I know Molly Norris. She is my friend and my former college student. I also live at 'ground-zero' of the EDMD, Seattle, WA: FRACAS-CITY.
And I also know (of) Dan Savage, who ran with this whole thing, for his personal agenda. Why doesn’t anybody blame him?
Molly Norris sent her now infamous cartoon to Dan Savage, national blogger, and sex advice columnist for "The Stranger," Seattle's alternative weekly. Although Molly asked Savage to withdraw her cartoon, he ran with it for his own agenda; EBMD on Facebook.
For those of you unfamiliar with the antics of Dan Savage, let me give just one example: he publicly boasted 'attempting to infect a Republican public figure with his flu virus!' Do your homework: (this from a professor); then decide if this is REALLY the cause for which so many people have suffered lately.
Although I can't speak for Molly Norris personally, I can tell you that her original intention has been wildly compromised. I was horrified to see the bigotry and hatred, and even violence spurned by all the depictions of EBDM.
I am ashamed to be an American. I feel great compassion for those who have been scape-goated by the antics of fundamentalists and fanatics from the full spectrum of the political agenda. What good can come from juvenile, mean-spirited cartoons that incite violence and further censorship?
"We the people" are ALL reasoned people who, from whatever religion or politic, who respect each other enough to have a dialogue. "They" are all the fanatics who hope to win, 'by any means necessary--' even violent means.
This isn't 'free expression:' this is Political-correctness! Ironically, this 'blogger-fest' dares to quote Ghandi, the champion of Non-violent protest, while inciting violence through hate speech. Political-correctness IS censorship because it is about AGENDAS, NOT FREEDOM. It is ALWAYS about AGENDAS, NOT PEOPLE.
Do you honestly believe that this will somehow liberate humans from the barbaric acts of fanatics (of every religion), or further the cause for freedom? Here's a question for my next quiz: Does anybody remember why we were looking for Osama Bin Laden, or where he's hiding-out now? (HINT: probably not on FB) the Front Porch Talker
I know Molly Norris, both as a friend and as my former college student. I also live in Seattle, WA, ground-zero for the ‘Everybody Draw Mohammed’ cartoon she created. I believe this issue has morphed into something more than The First Amendment Right: it is about Political-correctness, which has now reached a critical mass. Although I can’t read a cartoonist’s mind (yet), but after reading over 2,000 blogs on the subject, I believe that neither Molly Norris nor anybody else could have predicted the firestorm of vituperative commentary and protests---for and against how our ‘First Amendment’ Rights should be expressed and against whom. I am certain that Molly Norris did not intend to offend Muslims and has apologized profusely for having done so, believing naively perhaps, that this is our primo American Right. However, This is not the first time (or the last) our freedom of expression has become incendiary, either (when the Ku Klux Klan expressed their “right” to march in the Jewish suburb of Skokie, IL; Rodney King and LA riots, for eg.). Political-correctness, however, is the bigger issue, I believe. As a practice, post-seventies, this is nothing less than propaganda in action. Political correctness aims to censor us all: to say what sounds right, instead of what is right; to say that all opinions are diverse and equal, rather than some opinions have been earned through educating ourselves first. Just because everybody CAN say whatever they wish, without the responsibility of using their real names, or the chance to respond in a reasoned dialogue, doesn’t mean that they should, as Molly Norris, in fact, did. I know I sound like a Luddite here, but the internet network of blogs, Face Book, and the like have taken political-correctness to new heights, without all the original fuss-and-muss of speaking to each other in person, and owning what we say. Page Faulkner Mordecai, The Front Porch Talker
RE: 'Everybody Deny the Holocaust Day': A Meta-spectacle of Human misery
This has become a spectacle now. Well, it was already a spectacle with EBDMD, but now it's been escalated to a Meta-spectacle!
I thought we got past that after the twentieth-century—one of the most violent centuries, at least in recent history. It's ALL wrong; so, you know that most of the world knows this, right?
While I do see the backlash connection with 'Everybody Draw Mohammed Day,' etc. One offense against humanity (seems to) deserves another.
An eye-for-an-eye: I get it. This is where the reactionaries step in and (rightly or wrongly) fight back. It's a fringe thing on the internet, which will bring-on more rioting and violence.
