i don't think anyone's arguing that. i think people are arguing against being dicks for the sake of being dicks. unless you really think this is going to change the extremists' minds. in that case, you're just r****ded.
Nobody is being a dick just for the sake of being a dick. There is a significant portion of the muslim population that promotes or at least accepts violence as a response to being offended. They are the ones in the wrong, not the ones attempting to bring more attention to the issue. It's pretty sad that the focus has shifted to the maturity level of people who are participating in Draw Mohammad Day and away from the people who threaten to kill people over drawings.
then maybe you idiots participating in this could have come up with a better way to try and reach these people. "hey, these extremists threaten death when one or two people draw mohammad. you know what's an awesome idea? let's have everyone do it! that'll certainly change their minds!" re. tar. ded.
The issue here was never about the people who threaten to kill people. We're over that. Almost everyone here agrees that anyone who draws anything should not be killed or harmed (i.e. threats are bad). The issue here is whether the purpose of "Draw Mohammad Day" is to protect free speech or just to be d!cks/piss off Muslims.
i'm perfectly fine. thanks for asking. i don't feel the need to offend a huge group of people who do not react violently when they are offended just to be a dick. momma didn't raise me that way. but feel free to bang your collective heads against the wall. the most likely result of this isn't the extremists having different reactions to this nor will it make those who don't respond violently somehow do more to speak out against extremists. nope, you're just giving the extremists another recruiting tool. congrats.
No need for name calling. Nobody likes an internet tough guy. Who said anything about changing their minds? Maybe the goal is to bring more attention to the issue. Maybe it's better we expose more of the crazy/violent ones so that we can be more clear of who to look out for.
The question of whether it's an "issue" or not is my conflict here. Really? Bring more attention to extremists? Are you surprised extremists have violent reactions to things? Is this new? No, it's not. You're just insulting the religion of billions of people just to get under the skin of a few. There is no moral justification for this repulsive action that I find legitimate. Pat yourself on the back telling the world you're fighting extremism if it makes you sleep better at night, though. Personally, I think there is absolutely no reason to do this other than just to be nasty to a few extremists. Unfortunately, the side effect is that you're also being nasty to billions of completely normal Muslims across the planet. You're fine with that side effect. I am not.
My bad. I skipped over most of the thread. I think the motivation for people involved in this might be a little of both.
There are plenty of extremist sympathizers who may not have been out on the streets threatening the danish cartoonist but you have to look no further than this forum to find muslims who sympathized with those extremists. If the stimuli was a bit greater (as in many people drawing cartoons) I think we could expect a larger number of sympathizers to step up and show their true colors. I think their value in that to the rest of us.
I disagree with the idea that it'll root out more extremist sympathizers. I guarantee it won't (you can link this post to prove me wrong later if I am indeed wrong... which I'm not). I suppose it's just a fundamental difference between what I think of people and what you do. Do you believe the majority of Muslims would take violent actions, or sympathize with those who do, against these cartoons? Do you believe there is a significant enough portion to warrant such a widespread disrespect to a quarter of the planet? I suppose the last question is rhetorical because obviously you do.
Some people are passive, and don't want to rock the boat, others point out the hypocrisy, or complicit acceptance of the extremists. To each his own. Lots of change has taken place of the centuries because people stood up for what they believed in, pointing out the violent nature or even worse, the people that find that violent reaction acceptable. I understand it is a sensitive issue, and if folks are offended, they have every right to say so, and to walk out...... It is the bullying and violence that happens over this that needs to be rooted out, in all religions....not just Islam. Intolerance is the enemy of peace. DD
I guess we'll wait and see but I think it's common sense that if you bring more attention to an issue you will get a bigger response. If one Danish cartoon did what it did what happens if cartoonists in 50 cities across the world do something similar? I don't think the majority of Muslims will take violent action. I'm not sure what portion of them would be sympathetic to extremists. It doesn't really matter because the fact is that Muslims have repeatedly gone to extreme measures to intimidate people who offend them. That's a problem when, as you say, a quarter of the planet is Muslim.
I'm glad you edited this post while I was getting ready to respond to it. The comparison to MLK was more than just a bit ridiculous.
Sometimes I wonder if you guys have bad memory or you just really enjoy reading your own words. Nobody is siding with the extremists and their threats of violence in this thread. Just simply here to point out that there are better ways to stand up for your freedom and right of speech than "LOL IMMA GET A BUNCH OF HIPPIE KIDS TO DRAW YO PROPHET 908091831091 TIMES !!!!!!!!!!111ELEVEN"
