Posted on 02/11/2006 11:20:11 PM PST by Pikamax
Area Muslims decry Bok cartoon
Editorial image printed in ABJ disrespectful, demeaning, leaders say
By Delano R. Massey
Beacon Journal staff writer
CUYAHOGA FALLS - Several Northeastern Ohio Muslims and community leaders met Friday to express their concerns about the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that have ignited outrage and violence.
At issue are the caricatures published in the European press -- work that many U.S. newspapers decided against publishing. The group also took issue with a cartoon inked by Beacon Journal editorial cartoonist Chip Bok. Bok said he did not draw his cartoon with intentions of offending Muslims and has defended his right to free press.
But Muslims on Friday said Bok's cartoon was disrespectful and demeaning. The level of hurt, they said, was deeper since it was in the local paper.
``It pained me to know that the Beacon Journal printed its own editorial cartoons that sought to challenge the beauty of our community by bringing hate into its pages,'' said Rabbi David Lipper, of Akron's Temple Israel. The Beacon Journal has not published the Danish cartoons.
However, on Feb. 5, the Akron paper published a Bok cartoon depicting a pixilated picture of Muhammad on CNN. A couple in the cartoon said, ``Well, no wonder Muslims are upset. Muhammad looks like he's on acid.'' The editorial cartoon has prompted several letters in response. Also on Friday afternoon, there was a demonstration outside of the newspaper's East Exchange Street building.
At Friday's news conference at the Islamic Society of Akron & Kent in Cuyahoga Falls, the speakers were passionate.
A.R. Abdoulkarim, Amir of the Akron Masjid, applauded newspapers that decided against running the cartoons, but condemned those who did. The Beacon Journal, he said, was in a class of its own.
``They take the prize for being the most ill-intended, irresponsible property group,'' he said. ``Allah curses and condemns them and every Muslim in this community should curse and condemn them.''
Julia A. Shearson, director of Ohio's Council of American-Islamic Relations, said they want the Beacon Journal to apologize for running the ``unethical'' cartoon and want the paper to publish their letters to the editor.
After yesterday's press conference, Bok met with several leaders. The cartoonist said he drew the cartoon to take a shot at CNN for ``distorting a distortion'' and not at the prophet or Muslims. ``I don't draw cartoons just to offend,'' he said.
Still, Muslim leaders said Bok's cartoon was disrespectful because the prophet should not have been depicted in such a way. In fact, they said, there are no pictures or statues of Muhammad because he should not be confused with God.
After the meeting, Bok said he learned a lot about the religion.
``My cartoon wasn't about them. To them it was; to me it wasn't,'' he said. ``They're cartoons. They're irreverent. I feel like that's something I have to defend.''
Oh, shut up, you freaking crybaby. How about shedding some tears for the people butchered on 9/11, or Nick Berg, or Daniel Pearl, instead of some cartoon in the paper.
``Well, no wonder Muslims are upset. Muhammad looks like he's on acid.''
Hah, love it.
Islam offends ME. But I dodn't go on murder sprees.
Even if there were 17 virgins waiting for me in heaven I wouldn't. Sooner or later they would not be virgins and sooner or later they would start nagging. Not a way to pass eternity.
Ddid I say that Islam offends me? Just checking.
Several Northeastern Ohio Muslims and community leaders met Friday to express their concerns about the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that have ignited outrage and violence.
Memo to Muslims:
There is only so much time that we are going to tolerate this.
Dear Moos - don't fret. I can't think of a single person in the USA likely to mistake MuHAMmad for God.
With barely any comments during all of the 9/11 or ongoing episodes...Muslims have put a tag upon themselves. They are so stuck to their mullah's and the mindless stuff that gets pumped out...its almost like a cult. And cult members won't critize anyone or make commentary unless the head dude tells them its ok. That should give everyone an idea of what kind of religion this really is.
"there are no pictures or statues of Muhammad because he should not be confused with God."
I don't think this will be a problem...
The problem is not the cartoon, the problem are those who are selectively offended it seems as a reason to cause violence.
Curse and condemn all you want, you have that protected right of free speech to do that. But remember, the same right of free speech applies to the newspapers, too.
"Allah curses and condemns them and every Muslim in this community should curse and condemn them.''
Oh, shut up, you freaking crybaby. How about shedding some tears for the people butchered on 9/11, or Nick Berg, or Daniel Pearl, instead of some cartoon in the paper.
***Or, (innocent) Jill the Christian Scientist journalist who is currently held hostage under threat of death!
Didn't you hear George at the White House? "Islam is a peacefule religion."
All kiddin asside, I think Islam is an offense to humanity and a murder cult.
"In fact, they said, there are no pictures or statues of Muhammad because he should not be confused with God. "
http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive
While the Muslim world is not composed exclusively of murderous fanatics, the larger truth is that they are the ones setting the agenda for a coming clash of civilizations.
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims marched in demonstrations across the world to celebrate the terrorist attacks of September 11th.
There were no Islamic marches to protest the unprovoked slaughter of more than three thousand unarmed non-combatant civilians that were simply going about their daily lives when murdered.
More hundreds of thousands of Muslims demonstrated against the invasion of Afghanistan to topple the Taliban and the invasion of Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein.
There were no organized Muslim demonstrations to protest the Islamofascist attack in Madrid that killed hundreds of innocent civilians.
Muslims world-wide protested a discredited Newsweek report that American soldiers were desecrating the Koran at Guantanamo Bay.
There were no corresponding Islamic demonstrations when Adnan Zarqawi held down a terrified young American civilian aid worker named Nick Berg.
Zarqawi slowly sawed off Berg's head with a butcher knife, recording his screams on video and sharing the grisly scene with the Islamic world via al Jazeera. Moderate Islam had no more to say about that than did non-Nazi Germans when the Jews were being loaded onto cattle cars.
Religion of Peace.........Rest in Pieces!
---Moderate Islam had no more to say about that than did non-Nazi Germans when the Jews were being loaded onto cattle cars. ---
Or they deny it!
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