartoons but have no problem publishing pictures of terrified hostages and tortured Abu Gharib prisoners. Whose ire are they feeding anyway? And what the hell happened to my country? We learned absolutely nothing from the lessons of WWII and what appeasement will do to us and the world. And for that we're damned to repeat it.
Anyway, thanks for the cartoon and your contribution to what's left of freedom of expression.
Hi Rob,
You get a grip. The Imams themselves fomented the uproar. Defending freedom of speech is very easy. Everybody gets on his high horse and says the obvious. The Islamic game is more cunning. The west is already in Mock Mode (Moritur et ridet). If you really want to answer the Muslims do precisely what they don't want you to do. Don't bicker among yourselves over the impossible to define limits of free speech (something which is not absolute anywhere), but defend the sacred.
Ask yourself: did the Danish Imams go out of their way yes or no to create this uproar? If so, for what purpose?
To create discord. They have succeeded. We've been had.
Curl wrote:
Aliye Cetinkaya, from the Turkish news daily "Sabah" had to be rescued by her fellow journalists when about 30 cartoon protesters started throwing stones at her…The mob accused her of being sexually provacative by letting her tresses be shown in public.
…
I am not sure if I agree with you that I am misunderstanding Islam. Maybe you are the one who is misunderstanding Islam?
i never confirm an ugly action like this. they are very unlearned people doing this. This action done by a few dims shouldn't be produced at islam. Aliye herself already said that.
…
I'm being educated with islam culture since i was 5 years old. I read Kuran (did you read one paper from it??) and i have so much theologian friends they have PhD and Master degrees from many Universities from world. I did not attack anything, and I'm trying to correct your ideas about islam but you still saying about i'm not understanding islam.
Go on and do whatever you want. I'm not thinking this discussion will be able to rehabilitate anything hereafter.
I never confirm Al Queda, and not interested in whatever they say.
Time will show us all answers.
"There is no muslims marrying at 9…maybe your culture can contain these ugly things underground."
Your false prophet did this (and he is considered the "ideal" man in Islam!). Worse than that, Mohammed says Allah ordained it:
"[Aisha said,] My mother came to me while I was being swung on a swing between two branches and got me down. My nurse took over and wiped my face with some water and started leading me. When I was at the door she stopped so I could catch my breath. I was brought in while Muhammad was sitting on a bed in our house. My mother made me sit on his lap. The other men and women got up and left. The Prophet consummated his marriage with me in my house when I was nine years old” (Tabari IX:131).
“Allah’s Apostle told Aisha [his six-year-old bride and nine-year-old sexual "partner"], ‘You were shown to me twice in my dreams. I beheld a man or angel carrying you in a silken cloth. He said to me, “She is yours, so uncover her.” And behold, it was you. I would then say to myself, “If this is from Allah, then it must happen,”’” (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 87, Number 139-40).
I just wanted to say that after reading all the messages posted on this site…I am etremely dissapointed..I'm dissapointed at most of the non muslims replies..which was very repetitive by the way and the same comments were stated over and over and over like a broken record….and then I was dissapointed at the answer of the muslims in their defense of the prophet ( pbuh) wich was very weak.
I wanted to say AS AN AMERICAN…us westerners seem to forget that WE R NOT THE ONES that MADE THE MUSLIMS come to OUR COUNTRY!!! ON the contrary for centuries we have always colonized the arab-muslim world and have always been dominating that part of the world. The Italians dominated Libya, France colonized northern africe and part of the middle east ( lebanon) England colonized most of the middle east, south africa, asia etc etc and the list goes on. So for centuries WE ( THE WHITE MAN) Have never left our NEIGHBOURS ALONE and we seem to forget that….we also speak of democracy and freedom and of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEING THE LAND OF FREEDOM AND FREE SPEECH AND THOUGH but we seem to forget WHAT WE DID TO THE AFRICAN AMERICANS!!! How WE AS AMERICANS CONDEMNED THE AFRICAN AMERICANS AND TORTURED THEM AND MADE THEM SUFFER FOR YEARS AND YEARS!!! WHERE WAS THE DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS!!! We have for years been very arrogant and unfair to our neighbouring countries and what WE AMERICANS FAIL TO UNDERSTAND IS THE REACTION WE ARE GETTING NOW FROM OUR ARAB/MUSLIM COUNTRIES IS A RESULT OF THEIR SUFFERING BY OUR HANDS FOR ALL THOSE YEARS…THIS IS A RESULT OF OURRR DOING AND OUR ARROGANCE AND OUR REPRESSION AND RACISM AND INHUMANE TREATMENT FOR YEARS AND YEARS!
