Islam and Humour

There are differing views on the propriety of showing images of Mohammed in a potentially unflattering light (or portraying him at all, for that matter). Some are arguing that it is obligatory to publish the Danish cartoons because otherwise we risk letting hyper-sensitive groups (led by the power-hungry) effectively curtail our freedom of speech. A counter-argument says that disrespect for the deeply held beliefs of others is not a reasonable use of our freedom.

I'm reminded of a remark (by Miss Manners?) that some people are simply too sensitive for decent company. There are risks in curtailing our speech in obedience to supposed laws of Islam. First, can anybody authoritatively explain just what, exactly, we would be agreeing to refrain from expressing? Is any criticism of some believers apt to be found "offensive" by opinion leaders? Especially the leaders who say one thing in English and the opposite in Arabic, for example. Would any and every expression of freedom have the risk of offending some "too sensitive" Muslim somewhere? Could we be selling our heritage of free speech to censors who hate our culture and heritage? Or as Mark Shea says "Thin-skinned Bronze Age barbarians might be offended if you suggest that they murder innocent people over cartoons."

Another problem that has been raised is that it is far from clear that images of Mohammed are forbidden by Islam all the time and everywhere. This piece, for example, takes a scathing view of the violent protests over the cartoons. (Thanks to Albertus Minimus for the link.)

And there's the uncertainty about just what we communicate to the rioters and their leaders if we voluntarily suppress our freedom in response to their violence and threats of violence. Will this been seen as a partial capitulation to Islamic law as interpreted by them? Do we risk leaving them to believe that their particular interpretation of Islam is now our unwritten law?

Still I'm no fan of blasphemy, but examples of Christian outrage at perceived blasphemy have been considerably more civilized than what we are seeing now around the world (including destruction of property, assault and murder). (Mark Shea's remarks are worth reading.) I did glance at the cartoons in question and found none of them particularly offensive, but then I'm not Muslim, am I? But there was a theme in some of them that violence is endemic to Islam, a theme that could upset Muslims. But does rioting and threatening new "7/7's" and "9/11's" advance their cause at all?

The only thing that comes to mind after all this is that we should dialogue with the decent Muslims ( and other believers) about what, if anything, we can or should do about public disrespect for religious beliefs. But those who threaten violence should be treated as if they weren't there. They must behave in a civilized manner before they are allowed to participate in adult discussions. So who are the voices of reason and civilization amongst the Muslims, who are simultaneously upset at the cartoons and at the violence and threats of violence perpetrated in the name of Islam, with whom we can dialogue? Class? Anyone? Anyone?