Misrepresentations of Islam [Mohammed Pictures In Many Places. Made Up Outrage Alert!]

National Review ^ | Feb. 13, 2006 | Paul Marshall

[conservativecorner]

In the aftermath of Jyllands-Posten's cartoons, as the Danish government and European media face death and mayhem designed to undercut freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion, we should rid ourselves of certain misconceptions. One is that Islam forbids any visual portrayal of Mohammed; another is that such depictions of Mohammed are extremely unusual.

There is a strong tradition within Islam that making portraits of Mohammed is wrong, but it is by no means universal. Some, especially Shiites, believe it is legitimate. Others believe that it is legitimate to portray him when he was young, before becoming a prophet.

Despite its rulers' current fulminations, Iran itself is full of pictures of Mohammed. While devout Shiites more often wear a pendant bearing a picture of Ali, a Companion of the Prophet central to the development of Shiism, it is not uncommon for them to wear one bearing Mohammed's face. Depictions of the Prophet also appear on major buildings, including mosques, and even on small kiosks selling cigarettes. For believers, they are certainly a real sign of devotion, but at the same time they are an implicit subversion of the regime. Like Stalin or Saddam Hussein have done, Iran's dictators demand that those they rule subject themselves to the idolatrous image of the Supreme Leader, whether the Ayatollah Khomeini or current Ayatollah Khamenei, by putting their stern visages in their homes, offices, and shops. In the face of this repression, a picture of the Prophet is a rebuke to those who put themselves in his place.

[isthisnickcool]

How can a moslem know it's a picture of "the prophet" unles they have seen the picture already? If they've seen the picture before where did they see it and why didn't they raise hell over it?

Hmm, if they have seen the picture then they can remember it. If they can remember it then the picture exists in their head too which is not allowed. I think the only solution is for them to put on a turban with a bomb in it and blow their own heads off.

But wait, what if "the prophet" looked in the mirror? Then he'd see himself. Would he have to kill himself? Maybe he had this turban with a bomb in it and.........

[Valin]

Shameless Plug
Response to the Cartoon Controversy: What is Right and What is Wrong
Asharq Al-Awsat ^ | 2/10/06 | Amir Taheri
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1577509/posts
/Shameless Plug

[68skylark]

Here's a quote from one of my favorite bloggers:

Amir Taheri says the Multiculti "intellectuals" have been humbugged. Taken. Sold some phony interpretation of Islam the way you would take a rube to the Olive Garden for Italian food, Taco Bell for Mexican, or serve up chop-suey and General Tso chicken as authentic Chinese cuisine. According to Taheri the whole "you can't portray Mohammed" injunction was largely drummed up by snake-oil salesmen who found a ready market of people ready to fall all over themselves in the West.

This is from The Belmont Club.

[Bon mots]