Maybe, after all is said and done, it will all awaken humanity at last; and, we'll all have learned a valuable lesson and furthered ‘truth’ in the face of fundamentalist extremists. I doubt it.
On the one hand, hand, I saw nothing about EBDMD that furthered truth or humanity --just extremism. Most of us, around the world, were horrified and humiliated for every Muslim and non-Muslim alike who were forced to witness that ignorant event.
Well, except for the national bloggers, like Dan Savage, a leftist, fundamentalist extremist who managed to hijack a cartoon drawn by an apologetic cartoonist and fuel an international firestorm that created maelstrom and censorship, world-wide.
Now, with the proposed “Everybody Deny the Holocaust Day,’ I see nothing that will further the truth or humanity either—just a knee-jerk reaction to ignorance by right-wing fundamentalist extremists who want to prove what we already know: humans can be crazy and ignorant.
I have visited Dauchau, in Germany. As you enter the death camp there is a sign that reads: 'Arbeitet Machen Sie Frei!' ('Work Makes you free!')
And from there, you witness tourists at Dauchau taking photos of their families posed around the ‘gas showers’ and the ‘ovens,’ seemingly oblivious to the atrocities that occurred there.
How exactly does an event like ‘Everybody Deny the Holocaust Day’ equalize the ignorance of ‘Everybody Draw Mohammed Day?”
If I thought that this event would finally awaken humanity from denial; and, so oblivious to the past, I would fervently support it. If I thought that this event would promise respect for what is sacred, I would support it.
But I doubt it will even the score. It will only inflame fundamentalist extremists, both from the right and left, while the rest of us watch in horror.
Meanwhile, humanity will remain ignorant, because violence begets violence. Hasn’t the world shed enough tears already?
This is a Mega-spectacle of human misery!
Would God or Allah or Jesus Christ, or the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) see this as an act of wisdom, or as an act of the ego?
Although I am not a dogmatically religious person, I do recall what Jesus Christ said while being nailed to the cross: “Forgive them, father. They know not what they do!”
I say: ‘Live and let live.’ Literally, please!
This would be the greatest act of truth and humanity that any of us could perform.
Page Faulkner Mordecai, professor And, writer: “The Front Porch Talker”
I know Molly Norris. She is my friend and my former college student. I also live at 'ground-zero' of the EDMD, Seattle, WA: FRACAS-CITY.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also know (of) Dan Savage, who ran with this whole thing, for his personal agenda. Why doesn’t anybody blame him?
Molly Norris sent her now infamous cartoon to Dan Savage, national blogger, and sex advice columnist for "The Stranger," Seattle's alternative weekly. Although Molly asked Savage to withdraw her cartoon, he ran with it for his own agenda; EBMD on Facebook.
For those of you unfamiliar with the antics of Dan Savage, let me give just one example: he publicly boasted 'attempting to infect a Republican public figure with his flu virus!' Do your homework: (this from a professor); then decide if this is REALLY the cause for which so many people have suffered lately.
Although I can't speak for Molly Norris personally, I can tell you that her original intention has been wildly compromised. I was horrified to see the bigotry and hatred, and even violence spurned by all the depictions of EBDM.
I am ashamed to be an American. I feel great compassion for those who have been scape-goated by the antics of fundamentalists and fanatics from the full spectrum of the political agenda. What good can come from juvenile, mean-spirited cartoons that incite violence and further censorship?
"We the people" are ALL reasoned people who, from whatever religion or politic, who respect each other enough to have a dialogue. "They" are all the fanatics who hope to win, 'by any means necessary--' even violent means.
This isn't 'free expression:' this is Political-correctness! Ironically, this 'blogger-fest' dares to quote Ghandi, the champion of Non-violent protest, while inciting violence through hate speech. Political-correctness IS censorship because it is about AGENDAS, NOT FREEDOM. It is ALWAYS about AGENDAS, NOT PEOPLE.
Do you honestly believe that this will somehow liberate humans from the barbaric acts of fanatics (of every religion), or further the cause for freedom?