WHO TAUGHT OSAMA BIN LADEN??? THE AMERICAN CIA!!! WHAT BOUT SADDAM??? IT WAS USSS AMERICANS THAT SUPPLIED HIM WITH WEAPONS DURING THE IRAQ/IRAN WAR!! BUT WE SEEM TO FORGET THE THINGS WEEE DOO AND WE ARE JUST GREAT AT CONDEMNING OTHERS AS THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE FOR CENTURIES!!
What we need to start doing is going back in our history and READ and understand why we are hated so much not only by the muslim world but other faiths and races. If we are GREAT AS WE CLAIM WE ARE AND INTELLECTUAL then instead of attacking it is about time we start reading and understanding the REASONS WHYYY WE ARE BEING ATTACKED AND HATED!!
As for the muslims…their representation of Islam is wrong and their anger is expressed violently but that doesnt mean that all 1.2 million muslims around the world have the same ideology. And muslims around the world need to start edcuating themselves more about the prophet mohammed and representing him the RIGHT AND TRUE WAY because this is not how ANY prophet ( not only mohammed) BUT ANY PROPHET would have behaved or reacted to a situation like this.Muslims have to start using the pen more than the sword and there are a lot of educated intellectual muslims out there but I am sure they dont have time to post messages on such websites as they are busy witn more important issues and I am sure they are constantly dealing with numerous issues concering their faith all the time.
And as for those who mentioned that MUSLIMS SHOUDL ALL GO BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY…WELL WHAT WE FAIL TO UNDERSTAND OR SEE IS THAT IF WE HAD LEFT THEM ALONE INITIALLY FROM CENTURIES AGO AND EVEN TODAY…THEY WOULD HAVE HAD NO REASON TO LEAVE THEIR HOMELANDS IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!! REMEMBER THAT!! WHAT WE AMERICANS ARE IN DENIAL OF IS THAT WE DO ANYTING THAT WILL BENEFIT USSS EVEN IF IT MEANS LYING TO A NATION…LOOK AT IRAQ?? BUSH CLAIMED HE WAS GOING INTO IRAQ TO SAVE THE PPL AND INITIATE A DEMOCRATIC GOV'T….BUT WE ALL KNOW OIL IS HIS INITIAL GOAL AND IRAQ IS IN CHAOS UNTIL TODAY AND I DONT THINK DEMOCRACY IS HAVIN OVER 300,000 IRAQIS KILLED!!!! WE ARE SELFISH….AND WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THIS REALITY!! THUS WE SHOULD NOT BLAME OTHER RACES OR COUNTRIES FOR HATING US….INSTEAD IT IS ABOUT TIME WE TRY TO FIX THE MISTAKES WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AND ARE STILL DOING AND GENUINLY MAKE PEACE WITH THE OTHER SIDE AND NOT MAKE PEACE BECAUSE WE WANT SOMETHING FROM THEM IN ORDER FOR US TO BENEFIT BUT BECAUSE WE HONESTLY AND TRUTHFULLY WANT PEACE PERIOD…
and about the comment on the prophet marrying Aisha at the age of 9…..lets not forget that in those times the age issue was not liek TODAY…ONE AGAIN LIEK I MENTIONED WE NEED TO EDUCATE OURSELVES…BACK IN TEH 1400'S IN ENGLAND IT WAS COMMON FOR WOMEN TO MARRY YOUNG STARTING FROM THE AGE 9 AND UP OR ONCE THE WOMAN HAS REACHED PUBERTY…BECAUSE IN THOSE TIMES WOMEN WERE MORE MATURE AND THE LIFE SPAN WAS MUCH SHORT SO A WOMAN AT THE AGE OF NINE IN FACT HAD THE MENTALITY OF A 19 YEAR OLD WOMAN….MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER IS AN AMERICAN AND SHE WAS MARRIED AT THE AGE OF 13!!!AS THIS WAS SOMETHING NORMAL BACK THEN…AND MARRIAGES OF THIS SORT CONTINUED UNTIL EARLY 50'S…. SO TO USE THE ISSUE OF THE PROPHET MARRYING A 9 YEAR OLD IS A WEAK ARGUMENT….LIKE I SAID GO AND READ AND LEARN YOUR HISTORY…WE NEED TO DO THIS ITS ABOUT TIME…OTHERWISE WE WILL NEVER LIVE IN PEACE…
THANK YOU…
TO MR. OLSEN….
