Free Speech, Artistic Expression, and Islam...

Woodmonkey · 08-17-2005, 13:29

I found this interesting. When Christians have taken issue with some artwork, it was expressed verbally. If work had to be pulled, it was because of boycotts, or the result of going through the courts, not violence, threats of it, threats to the artist or vandalism

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Free Speech, Artistic Expression, and Islam

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For a few weeks now, Muslims in the U.K. have been complaining about and vandalizing billboards in their neighborhoods featuring scantily clad women because the show of skin offends them.

Of particular concern are posters for the show "Desperate Housewives," which show more cleavage than the locals in some parts of East London would like. A group called Muslims Against Advertising has deemed them offensive and encouraged people to tear them down or deface them.

Speaking to the Indo-Asian News Service, Ahmed Shiekh of the Muslim Association of Britain said the issue is not one of free speech "because freedom of speech should end when you offend others."

<snip>

The New York Times says the threat to artists in Holland from Muslim extremists is the worst that country has endured since the Nazi occupation during World War II.

The country’s main film festival in Rotterdam had to cancel a showing of Theo Van Gogh’s documentary denouncing violence against Muslim women following threats from irate Muslims.

And in Amsterdam, a Moroccan-Dutch painter was forced into hiding after a show of his work featuring works critical of "hate imams" prompted death threats.

Click here for the source
of this article

magic99 · 08-17-2005, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

I found this interesting. When Christians have taken issue with some artwork, it was expressed verbally. If work had to be pulled, it was because of boycotts, or the result of going through the courts, not violence, threats of it, threats to the artist or vandalism

Click here for the source
of this article

Never mind what the NY times said, what did the local newspapers say? we know the US interpretaion will be, even without reading the papers, its always predictable. We had a poster defaced here by the 'christians', who destroyed a billboard depicting a girl holding a towel just covering her ******. It was an add for an 'escort' agency. What did the NY Times say about that...nothing. in the mean time the 'christians' are out there screwing the kids.

Woodmonkey · 08-17-2005, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by magic99

Never mind what the NY times said, what did the local newspapers say? we know the US interpretaion will be, even without reading the papers, its always predictable. We had a poster defaced here by the 'christians', who destroyed a billboard depicting a girl holding a towel just covering her ******. It was an add for an 'escort' agency. What did the NY Times say about that...nothing. in the mean time the 'christians' are out there screwing the kids.

So you are saying this didn't happen .... or that it is ok to threaten violence against people when you don't like their art? The last sentence is an an obvious attempt to get people off topic. I hope they don't take the bait

This is about artistic expression....is it ok for a religious group, in this case Islamics, to theraten violence and people?

magic99 · 08-17-2005, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

So you are saying this didn't happen .... or that it is ok to threaten violence against people when you don't like their art? The last sentence is an an obvious attempt to get people off topic. I hope they don't take the bait

This is about artistic expression....is it ok for a religious group, in this case Islamics, to theraten violence and people?

No, but it is not limited to the muslims. remember that.

Woodmonkey · 08-17-2005, 20:42

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Originally Posted by magic99

No, but it is not limited to the muslims. remember that.

Stay on topic, magic. This is about threats MUSLIMS are making to artists they don't like and violence MUSLIMS are threatening if a film they don't like is shown. It is not Christians killing/threatenting to kill because of art they don't like.

Stay on topic!!!!

magic99 · 08-18-2005, 04:32

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Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

Stay on topic, magic. This is about threats MUSLIMS are making to artists they don't like and violence MUSLIMS are threatening if a film they don't like is shown. It is not Christians killing/threatenting to kill because of art they don't like.

Stay on topic!!!!

OK, i will post some threads showing the christains doing EXACTLY the same things as the Muslims, would that be fair, would that give balance?

SherryGrace · 08-18-2005, 07:11

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Originally Posted by magic99

OK, i will post some threads showing the christains doing EXACTLY the same things as the Muslims, would that be fair, would that give balance?

This thread is about "Free Speech, Artistic Expression, and Islam" not about Christians. Its not a matter of fair or balance, but a discussion about Islam, free speech, and artistic expression. To give it balance is to attempt to give it credence...to rationalize the beliefs and behavior depicted in article.

Try just talking about the rights and wrongs of the article posted...and not rationalizing it with "balance."

Such as...

I agree with the muslims that are offended by nudity and semi-nudity on billboards. It is a moral issue that a good deal of religious persons (obviously from many different religions) have to battle. The issues revolves mainly around what you want your children to see and have access to. Think about it. We have rated theater movies, rated television, rated music, rated video games...and we are constantly advised to monitor what our children watch, play with, and listen to. Does it make sense to have non-rated billboards? In my opinion, if its not G rated, it shouldn't be in plain site of minor children, otherwise what's the point of having rated theater movies and television, if you're going to advertise it on public streets. Of course, that makes sense and God knows not everyone has that. Artistic expression has nothing to do with it...ads on billboards are just that...advertisements...and its all about making a buck. However...promoting violence as a way of protest is DEAD WRONG. But it so fits their lifestyle, doesn't it? They are a violent religion. Period...past, present, and future. They do not belong in our country, because their violence, in the name of their god, goes against our country's laws. And if you can't follow the laws of our country...pack up and get out.

In regards to muslim extremists in Holland threatening artists, irate muslims in Rotterdam threatening violence (?) because of a documentary that denounces violence against muslim women, and a Moroccan-Dutch painter having to go into hiding because his work, which depicted "hate imams", drew death threats...this is why muslims need to pack up their shyt and get go get their own country. Violence is not the answer to being offended. They cannot seem to get that through their heads. Governments may start whole wars because they are offended...but individuals must follow the laws of the countries that they are living in...and I can't think of one civilized country whose laws allow violence when confronted with artistic differences. I could be wrong...feel free to name one.

And by the by...what kind of religion is offended by films that denounce violence against women (of ANY religion)??? Sickos.