Due to the insanity of the 'cartoon riots' one man takes it upon himself to support Denmark posted by cdcello (61 comments total)
I was thinking about buying Danish this morning, but I decided on a glazed doughnut instead. posted by Faint of Butt at 7:00 AM on February 20, 2006
That man's mustache has me SOLD. posted by dobie at 7:05 AM on February 20, 2006
Dobie, I agree. Ideological differences aside, that's a stache that would make baby Mario cry. posted by RokkitNite at 7:07 AM on February 20, 2006
While I agree that the response to the cartoons has been way over the top, I wonder what the response might be from U.S. fundamentalist corners if, say, it had been a series of cartoons ridiculing Jesus?
I imagine that "Support Denmark" site would now be a "Nuke Denmark" site, maybe? posted by Thorzdad at 7:08 AM on February 20, 2006
Nothing says "I love Denmark" like a fat middle-aged Jew in a Viking Helmet.
Oh, all right: Heh. posted by Gator at 7:11 AM on February 20, 2006
Hmm. I have some Carlsberg in the fridge.
I bought it 'cause it was cheap the right thing to do!
I will also now drink one (or six) for my homies in Denmark. posted by slimepuppy at 7:11 AM on February 20, 2006
Thorzdad, there's no need to wonder. Christians in the U.S. would definitely be in the "Nuke Denmark" camp for a few weeks, but they generally wouldn't protest the way this is being protested. Historically they mostly write letters and form boycotts. I'm sure the exceptions to all this will be cited in a few minutes. posted by Captaintripps at 7:14 AM on February 20, 2006
Totally, though I still support buying Danish stuff to offset the Muslim boycott. Good for him. posted by xammerboy at 7:14 AM on February 20, 2006
Jesus is ridiculed everyday in popular culture. Piss Christ? Kanye West as Jesus? There are no million dollar bounties on his head or people dying by rioting in the Bible belt. posted by cdcello at 7:15 AM on February 20, 2006
if, say, it had been a series of cartoons ridiculing Jesus?
There are pictures mocking Jesus published every day. No one cares.
I want one of that Italian politician guy's T-shirts. posted by cillit bang at 7:15 AM on February 20, 2006
I wonder what the response might be from U.S. fundamentalist corners if, say, it had been a series of cartoons ridiculing Jesus?
Ask Sinead O'Connor. posted by srboisvert at 7:17 AM on February 20, 2006
American's are just lazy. Our idea of rebellion is renaming our favorite fried food dish Freedom Fries. posted by cdcello at 7:19 AM on February 20, 2006
Americans only have murderous riots over civil rights issues.
On either side of the question, really. posted by illovich at 7:30 AM on February 20, 2006
I wonder what the response might be from U.S. fundamentalist corners if, say, it had been a series of cartoons ridiculing Jesus?
Fundamentalist Christianity, even with all of its bluster and thunder, has no scriptural or theological writ that bans outright the display of Jesus Christ. The closest analog might be found in The Ten Commandments, but that speaks of graven images of any kind and the actual worshipping thereof.
If someone decides to drop a plastic Jesus in urine or suggest that Our Lord was gay or whatever, they'll protest, they'll complaint, they'll boycott, but will they call for beheadings and nukes? No.
There are no million dollar bounties on his head or people dying by rioting in the Bible belt.
Piss Christ came from a Christian country. If a Muslim in Iran had made Piss Christ, right after invading Canada over something, does anyone think there wouldn't be riots?
Cartoons may have been the pretext for instigators to initiate the riots, but the rioting Muslims' anger is not purely attributable to anti-free-speech rightous indignation, as much as certain people would like to frame it that way. posted by sonofsamiam at 7:40 AM on February 20, 2006
While it's true that the U.S. fundamentalists would have a couple of pretty strong things to say if the cartoons had been of jesus, there's an argument that they tend to say a couple of pretty strong things anyway.
Although, in actual fact, some of the cartoons did make fun of Jesus, i think. Certainly there was a group one which featured the whole divine crowd - Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed. You know. The lads.
The difference is that even though many of the people cited in that link are in frankly scary positions of power, the society as a whole has, relatively speaking, religious apathy. Certainly here in the U.K. the only taboo which I've found is to be excessively intolerant. posted by jrengreen at 7:41 AM on February 20, 2006
Ask Sinead O'Connor.
Zing!
Or how about the terrorist behavior of selectively shooting abortion doctors, calling in bomb threats to abortion clinics, and even blowing up abortion clinics?
Are we denying people like Eric Rudolph exist? That people like these are seen as heroes by a scary amount of people? That Christian terrorism doesn't exist.
