So the Pakistani government has moved to block Facebook today in its country entirely, because some of its users decided enough is enough after the South Park incident and created pages called 'Draw Muhammad Day' for 20th May. After a scare that this event/page had been removed from Facebook, I'm pleased that Facebook hasn't cowered and caved in to Islam, although I will not be surprised if they still do.
It would make sense, from a business point of view, that Facebook would remove those anti-Islam groups/pages and images of Muhammad, so they can appease Pakistan and get Pakistanis back on Facebook.
But Facebook has made its multi-millions already and can afford to let those Muslims ruin the fun for everyone else in Pakistan, so let's really see how popular the block of Facebook becomes. Maybe Facebook are holding out to see what happens, but nevertheless it would be a disgrace for a social networking site, where people are allowed to express themselves as they wish, to cave into a pressure from a group who want to restrict freedom of speech and expression.
I am hasten to add, that this 'movement' (if it may be called that) is not explicitly designed to serve as 'Islamophobia' (I'm pleased that that word comes up as a spelling error on my word processor, because its not even a real word). It is a genuine reaction for years, decades even, of violence from Islamic fundamentalists who think that their beliefs are so sacred and important that people should die for criticising them.
Let them remain in the Bronze Age. If they want to stay there, let them. And in doing so, how about they give back all their computers, cars, mobile phones, and other technologies, which scientific progress has lead to, and invented and manufactured by SECULAR nations? If they truly followed their outdated views, they should still be getting about on donkey-back with a push-cart for extra measure.
This is NOT a discussion on race and ethnicity, since there are as a matter of fact Black, White, and Oriental (Asian for Americans) Muslims to name a few. This is explicitly about a 'belief' having no superiority over anyone else's belief. Nothing more. Arguing that these depictions of Muhammad are 'racist' is laughable to say the least, and only counts to prove the point that they have no point to prove.
In Memory of Theo.
Peace.
The problem is in the reactions.
ReplyDeleteOther religions are equally as offended by similar perceived attacks on their faith... the difference is that only Islam seems to demand a blanket respect and deference from people of other faiths. The very same people that Islam labels as infidels, and mandates that they will be destroyed.
Islam rises up in mobs and terrorizes civilized people with rioting, death threats and murder. Precisely because this reactionary tactic has benefited them in the past, they expect it to continue to do so.
Very true, Billy.
ReplyDelete