It's the end of the world as we know it...over a cartoon?!?
I don't know a lot about this story, but I know just enough to know that a lot of people of a certain religion are all up in arms (quite literally, from what I understand) over a silly cartoon (possibly a political cartoon; like I said, I don't know a lot about it) that they feel depicts their religion in a bad light. You know what? Boo hoo! It's just a cartoon!
Has our world gotten so ridiculous that so many people can grow into this large of a furor because one person expressed their opinion of something in the form of a drawing? Who the fuck cares? Seriously folks, I realize everyone has the right to their religious freedom, but everyone also has the right to their opinion. So someone wants to make a goofy commentary on something you believe in, strongly or not. Why should you care? Does that common nobody's opinion matter that much that you should feel shaken somehow in your beliefs? Who cares what he thinks?!? Go back to your prayers, love your god, cherish your beliefs...and realize IT'S JUST A CARTOON!!!
Why does someone make a drawing like that? I would say, most of the time, it's because they're making fun of something they may not completely understand. Doesn't religion teach us to take someone in, not necessarily to make them share our beliefs, but to help them understand what they're mocking? If that doesn't work, so be it, we tried, we go back to our beliefs, and whatever happens to them is their own problem. We're the better person for at least trying. But then, we're not talking about our own, run-of-the-mill, love thy neighbor, Western religion here. Which brings us to the next point...
I'm not going to get into a diatribe about America's policies, and current occupation of places they may or may not have business being. I'm going to get to somewhat of a bottom line by stating that we all need to find common ground quickly, before the entire planet goes up in flames. Not common ground in the sense that we need to start practicing each other's beliefs, or adopting one another's governmental structures. Common ground in the sense that we have to start accepting everyone's boundaries. I believe that the only way we can begin tearing down boundaries is by accepting that there are boundaries to begin with, and respect them. It's a simple process, and it saddens me that people can't see it.
1. Accept that everyone is entitled to their opinion. You may not agree with it, and you're more than welcome to discuss it, if the other party is willing to discuss, but nothing will be accomplished by anger, hatred and violence.
2. Everyone is entitled to their religious beliefs. Same reasoning as before.
3. Give people their space. If you are in their space, and they don't want you there, get out. Respecting someone's personal space is something that's practiced on a person-to-person basis every day, for the single purpose of avoiding conflict, and should be expanded to a global basis. Let people deal with their own problems, and when they're ready to talk to you, they will. If not...see number one.
There's also a lesson in this for the cartoonists, as well. So listen up:
We're dealing with people whose religious beliefs apparently teach them to strike down non-believers, with great vengeance and fuuuuuurious anger. These are people you do not want to piss off. You have the right to your opinion, and to express it. BUT...realize who you're dealing with, and respect...people's...boundaries. You may have not intended anything harmful with your cartoon, and were just making a point, but put yourself in someone else's sandals before you make a statement against their beliefs. Do you really want to start WWIII with a few strokes of your Sharpie and several swipes from the paint pallette?
And to all you folks running around the streets burning things and yelling and screaming:
With all due respect, don't you have something else to do? Does your god really want you to seek retribution against an entire nation because some clown drew a picture? Was that great of an injustice really done to you? Come on, people...say it with me:
"It's...just...a...CARTOON!!!"
Can't we all just get along? Seriously, why don't we each do our part, and start off the getting-along on a personal level. Invite someone from a totally different religious background over for some non-offensive snacks...maybe Kool-Aid and pretzels or something like that...and just get to know each other. Don't get into debates about religion or anything like that. Talk about what music you like, what you like to do on your days off work, talk about your kids (should you have any). The main point here is to listen to each other. That's why we're having so many problems in the world. Nobody wants to listen. Everybody wants to talk like what's on their mind is the only thing that matters.
Common ground, people. It's not about having things in common. It's learning about, and respecting, the things we may not.
Give it a try.
(Oh, and by the way...sorry about the "boo hoo" at the beginning of the post. Different mindset at the time. Hopefully I ironed it out by the end. Very disrespectful. My apologies. Please don't kill me.)