Just because there are less extremists in a country founded on the ideals of securalism then religious dictatorships and theocracies doesn't mean that all religious people are all 1st amendment loving secularists.
Why are all the pro-censorship groups consisting of "family" religious organizations? Is it mere coincidence?
Are are we just saying "Hey, people in religious dictatorships/monarchies and theocracies are more crazy religious than us! How about that!" Nothing like being proud of just being a few slots away from last place. posted by skallas at 7:49 AM on February 20, 2006
Why would American xtians have a problem with portrayals of Jesus? Even the Orthodox got over that hang-up long ago. Now publish some pro-abortion speech and watch them all go crazy. posted by skallas at 7:51 AM on February 20, 2006
Supposing you did want to buy Danish -- what products could people look for? Besides blasphemous cartoons, I mean. What are the big Danish exports? Lego? Lego and... posted by pracowity at 7:53 AM on February 20, 2006
The three leading Danish exports: Bacon/pork food products, pharmaceuticals, wind turbines. posted by biffa at 8:11 AM on February 20, 2006
American's [sic] are just lazy. Our idea of rebellion is renaming our favorite fried food dish Freedom Fries.
My kids (OK -- me -- since I'm supplying their habit) have been supporting Denmark for years now -- we've got so many freakin' Legos its not funny. We've taken to storing them in those giant Rubbermaid tubs, fer Pete's sake.
american moran misled by neoconservative fuckwits, film at 11 posted by mr.marx at 8:26 AM on February 20, 2006
I wonder what the response might be from U.S. fundamentalist corners if, say, it had been a series of cartoons ridiculing Jesus?
Ha. It would be nothing like this, not at all. posted by Dean Keaton at 8:26 AM on February 20, 2006
Oh dear. While well-meaning, this man misses the point. The cartoons were published in a Danish paper. But that's where their Danish-ness starts and ends. They were not official Danish documents, not even collaborated on by many Danish people, they were illustrations for an article in a small-circulation journal.
So the cartoons themselves were in no way representative of Danish views, the Danish government or Danish people.
This point has been missed by the rioting mobs and our "Buy Danish" man is not helping - by identifying the cartoons exclusively with Denmark he can only help perpetuate the belief that somehow these cartoons represent mainstream Danish sentiment, and that "Denmark" needs our support.
He would show his solidarity far more credibly by actually reproducing the cartoons, explaining the background to the article, exposing the "fake" pictures or telling us his views on freedom of speech, Danish and EU law. posted by magpie68 at 8:27 AM on February 20, 2006
Or how about the terrorist behavior of selectively shooting abortion doctors, calling in bomb threats to abortion clinics, and even blowing up abortion clinics?
I'd wager more people have been killed, more property destroyed, in the last two months over the Mohammed cartoons than there has been violence by the religious nuts behind the abortion clinics in the last ten years.
Yes, every country has its extremists, but I think its safe to say that the Islamic world has many more who are willing to act than the Christian one. I think one reason is that in America, the really off the wall people tend to turn reclusive, hide in their compounds, etc, than go marching out in the street and as a mob, burn down a clinic. posted by Atreides at 8:31 AM on February 20, 2006
Are we denying people like Eric Rudolph exist?
Nobody is denying the existence of Christian Terrorism. From the Crusades to now, many bad things have been done in the name of Jesus Christ. But the question was much more specific ...
I wonder what the response might be from U.S. fundamentalist corners if, say, it had been a series of cartoons ridiculing Jesus?
Cartoons.Rudolph's one-man campaign was against abortion clinics and what he perceived as the "threat of the gay agenda," not 2-dimensional representations of his Lord and Savior. posted by grabbingsand at 8:34 AM on February 20, 2006
Mmmnnn Danish, Arggrhrh posted by Gungho at 8:36 AM on February 20, 2006
Hey, I know! Let's have this argument again, today! posted by Ethereal Bligh at 8:37 AM on February 20, 2006
Globe & Mail: "Among Denmark's corporations, Arla has been the hardest hit by the boycott sparked by the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper in September."
Arla site: "Outside Europe, the Middle East is Arla Foods’ most important market, with Saudi Arabia as the largest single market." posted by pracowity at 8:40 AM on February 20, 2006
I agree. Must we argue over everything? Can we not simply bask in the scratchy warmth of that glorious mustache as prophets from all faiths would likely implore? We must find common ground. posted by drpynchon at 8:42 AM on February 20, 2006
The mustache is quite glorious.
And so, I will argue no longer. Instead, I shall sit quietly in the shade of said mustache and meditate on better things.
Everyone, join me, won't you? Plenty of room. posted by grabbingsand at 8:45 AM on February 20, 2006
"I mean, jesus, who takes the fucking time to actually do that?"