Here's a question for my next quiz: Does anybody remember why we were looking for Osama Bin Laden, or where he's hiding-out now? (HINT: probably not on FB)
the Front Porch Talker
I know Molly Norris, both as a friend and as my former college student. I also live in Seattle, WA, ground-zero for the ‘Everybody Draw Mohammed’ cartoon she created. I believe this issue has morphed into something more than The First Amendment Right: it is about Political-correctness, which has now reached a critical mass.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I can’t read a cartoonist’s mind (yet), but after reading over 2,000 blogs on the subject, I believe that neither Molly Norris nor anybody else could have predicted the firestorm of vituperative commentary and protests---for and against how our ‘First Amendment’ Rights should be expressed and against whom. I am certain that Molly Norris did not intend to offend Muslims and has apologized profusely for having done so, believing naively perhaps, that this is our primo American Right.
However, This is not the first time (or the last) our freedom of expression has become incendiary, either (when the Ku Klux Klan expressed their “right” to march in the Jewish suburb of Skokie, IL; Rodney King and LA riots, for eg.).
Political-correctness, however, is the bigger issue, I believe. As a practice, post-seventies, this is nothing less than propaganda in action. Political correctness aims to censor us all: to say what sounds right, instead of what is right; to say that all opinions are diverse and equal, rather than some opinions have been earned through educating ourselves first.
Just because everybody CAN say whatever they wish, without the responsibility of using their real names, or the chance to respond in a reasoned dialogue, doesn’t mean that they should, as Molly Norris, in fact, did.
I know I sound like a Luddite here, but the internet network of blogs, Face Book, and the like have taken political-correctness to new heights, without all the original fuss-and-muss of speaking to each other in person, and owning what we say.
Page Faulkner Mordecai, The Front Porch Talker
RE: 'Everybody Deny the Holocaust Day': A Meta-spectacle of Human misery
ReplyDeleteThis has become a spectacle now. Well, it was already a spectacle with EBDMD, but now it's been escalated to a Meta-spectacle!
I thought we got past that after the twentieth-century—one of the most violent centuries, at least in recent history. It's ALL wrong; so, you know that most of the world knows this, right?
While I do see the backlash connection with 'Everybody Draw Mohammed Day,' etc. One offense against humanity (seems to) deserves another.
An eye-for-an-eye: I get it. This is where the reactionaries step in and (rightly or wrongly) fight back. It's a fringe thing on the internet, which will bring-on more rioting and violence.
Maybe, after all is said and done, it will all awaken humanity at last; and, we'll all have learned a valuable lesson and furthered ‘truth’ in the face of fundamentalist extremists. I doubt it.
On the one hand, hand, I saw nothing about EBDMD that furthered truth or humanity --just extremism. Most of us, around the world, were horrified and humiliated for every Muslim and non-Muslim alike who were forced to witness that ignorant event.
Well, except for the national bloggers, like Dan Savage, a leftist, fundamentalist extremist who managed to hijack a cartoon drawn by an apologetic cartoonist and fuel an international firestorm that created maelstrom and censorship, world-wide.
Now, with the proposed “Everybody Deny the Holocaust Day,’ I see nothing that will further the truth or humanity either—just a knee-jerk reaction to ignorance by right-wing fundamentalist extremists who want to prove what we already know: humans can be crazy and ignorant.
I have visited Dauchau, in Germany. As you enter the death camp there is a sign that reads: 'Arbeitet Machen Sie Frei!' ('Work Makes you free!')
And from there, you witness tourists at Dauchau taking photos of their families posed around the ‘gas showers’ and the ‘ovens,’ seemingly oblivious to the atrocities that occurred there.
How exactly does an event like ‘Everybody Deny the Holocaust Day’ equalize the ignorance of ‘Everybody Draw Mohammed Day?”
If I thought that this event would finally awaken humanity from denial; and, so oblivious to the past, I would fervently support it. If I thought that this event would promise respect for what is sacred, I would support it.
But I doubt it will even the score. It will only inflame fundamentalist extremists, both from the right and left, while the rest of us watch in horror.
Meanwhile, humanity will remain ignorant, because violence begets violence. Hasn’t the world shed enough tears already?
This is a Mega-spectacle of human misery!
Would God or Allah or Jesus Christ, or the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) see this as an act of wisdom, or as an act of the ego?
Although I am not a dogmatically religious person, I do recall what Jesus Christ said while being nailed to the cross: “Forgive them, father. They know not what they do!”
I say: ‘Live and let live.’ Literally, please!
This would be the greatest act of truth and humanity that any of us could perform.
Page Faulkner Mordecai, professor
And, writer: “The Front Porch Talker”