I JUST WANTED TO ASK….HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE MIDDLE EAST???? BECAUSE YOUR JUDGEMENT ON THAT AREA IS EXTREMELY HARSH…I USED TO THINK EXACTLY THE SAME THAT THE MIDDLE EAST IS AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE ARE REPRESSED ADN THERE IS NO FREEDOM AND WOMEN ARE TREATED BADLY AND REPRESSED AND DIREGARDED IN SOCIETY. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO GO THE MIDDLE EAST FOR WORK PURPOSES AND TO MY SURPRISE THE MIDDLE EAST IS NOTHING OF THE SORT. AND TRUST ME WHEN I SAY NOTHING LIKE WHAT WE THINK OF THEM OR (AS PERCIEVED BY THE WEST)
IN FACT I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE US I WAS ABLE TO SEE ( EXPERIENCE) THE PROS AND CONS THAT WE HAVE AND THEY HAVE AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU…WE R ARROGANT AND COLD!! WHERE IT IS COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE ON THE OTHER SIDE!! IRONICALLY EH??
EVER SINCE I HAVE VISITED THE MIDDLE EAST I MAKE SURE THAT I VISIT WHENEVER I CAN BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING THERE THAT WE DONT HAVE HERE…WARMTH…
PLEASE THAT IS WHY I SAY WE AMERICANS NEED TO STOP AND EXPERIENCE THE TRUTH OURSELVES….DONT JUDGE BLINDLY…GO THERE FIRST AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!!!!!
THANK YOU
TO MR. OLSEN….
I JUST WANTED TO ASK….HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE MIDDLE EAST???? BECAUSE YOUR JUDGEMENT ON THAT AREA IS EXTREMELY HARSH…I USED TO THINK EXACTLY THE SAME THAT THE MIDDLE EAST IS AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE ARE REPRESSED ADN THERE IS NO FREEDOM AND WOMEN ARE TREATED BADLY AND REPRESSED AND DIREGARDED IN SOCIETY. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO GO THE MIDDLE EAST FOR WORK PURPOSES AND TO MY SURPRISE THE MIDDLE EAST IS NOTHING OF THE SORT. AND TRUST ME WHEN I SAY NOTHING LIKE WHAT WE THINK OF THEM OR (AS PERCIEVED BY THE WEST)
IN FACT I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE US I WAS ABLE TO SEE ( EXPERIENCE) THE PROS AND CONS THAT WE HAVE AND THEY HAVE AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU…WE R ARROGANT AND COLD!! WHERE IT IS COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE ON THE OTHER SIDE!! IRONICALLY EH??
EVER SINCE I HAVE VISITED THE MIDDLE EAST I MAKE SURE THAT I VISIT WHENEVER I CAN BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING THERE THAT WE DONT HAVE HERE…WARMTH…
PLEASE THAT IS WHY I SAY WE AMERICANS NEED TO STOP AND EXPERIENCE THE TRUTH OURSELVES….DONT JUDGE BLINDLY…GO THERE FIRST AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!!!!!
THANK YOU
[Oh, and Mr. Reverand, if what you spent a lifetime building can be destroyed with a cartoon that speaks truth to power, then you should have been in another line of work]
Yeah, you should never have followed Jesus. He was an asshole, after all.
