tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644742690759744999.post875027357620848002..comments2024-03-12T09:18:55.268+02:00Comments on Hell's Teeth: Protecting GodHell's Teethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03068603610322030020noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644742690759744999.post-89063335290908945672010-05-24T21:22:44.614+02:002010-05-24T21:22:44.614+02:00Hi Deepblue. Of course I agree with you! Of cours...Hi Deepblue. Of course I agree with you! Of course I celebrate Zapiro. And of course I think he is right. But there is a simple thing at issue here. For reasons beyond my ken, to draw the Prophet is something deliberately offensive to Islam. And, the consequence of that is that Islam needs to be defended, apparently at all costs. Now why would one do that? Why couldn't one, and I am thinking off the top of my head here, have a arrow pointing to an empty space saying, "this, although it isn't drawn and although you can't see it, is a cartoon of the Prophet lying on a Psychiatrists couch, thinking 'Why do other prophets...'" etc? <br /><br />I think drawing him was a silly thing to do.Hell's Teethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03068603610322030020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644742690759744999.post-46510435687356757872010-05-23T08:53:42.774+02:002010-05-23T08:53:42.774+02:00I think that your post makes practical and intelle...I think that your post makes practical and intellectual sense. Less than 3 weeks before the World Cup, does South Africa really need to stir the ire of fanatical Islam?<br /><br />On a deeper emotional level, however, I think that it is wrong. Your point about Zapiro as the court jester is perhaps underexamined. Jonathan tells the truth as he sees it. He has an ability to peel away layers and, with his poison pen, to expose the insecurity at the very heart of his subject. He has a keen understanding of the mood of society and exposes in this cartoon an exasperation at fanatical moslems.<br /><br />The freedom of speech which we enjoy in this country makes many people uncomfortable, but I would argue that it is a considerably better place than it was 20 years ago. I think that rather than fear the possible consequences of an irritated religion, we should celebrate Zapiro's catroon. He deserves no approbation for exercising a right conferred upon him by a hard won democratic constitution. Opening one's mouth to ask questions about an issue which should be discussed takes considerably more courage than to rationalise remaining silent. <br /><br />"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" (incorrectly attributed to Voltaire) expresses what we should perhaps feel about our outspoken cartoonist.deepblueorangehttp://deepblueorange.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com