California Conservative

In October 2005, the Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper, published a dozen cartoons of the prophet Muhammad (listed below/click on photo for full image). Consequently, Denmark is now the target of outrage across the Islamic world, as more European newspapers published them in the name of freedom of speech. Denmark, France and Germany are particular targets of angry Arabs who are threatening kidnappings and deaths in retaliation for publishing the “offensive” cartoons. In fact, today is the “International Day of Anger” for Muslims. Angry Muslim mobs have been on a violent anger spree across the world. The “US is backing Muslims and calling for tolerance.”

Muslims in Iraq have also been protesting the cartoons and Aljazeera reports that: “Iraqi Christians said they feared a new wave of attacks by Muslims, driven by anger over the images.” Oh, great. This ought to help world peace become a reality.

Back in the US of A, sensitivity to (or fear of) Islam is rearing its head. CNN says in a report:

“Muslims consider it sacrilegious to produce a likeness of the Prophet Mohammad. CNN has chosen to not show the cartoons in respect for Islam.”

CNN had no problem running images of Abu Ghraib, which were certainly offensive to Muslims. They aired the disgusting Army amputee cartoon and in fact had the cartoonist Tom Toles on CNN at 8 am yesterday. Apparently CNN has more respect for extremist Islam than for the United States Military, but that’s not news.

In April of 2001, CNN’s founder, Ted Turner, called Roman Catholic’s “Jesus freaks” on Ash Wednesday:

Turner noticed that some employees had a smudge—from Lenten ashes—on their foreheads.

“I was looking at this woman and I was trying to figure out what was on her forehead,” Turner was reported to have said. “At first I thought you were in the [Seattle] earthquake. I realized you’re just Jesus freaks.” Turner added, “You ought to be working for Fox”—a reference to a more conservative news network which competes with CNN.

There is no such sensitivity for Christians. Rolling Stone Magazine featured rapper Kayne West as a persecuted and crucified Christ. Considering the nature of Kayne’s “lyrics” and admission that he is addicted pornography, this would be particularly offensive to Christians.

In New York City, the National Black Fine Art Show is exhibiting this painting by Harlem artist “Tafa”.

blockquote>It depicts an upside down Christ-like figure with a face strongly resembling Osama Bin Laden. The email read in part, “This is outrageous. This is an attack against my religion. How can an artist go so low? Most people are outraged, most Christians.”

On the phone with me, the artist declined to do an on-camera interview, telling me the work speaks for itself, but adding, the resemblance to Bin Laden was no accident…

Then there’s the Piss Christ piece of…… art. (liberal friends will appreciate the link to Wikipedia)

Then the movie The Last Temptation of Christ , which was a colossal flop in 1988 due to it’s blasphemous errors.

NBC’s flop The Book of Daniel (cancelled after 4 airings)

All of these anti-Christian expressions of art or entertainment have been largely unsuccessful for two reasons: 1) they preach to the converted, those already disdaining the faith, and it’s a fairly small crowd; 2) Those offended boycotted the networks that aired such entertainment or began letter writing campaigns to the exhibitions. This has been far more successful than taking to the streets with machetes.

Despite the obvious rejection of anti-Christian displays, the assault continues.

NBC’s Will & Grace will air on April 13, just before Good Friday, an episode starring Britney Spears called “Cruxi-fixin’s” .

ABC’s Desperate Housewives (Catholic smear campaign)

The list goes on and on and on.

Maybe it’s because Christianity preaches forgiveness and love that it is relentlessly assaulted. Perhaps it is because in an increasingly godless and secular world the moral Law of God within Christianity (such as a call to turn from adultery, murder, sex outside of marriage, homosexual practice, lying, stealing, murder…..) many feel condemned by their own actions in contrast with Christian teaching. Maybe it’s because everyone knows Christians won’t tie bombs to themselves and blow you up if you disagree. Or, perhaps, there truly are forces of good and evil in the universe and the evil seeks to discredit, ridicule, mock and abolish the good.

RELATED:
Islam: “Religion of Peace”

Cross-posted at Amy’s Blog

This entry was posted on Friday, February 3rd, 2006 at 2:08 pm and is filed under Author: Amy Proctor, Culture, Middle East, Religion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.