To Mike Roher–u said being a Muslim means u have no sense of humor? Are we supposed find this whole situation, degrading our beloved prophet, funny?
To Rev Beatty I say, respectfully, forget about your interfaith stance; it's doomed to failure, especially with the cartoon haters, who are out to destroy all you stand for, interfaith work and all. Come on, get on with your real job – preach the Gospel and get people saved, convert them without insulting, assaulting or catapaulting them into oblivion. Tell the truth the Bible way. Haven't you worked out yet that Jesus offended people from other religions with the Gospel, but never used violence as a tool for its spread? Christians can't be offended, we just turn the other cheek. What's a cartoon? An expression of a point of view. We can protest – write letters, demonstrate, make a noise, but not with violence or threat.
If Islamists can't respond to criticism without demanding censure or destruction they're missing an opportunity to really show that their religion has any kind of maturity, or that their Allah is powerful enough to handle criticism for himself ('Vengeance is mine', says the Lord!).
No there's more to it. It's religiopolitical, and it's threatening. Anyway, as other shave pointed out, the cartoon here was aimwed at CNN's lack of courage, and is acctually very funny and poignant. Good job, Bok.
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"Please respect our prophet Mohammed"
WE CAN'T!
To respect Mohammed we would have to give up on our own concepts of morality and adapt a morality that is completely contrary to the continuing existence of the human race!
Mohammed was a MAN who called HIMSELF a terrorist and was proud of it! After all, he was doing GODS WORK.
Mohammed's god (NOT MY GOD!) gave Mohammed his blessing to, rob and murder people, assassinate people, enslave people, rape women, sadistically torture people, massacre people, force people to behave as he wished them to behave, spewed forth hatred and violence, and acted in ways that we in the Western world would just call immoral, insane and more to the point, CRIMINAL!
THE MOSLEMS DON'T SEEM TO GET THIS AT ALL!
For them Mohammed is the (nearly) perfect man! They ignore Mohammed "the criminally insane" in favor of Mohammed "the most blessed of god"! The moslems who do know about Mohammed the criminally insane, excuse his behavior as ordained by god because he was fighting "gods war"! He was, after all, just behaving like everyone else at that time was behaving, AND he had GODS BLESSING!
Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Confucius and Zarathru DID NOT act in this way! Only Mohammed behaved in such a BARBARIC fashion!
Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Confucius and Zarathru had their religions spread only through word of mouth and love! Mohammed's religion spread only through war and through FEAR!
The ONLY way to avoid being turned into a slave was to become a moslem! In fact the ONLY way to avoid the wrath of islam was to become moslem and to NEVER question islam! If you disagreed with islam, you were put to death! If you chose to leave islam, YOU WERE PUT TO DEATH (and you STILL are)! Mohammed spread "HIS" religion through war. His followers got rich on the spoils of war and on the slavery that went along with the spoils. (Oh-oh, I feel some moslem trying to quote the koran saying that there shall be no compunction of religion – grow up and get real! It was YOUR prophet that put the apostates and doubters to death!)
SORRY but this is NOT how MY GOD wants us to behave NOR any of my gods "prophets" to behave! AND NO I am NOT talking about "biblical" prophets.
For 1,400 years moslems have had to SUBMIT and have not been able to question islam. They have been trained to fight ALL who would disparage islam. They have no choice because they HAVE NO religious freedom!
WE CAN'T RESPECT "YOUR" prophet Mohammed because to pay respect to such a barbaric historical presence would be tantamount to giving up on the civilization that we have been slowly building to over the millennium.
Respect Islam, the "Religion Of Peace" that was started by an insane warlord? If moslems truly want a religion of peace they should look at Zoroaster's, Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism or Christianity. (Christianity is NOT to be confused with the "Christian Church", and yes there IS a difference.)
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Muslims have to join the 21st century!
Islam does not mean peace' so stop lying!
it means to submit. it's always one standard for muslims and one standard for the rest of the world. Mohammed married a
9 year old girl called Aisha and also consumated the marriage at that age, so what
does that make him? it's about time that we
Judge people on their behavoir and characters not on the mad religions. Islam
is a violent religion that's a fact.