Well, well now. We have ourselves a real brouhaha going on.
It appears a Danish newspaper published a cartoon of Muhammad, the founder of Islam and it was not flattering. It seems, according to the Koran that the image of Muhammad cannot be drawn, sculpted, painted, etc…………………….. This rule is for a very good reason, the prophet did not want his image to be venerated or prayed to. Catholics pray to, kiss and slobber over wood, steel, ceramic, etc. images of anybody considered holy by the Church.
History has seen a number of “iconoclastic” periods where certain religions and religious sects tried to end the use of icons (religious images of people) in worship. Some of these periods were quite violent so you see it is or can be a volatile subject, even today. See how bare some Protestant churches are compared to Catholic and Orthodox churches?
So the whole idea of religious icons, pro or con, has been around for many, many years. So what the hell happened this time!
Well it appears that Muslims have interpreted the Koran / Quran as to say that all images of Muhammad are forbidden and anyone making an image is to be put to death or something like that. This, it appears, applies to everyone in the whole wide world and not only to Muslims.
The Quran also says that images of other prophets mentioned in the Book cannot be made. These include Jesus, Abraham, Virgin Mary, etc. It appears that is OK since we have many, many Christian images around and the Muslims don’t seem to mind.
Muslims say that to produce an image of Muhammad is an insult to them and their religion. This does not mean only insulting images like the Danish one but ANY image, no matter how nicely done. Remember Salmund Rushdi and the “Satanic Verses”?
I am all for respecting people’s religions and their religious practices. I think any one creating a religious image to insult certain peoples or their religions, because of a religious or ethnic bias should be criticized and newspapers should know better than to print such trash.
On the other hand, freedom of expression and opinion are fundamental rights in our culture. We may not agree with certain people and their opinions and expressions but we will surely defend their right to their opinions and expressions. The French newspapers that reprinted the offensive cartoon did so only to stress their freedom of expression, inflaming the matter even more.
I remember an art exhibit in New York many years ago that had a crucifix with Christ, sitting in a jar of urine. Now that image had everybody up in arms with total disgust but that so called, work of art is now in text books on art as an expression of one artist’s ideas. No one called for his death or rioted in the streets of New York.
I see this as a clash of cultures. Our Western culture is all about freedom, no matter how disgusting. Muslims of the Middle East have been isolated from our culture and taught that our culture and anything connected with it, is evil – this is unfortunate. I blame their religious leaders, politicians and academics; they keep them ignorant to better control them.
I don’t see an easy solution to this problem. The West will not give up freedom of expression; no way. We can become a little more sensitive to other peoples but that is a maybe. Muslim religious leaders need to open the window and let some light into the darkness of their minds and traditions.
Muhammad was only a prophet; not a God. He was human and made mistakes. Unfortunately he represents Muslims and what easier way to make a political statement about Muslims than a Muhammad cartoon.
Janusz
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