I Never Liked Hamlet Anyway
The uproar over the hateful Danish cartoons have given me just one more reason to hate the Danes (as if reading the long winded Hamlet wasn’t enough). Since most of the cartoons are generally unfunny and hackneyed (i.e. Arabs with turbans and scimitars) one can only conclude that they were meant to offend. Political cartoons, according to the wikipedia entry, are meant to express a social or political message neither of which is present in the Danish cartoons unless, of course, we accept adolescent stereotyping as substantial political commentary. In that case, here’s my own political cartoon:
Charming, I know.
I also learned that Wal-Mart is opening about 1,500 new stores within the United States alone which is terrific news for me because I constantly pine for shitty, discounted imports from China and now I have 1,500 new places to get it (aside from the 3,200 that already exist within my zip code).
My excitement for Wal-Mart is eclipsed only by my excitement for my new blog renter: Infinitely Pie. She has an amazing knack for observing the seemingly trivial details in life and turning them into meaningful, eye-opening entries (Check out her awesome entry “PC really stands for “pain [in my] crack” in which she remarks on the political correctness of job titles). Browse through her fantastic photos on flickr or her unique photoshops for some outrageous creations.
pie (February 8, 2006, 1:04 pm).
Thanks for the plug!
And while I’m here, since you’re my landlord – my water heater is broken.
Sara (February 8, 2006, 2:58 pm).
I know this is going to sound really conservative of me, but the muslims have to wonder why people consider them so evil-like. You don’t hate someone unless you have a valid reason (unless you were born a prick, but that’s obviously not the case here). I know that the true muslim faith does not support terrorism…so it seems some dictators are taking the muslim faith and turning it on its head for their own personal gain, “Allah says you should kill the non-believers! Here’s a specific list! Have fun!”
I understand if the muslims in Denmark are mad over the cartoons, but they have to realize why people think that way. If the muslims wanted everyone else to stop hating them, then they should all be out in the desert trying to find people like Osama and other terrorists who are wearing the muslim badge of pride for the sake of their own gain. THOSE are the ones who the true muslims should be concerned with.
(sorry for ranting, hehe)
Mari (February 8, 2006, 4:08 pm).
No problem, Sara. While I appreciate you’re comment, I can’t say that I agree. Muslims have every right to express anger towards offensive material that potray Islam as a religion of violence, as long as that expression is done peacefully. You’re right in saying that certain leaders (Whom the U.S. have had no problems supporting in the past, Saddam Hussein being a prime example) are at fault for using religion as a means to justify violence against non-Muslims. However, the Danish cartoons don’t address that. They specifically satirize Mohammad the Prophet (not terrorists) as being a barbaric slaughterer of Westerners. Islam isn’t the problem, terrorists are. I think people have a hard time separating the two.
Now, satirical cartoons about the ayatollahs or terrorist leaders is far more understandable and probably would have avoided a massive outcry to begin with. Generalizing is a huge mistake, identifying the real issues is a better place to start.
Olivia (February 8, 2006, 11:56 pm).
I don’t see what all the fuss is about. They need to chill out and watch South Park. I like your Jesus drawing BTW.
PS: Here’s a link with the acatual cartoons on it, incase you wanted to use it for some reason: http://www.humaneventsonline.com/sarticle.php?id=12146 I admit, I didn’t really ‘get’ a lot of them, as I lack that higher level of thinking, but ‘We’re out of virgins’ seemed pretty damn funny to me.
Sara (February 9, 2006, 12:04 am).
Ohhhkay. I didn’t know that. I understand now why the muslims are going nuts. It’s against their faith to potray the face of their prophet. I remember seeing scrolls and paintings of the face being etched out.
I agree that the terrorists are the problem, and they have the gaul to actually manipulate people with their spirituality and religion just so they can climb higher up.
In that case, I don’t want you to think that I was on the cartoonist’s side. I didn’t know he potrayed Mohammed with his face. That would be like muslims taking the image of Jesus and showing him killing people with blood on his face.
But I will still stick to my guns on my first opinion. Muslims who practice Islam the ‘right’ way should become proactive in taking care of the people who give Islam a bad name by killing people in the name of Allah…
…But then again, I would have to get on the Christians too. The Crusades, anyone? *snicker*
jill (February 9, 2006, 10:01 am).
I remember when WalMart took pride in featuring brands “made in America”. Try to find anything made in America these days. Except for foreign cars whose assembly plants are in America.