Has our world gotten so ridiculous that so many people can grow into this large of a furor because one person expressed their opinion of something in the form of a drawing? Who the fuck cares? Seriously folks, I realize everyone has the right to their religious freedom, but everyone also has the right to their opinion. So someone wants to make a goofy commentary on something you believe in, strongly or not. Why should you care? Does that common nobody's opinion matter that much that you should feel shaken somehow in your beliefs? Who cares what he thinks?!? Go back to your prayers, love your god, cherish your beliefs...and realize IT'S JUST A CARTOON!!!
Why does someone make a drawing like that? I would say, most of the time, it's because they're making fun of something they may not completely understand. Doesn't religion teach us to take someone in, not necessarily to make them share our beliefs, but to help them understand what they're mocking? If that doesn't work, so be it, we tried, we go back to our beliefs, and whatever happens to them is their own problem. We're the better person for at least trying. But then, we're not talking about our own, run-of-the-mill, love thy neighbor, Western religion here. Which brings us to the next point...
I'm not going to get into a diatribe about America's policies, and current occupation of places they may or may not have business being. I'm going to get to somewhat of a bottom line by stating that we all need to find common ground quickly, before the entire planet goes up in flames. Not common ground in the sense that we need to start practicing each other's beliefs, or adopting one another's governmental structures. Common ground in the sense that we have to start accepting everyone's boundaries. I believe that the only way we can begin tearing down boundaries is by accepting that there are boundaries to begin with, and respect them. It's a simple process, and it saddens me that people can't see it.
1. Accept that everyone is entitled to their opinion. You may not agree with it, and you're more than welcome to discuss it, if the other party is willing to discuss, but nothing will be accomplished by anger, hatred and violence.
2. Everyone is entitled to their religious beliefs. Same reasoning as before.
3. Give people their space. If you are in their space, and they don't want you there, get out. Respecting someone's personal space is something that's practiced on a person-to-person basis every day, for the single purpose of avoiding conflict, and should be expanded to a global basis. Let people deal with their own problems, and when they're ready to talk to you, they will. If not...see number one.
There's also a lesson in this for the cartoonists, as well. So listen up:
We're dealing with people whose religious beliefs apparently teach them to strike down non-believers, with great vengeance and fuuuuuurious anger. These are people you do not want to piss off. You have the right to your opinion, and to express it. BUT...realize who you're dealing with, and respect...people's...boundaries. You may have not intended anything harmful with your cartoon, and were just making a point, but put yourself in someone else's sandals before you make a statement against their beliefs. Do you really want to start WWIII with a few strokes of your Sharpie and several swipes from the paint pallette?
And to all you folks running around the streets burning things and yelling and screaming:
With all due respect, don't you have something else to do? Does your god really want you to seek retribution against an entire nation because some clown drew a picture? Was that great of an injustice really done to you? Come on, people...say it with me:
"It's...just...a...CARTOON!!!"
Can't we all just get along? Seriously, why don't we each do our part, and start off the getting-along on a personal level. Invite someone from a totally different religious background over for some non-offensive snacks...maybe Kool-Aid and pretzels or something like that...and just get to know each other. Don't get into debates about religion or anything like that. Talk about what music you like, what you like to do on your days off work, talk about your kids (should you have any). The main point here is to listen to each other. That's why we're having so many problems in the world. Nobody wants to listen. Everybody wants to talk like what's on their mind is the only thing that matters.
Common ground, people. It's not about having things in common. It's learning about, and respecting, the things we may not.
Give it a try.
(Oh, and by the way...sorry about the "boo hoo" at the beginning of the post. Different mindset at the time. Hopefully I ironed it out by the end. Very disrespectful. My apologies. Please don't kill me.)
posted by aboynamedjimmy at 3:38 AM
3 Comments:
Wise words, man. I'm outta the information loop these days, so I'll need to Google this story you're referencing. I remember in the past few years a certain "love your neighbor" religion's members getting... upset because some novelist suggested Jesus may have had sex. Oh well. Maybe I don't take my faith seriously enough. Anyway, again, you're writing wise words for a foolish planet. Thanks...
No, I'm pretty sure it's the Muslims again. Man oh man, I tell ya...these people need to buy a kitten or eat some bran or something.
Gotta love the Muslims (and anybody else who is willing to blow me up, just because!) Actually, the way I understand it, most Muslims are not wacky (just like most "persons of type X" aren't wacky, except where X equals "wacky people.")
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