This was discussed on MeTa recently, IIRC. What I find interesting is that the three options are ignoring it, correcting it, or sicing it. The choice says something about the chooser. For the record, I will either correct it, or ignore it. posted by Ethereal Bligh at 8:47 AM on February 20, 2006
'skallas'
"Just because there are less extremists in a country founded on the ideals of securalism thAn...."
Have you looked at the original documents lately?
secularist they are not.
it did seem you were referring to American gov't, if not, my apologies posted by garficher at 9:19 AM on February 20, 2006
I understand the concept, but you shouldn't buy people. posted by iamck at 9:24 AM on February 20, 2006
The moustache won me over. I too will sit in its shade, and contemplate the immaterial. posted by kalimac at 9:41 AM on February 20, 2006
I wish Holland would piss off some religion or other, so I could smoke tremendous amounts of weed again. posted by bardic at 9:45 AM on February 20, 2006
I think the important question in all this is: What would Mohammed do? posted by sour cream at 9:47 AM on February 20, 2006
" I wonder what the response might be from U.S. fundamentalist corners if, say, it had been a series of cartoons ridiculing Jesus?"
Cartoons like that (and others ridiculing Catholic priests) have been floating around Usenet for years. Nobody here in the US rioted and burned down mosques. posted by drstein at 10:05 AM on February 20, 2006
By the way.. have any of you actually looked at all of the photos? If so, did you read the captions?
It's quite possible that this guy is just one big smart ass. :P
I mean, come on..
"Feb. 14, 2006 -- In response to the Danish cartoons,thousands of Pakistanis burn the local KFC in Peshawar. Here a crazed man mistakes the likeness of Colonel Sanders for the Prophet Mohammed. Boiling with rage he shouts, "The great one did NOT wear a bow-tie!!!" "
I think y'all might be taking this one waaaaay too seriously. posted by drstein at 10:09 AM on February 20, 2006
Plus, Jesus loves mockery - he laps that shit up! He was all like, "YO YOU TRIED TO CRUSHIFY ME BUT I KICK YO ASS" and then he punched Augustus Caesar in the BALLS (Matt 25: 3-16).
But Mohammad was all like "Oooh don't insult me I'm so holy waah waah waah". That's cool - but the fact is, if you wanna match it up with "the haters" are you going to send the last Prophet into the ring, or Prophet number 24? I think you'd want a guy who's taken the mockery of the evil Pharisee and who was all "YOU MY BITCH NOW GOD BOY". posted by the quidnunc kid at 10:19 AM on February 20, 2006
Pardon me, Quidnunc Kid ... lower tones, please.
You are upsetting the calming aura 'neath the most holy and canopyesque mustache.
you actually used sic when quoting another member in thread AFTER copying and pasting? Wow you are fucking pathetic.
I mean, jesus, who takes the fucking time to actually do that? - tweak
He's not the first. posted by raedyn at 10:53 AM on February 20, 2006
Nice post magpie68, I agree with you and at the same time enjoy Dane58's mischievously playful well meaning. posted by nickyskye at 10:53 AM on February 20, 2006
Thanks nickyskye. I thought some more on the way home and...
I also don't like his defacing of the Danish flag with political slogans (I would less like to see my own flag so defaced, what about you?) posted by magpie68 at 11:06 AM on February 20, 2006
[glenwood, tweak, take it to email or metatalk] posted by jessamyn at 11:37 AM on February 20, 2006
"He's not the first."
I think I've done it, but I wasn't trying to be snarky about it. Like EB said, you can either ignore it or correct it or mark it. I didn't want to ignore it, didn't feel right correcting it, so I just marked it.
I have mellowed a bit though so now I think I would just paste it intact and ignore it. posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:41 AM on February 20, 2006
hi magpie68, interesting how MetaFilter threads follow one around in offline life. Interesting tangent. A national flag is a political symbol and, imo, can be used as a target or tool in any number of ways. Yeah, I think any national flag may be fairly honored or disrespected. That may not be what some others may think. posted by nickyskye at 1:31 PM on February 20, 2006
I think the important question in all this is: What would Mohammed do?
BURN that motherfucker to the ground, yo! posted by tkchrist at 2:30 PM on February 20, 2006
In Hong Kong, the chief Danish goodies are Carlsberg and Kjeldsens.
Regarding a recent protest, I posted these haikus (among others) on my site:
Muslims to protest
Is it too late to give them
a tin of Kjeldsens?
Muslims march in peace
shopkeepers lock roll shutters
You know, just in case posted by bwg at 3:09 PM on February 20, 2006
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:00 AM on February 20, 2006