I do agree with you. Most Muslims (except the radicals) do not are not happy with the faction who causes all the pain. Maybe they do need to take a stronger stance on violence.
Mari (February 9, 2006, 10:14 am).
You’re right I think more Muslims should be proactive in refusing to do business, condone, acknowledge fundamentalists Islamic terrorists. They’re too afraid which is understandable too but one has to start somewhere.
And Olivia is right, the one about heaven running out of virgins is hilarious!
stella (February 9, 2006, 2:32 pm).
oh how cute…i see we both have ‘jibba jabba’…only mine is without the slang…’jibberjabber’.
KizzyKim (February 9, 2006, 3:41 pm).
Yay Wal-Mart! Being from Oklahoma, we seriously have some towns too small for Wal-Mart and in several small towns, the Wal-Mart is seriously the only place to go to get what you need.
When I was in LA, I spent a lot of time in the Valley, where people live off of Target and Vons stores. There were TWO Wal-Marts. I thought I was going to get gunned down on Hollywood Boulevard for asking someone why they didn’t go to Wal-Mart. Apparently it’s a racial thing now.
Hell if I know. It’s still the cheapest place around. And until I make money from your Rosario Dawson jobs, it’s where I’m going.
Olivia (February 9, 2006, 4:49 pm).
hehe I was hoping you’d like it. BTW- thanks for the shibooya radio picks
suki (February 10, 2006, 12:22 am).
I’m glad I live in an area where Wal-mart isn’t allowed… If I am going to splurge on low-cost prods from China, I’ll just head over there myself. :p
someguy (February 14, 2006, 2:09 am).
Are you kidding me? You obviously don’t get this situation at all. You think that a couple of dorky, joke cartoons, offensive or not, justify these maniacal idiots to threaten murder and terror?! Some cartoonist draws muhammad with a bomb turban and you think he should be “beheaded?” This isn’t about cartoons. These Muslims HATE. They are full of HATE. They breed HATE. The cartoons are just an excuse to justify their violent behavior. Burning embassies, rioting, making threats…etc. are all just business as usual for them.
Mari (February 14, 2006, 12:28 pm).
Actually, someguy, I’m not kidding you and I’m pretty sure I get the situation just fine. You somehow didn’t understand that I’m not justifying the violent reactions to the cartoons in the slightest. In fact, I don’t even refer to the violent reactions in my entry at all. I’m not justifying violent riots simply because I nelgected to mention them. I was merely criticizing the lack of tact on the part of the Danish newspaper. Of course, we could argue all day how those cartoons are protected under free speech but in terms of your wild accusation that I’m justifying the burning of the embassy; well, you’re wrong. But thanks for the comment anyway.
Croaker (February 14, 2006, 1:03 pm).
I like shopping at Wal-Mart
. And your God cartoon looks like a penis shame on you 
Lisa (February 15, 2006, 8:21 am).
I see I chose an excellent day to return to your blog! Your long lost servant has returned to stand by your side and agree with you even though I don’t really get the situation at all.
All I know is, I understand why the cartoons are offensive on a rational level but not on an emotional level. Neither do most other non-Muslims. That makes this an extremely difficult issue to work out. Both sides will simply never see eye to eye on this and in the mean time us non-Muslims see that what to us feels like a harmless cartoon inspires a frightning rage in a group of people we already had trouble identifying with.
Other than that I have nothing useful to add to this discussion, so let me end this by saying that the fact that your God cartoon is penis-shaped makes it all the more AWESOME.
debbiecakes (February 15, 2006, 10:37 am).
Great cartoon. Your artistic abilities, like, really spoke to my soul.
And what’s wrong with shitty imports from China?
charles (February 15, 2006, 10:52 am).
Actually some of the cartoons are not even printed out. And besides the Danes in general cannot be blame by just one newspaper printing that cartoon. Also the Muslims are over reacting. It is right that they should chill out and watch South Park instead.
Aneesah (February 17, 2006, 3:56 am).
I’m ashamed of someguy. Talk about ignorance.
I completely disagree with the violence some Muslims are portraying, they’re just making things worse by confirming certain people’s thoughts that Muslims are emotionally unstable, violence-loving people. But we are very angry about those cartoons, and we should be. I agree that most non-Muslims would not understand this, and think that we are overreacting over some drawings. That is why the world should know more about Islam. The real Islam.
Homofictus (February 20, 2006, 9:53 pm).
Love the cartoon!!!