Should it be legal to mock or disrespect religion? - New England Patriots Forums

cupofjoe1962 · 09-19-2012, 12:59 AM

It sure seems like our president does not like it when people disrespect
Islam. I understand that this could put our soldiers in harms way, but aren't
they already in harms way?

I believe in freedom of speech !
If the KKK or the Nazi's are allowed to march in a town like Skokie, then
South Park should be allowed to poke fun at Muhammad.

Obama did not have any problem taking a million dollars from a man who
made a huge profit mocking religion (Bill Maher - Movie - Religulous).

chicowalker · 09-19-2012, 01:02 AM

Of course it should be -- and it is.

(South Park was "censored" by Viacom, not the government.)

***Patters*** · 09-19-2012, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cupofjoe1962

It sure seems like our president does not like it when people disrespect
Islam. I understand that this could put our soldiers in harms way, but aren't
they already in harms way?

I believe in freedom of speech !
If the KKK or the Nazi's are allowed to march in a town like Skokie, then
South Park should be allowed to poke fun at Muhammad.

Obama did not have any problem taking a million dollars from a man who
made a huge profit mocking religion (Bill Maher - Movie - Religulous).

Of course it should be legal, but it also should be legal to condemn those who disrespect religion, discourage people from doing things that put others in harm's way, and to use words to try to calm the passions of others. When Americans refuse to apologize for the bad behavior of other Americans that causes danger to some, I think we're acting in some ways as irrational as those who go crazy over insulting depictions of Allah.

jcdavey · 09-19-2012, 02:45 AM

i don't believe in hate crimes.....but mocking or disrespecting religions , i don't see a big deal in that

religious fanatics need to realize not everyone shares their way of life

ironically enough republicans are alot like the fanatics, but without the killing (these days)

***DarrylS*** · 09-19-2012, 04:26 AM

Guess I missed the memo where cartoons have become real...

cupofjoe1962 · 09-19-2012, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrylS

Guess I missed the memo where cartoons have become real...

Timeline of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons were first published by Jyllands-Posten in late September 2005; approximately two weeks later, nearly 3,500 people demonstrated peacefully in Copenhagen. In November, several European newspapers re-published the images, triggering more protests.

Labour strikes began in Pakistan the following month, and several organizations criticized the Danish government. More protests occurred in January 2006, and later that month a boycott of Danish goods began. Several countries withdrew their ambassadors to Denmark, and widespread protests, some of them violent, began. The protests continued in February. In Damascus, Syria, both the Norwegian embassy and a building containing the Danish, Swedish, and Chilean embassies were stormed and set on fire by protesters. In Beirut, thousands of people protested on the streets, and the Danish General Consulate was stormed and set on fire. As of 2 March 2006, at least 139 people have died primarily during riots stemming from protests. On 1 January 2010, a man was shot whilst attempting to kill Kurt Westergaard, one of the original cartoonists.

***DarrylS*** · 09-19-2012, 04:35 AM

If you want cartoons to be real so be it.. personally prefer a different view of the world.

PatsWSB47 · 09-19-2012, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patters

Of course it should be legal, but it also should be legal to condemn those who disrespect religion, discourage people from doing things that put others in harm's way, and to use words to try to calm the passions of others. When Americans refuse to apologize for the bad behavior of other Americans that causes danger to some, I think we're acting in some ways as irrational as those who go crazy over insulting depictions of Allah.

So you think Obama should have apologized?

PatriotsReign · 09-19-2012, 06:00 AM

Look folks...here's the skinny & lowdown on this idea....

If it's not illegal to mock or disrespect a PERSON, then it can never be illegal to disrespect a RELIGION

People are always more important than institutions.

And I reserve my rights to mock and disrespect any person I choose!

Drewski · 09-19-2012, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patters

Of course it should be legal, but it also should be legal to condemn those who disrespect religion, discourage people from doing things that put others in harm's way, and to use words to try to calm the passions of others. When Americans refuse to apologize for the bad behavior of other Americans that causes danger to some, I think we're acting in some ways as irrational as those who go crazy over insulting depictions of Allah.

Patters - Doesn't the bolded part of your post below basically hint at the crux of the issue?

Let me explain.

We both agree that it should (and is) be legal to mock a religion and we both agree that if a person takes offense to said mocking they have recourse: be it a protest or speaking out to correct the mocking (if you will).

But that isnt what this is about right? If that is all it was, we probably wouldn't be talking about it.

What all of this is is a group of people from one religion feel that any mocking of their religion justifies their actions, up to and including killing the mocker.

That isn't a justifiable response, period (IMHO). Human civility dictates that you can't just go around killing people that talk smack to you. You use the power of your voice and thought to change the attitude you are taking offense to.

The issue here seemingly is the battle between the freedom to speak your mind; even if your mind is hateful, vs the belief by some (all?) followers of Islam that speaking poorly of their prophet is a crime punishable by death.

Now as I said in the other threads about this topic, I don't see the day that Obama (or any other POTUS) attempts to take away anyone in the US's "god" given right to free speech. But the thought (not saying this is happening) that the US would alter the most basic of freedoms which we hold dear because all of the sudden hateful words bring death to our countrymen is absurd.

Our Constitution protects WBC and their pathetic existence and the rubbish they spew, and that should be the same for all speech, short of the usual "can't yell fire in a theater" examples (unless you are willing to argue that this example is on par with yelling fire in a theater)

As Thomas Jefferson said: "The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object."