Karim for prosecuting Pakistani Imams, Clinton for Convicting Danish Cartoonists
Karim AlSahy's One Arab World, though I disagree with the name of his blog in principle, but he has a very important post on those Pakistanis' who are calling for the beheading of the Danish cartoonists for a bounty.Karim, as a practicing moderate Muslim, believes he can make a difference by talking to Sheikhs in mosques to convince them to condemn the killing fatwas (religious opinions) of radical Imams during their Friday sermons (which is like Sunday church Prayers). He also calls upon Americans to act to stop the increase in aid to Pakistan.
I have one issue with talking to the Sheikhs that only Karim or any other man (male) can talk to the Sheikhs and there is no doubt that the Sheikhs will listen, but if a woman tried to approach the Sheikh to talk to him, he won't take her advice. She is not a man!
On the other hand, I was so surprised to read today on Gateway Pundit's blog that former US President Bill Clintom is asking for the conviction of the Danish cartoonists. It is true that the US Administration has showed great extent of understanding to the feelings of Muslims around the world but it did not ask for the punishment of the cartoonists, especially that the paper , Jyllands Posten, has apologized in all languages. I wonder if he also asked for the conviction of the Egyptian paper, Alfagr for publishing the cartoons four months ago.
I find that President Clinton's stance is coming in a very awkward timing especially that there are some Muslims, and not westerners, that are targetted by some radical groups. He is not failing the westerners but also some Muslims who are looking for some protection from the radical ideology.
The idea is not about Islam as faith, it is about this monstrous ideology of destruction that is growing in the shadow of a religion and the under the name of God. And the reason why I am mentioning or stressing this here now, because I have started to read to so many hatred incitement posts and comments from westerners who are supposedly take pride in their tolerance and freedom. Their comments and posts are not helping anyone but the extremists and terrorists. Their writings is a call for weakening some muslims who can stand up for extremism and for letting them dive in a make-belief world where seclusion decisions are the best. I know hundreds who happily took this decision that is not to reveal what they believe in because it could put their lives and their families' lives in danger because they believe in liberating ideas as opposed to the radicals. Isn't enough that the so-called secular regimes, known as totalitarian regimes, are giving radicals every chance to grow?
posted by Freedom For Egyptians @ 12:12 AM
9 comments
9 Comments:
You seem to forget that Bill Clinton is an American. He comes from a country that some observers have described as the "melting pot". It consists of different ethnic groups, cultures and religious communities. In America they have learnt how to live with diversity. It's different i Western Europe, for instance Denmark. Here the immigration of tens of thousands of muslims took place in the course of a few years in the 1990's. The Danes took some time adjusting; and they're still adjusting. You make a mistake if you think freedom of expression is the right to say anything about anybody. Even in Denmark there is an article forbidding blasphemy in the penal code. The attorney general is scrutinizing it at the moment to see if there is a basis for a court case. So at this moment it cannot be ruled out that the editor of Jyllandsposten will be tried and sentenced in a Danish court.
It is only natural that there are certain rules of behaviour in the global village. That does not exclude the right to criticize political leaders, statesmen and religious leaders for corruption and bad governance.
Freedom of speech was made to protect a free public debate; it was not made as a tool for mocking religious sentiments.
Interesting post, FFE, I'll follow up on it in Denmark.
Cosmic Duck: Add together all religious prohibitions and taboos of the so called global village, and try to figure out what freedom is left?! Americans have started protesting against the political corectness that enchains the free debate.
If you can find the time, try reading my "The incomprehensible simplicity of free speech" on my blog www.piacausa.blogspot.com.
It was published in the JyllandsPosten a few days ago.
And for Mr.Clinton only this: Have a cigar, man ...!
I thought these comments were stupid coming from Clinton. Clinton occasionally says stupid things, but rarely this gratuitously.
Blogger Mark in Mexico apparently had similar thoughts and tried to verify this quote. Note, the Paki sources don't have a direct quotation, which is a tad suspicious. Mark decided that it's bogus, or at least stretched way too far, and came up with this explanation, which I think is reasonable.
UPDATE: Checking 60 some sources now on the net with this story: VOA doesn't corroborate the "convict publishers" comment.
PakTribune doesn't corroborate
M&C, via Deutsche Presse-Agentur doesn't corroborate
Kaiser doesn't cooborate
Outlook India.com not only does not corroborate the Pakistan Daily Times story, but seemingly contradicts it.
"We live in societies where people are free to say the wrong things and right things. But I would not be surprised if the person who drew those cartoons and the newspaper which decided to print them may not even know that it was considered blasphemous to have any kind of personal depiction of the Prophet," he (Clinton) said.
The BBC doesn't corroborate.
I think I see what has happened here. The ex-president is quoted in several of the news sources as saying that
religious convictions of the people should be respected at all costs and no media should be allowed to play with the religious sentiments of people of any faith.
The Pakistan Daily Times needs an English translator.
redpencil:
Thanks for the link to Mark's post, that's very informative. I wish that more bloggers take the time to check the facts, rather than simply relying on another blogger as their "source".
The anti-Clinton right wing crowd loves to jump on anything Clinton said, so it came as no surprise that this spread like wild fire through the pro-republican blogs (GPundit being among them).
Freedom of speech does not mean insulting others. Can you make fun of the Danish queen??
If you cannot do that to just a queen, how come you insult prophet Muhammad with 1.4 billion followers. Shouldn't we repspect each other to live in a peaceful world?
Here is a great source to give you an idea about prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and it is available in Danish, Norwegian, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, English and Russian.
I hope this gives you an idea who prophet Muhmmad was. Hope you understand how Muslims repsect their prophet and all prophets.
Sorry here is the link to website about prophet Muhammad.
http://www.islamway.com/mohammad/
For a while, have been trying to get verification of these Clinton quotes. As much as I dislike this dunce, I really don't believe they are accurate. Everything I heard attributed to him on this visit sounded very Clintonian - no substance, make both sides happy.
The wifey would be none too pleased answering questions about the hubby's dumb remarks at the beginning of a campaign for the presidency.
Anonymous said...
Freedom of speech does not mean insulting others. Can you make fun of the Danish queen??
Yes and it is actually a very popular thing. She is being made fun of at shows she attends.
http://www.prebsimax.dk/
On the front page of this site you se Preen Kristensen, a male intertainer, making one of the best known impersonations of the queen. It is a integrated part of a show he performs with two others.
But the queen is not the important issue.
You are important. You were offended hearing about the drawings.
The newspaper has apologized www.jp.dk
The danish PM in his new years speech said
"I wish to state this very clearly: I condemn any expression, action or indication that attempts to demonise groups of people on the basis of their religion or ethnic background. It is the sort of thing that does not belong in a society that is based on respect for the individual human being."
http://www.statsministeriet.dk/Index/dokumenter.asp?o=6&n=0&d=2468&s=2
Many danish people disagree with the decision to print the drawings.
www.anotherdenmark.org
I hope that it can make you feel less insulted.
Best wishes
a danish person
Thanks for the link. How bout a blogroll;)
Peace
Karim
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