Job Discussion Forums

turkishlover25 · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 142 Location: Charleston, IL USA

Unfortunately the Daily News at the University of Illinois in Champaign felt the need to reprint those articles. Why would they do such a thing when the media giants of the world are too scared/timid/politically correct to dare it?

Personally, I believe everyone has a right to their opinion, but mutual respect is the path to peace my friends. While Jihad is not the answer, people cannot claim that the cartoons where drawn in a joking manner, so therefore they should not be over-looked. It stems from a blatant disrespect that alot of Westerners feel towards Muslims and the Islamic fate.

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

true, the cartoons were are mistake. not needed. but sadly for islam, these extremists are proving the cartoons correct.

Ebenezer · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 99

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Meanwhile at ZU in Dubai :

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=34904&start=0

TeachEnglish · Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 239

Speaking of freedom of speech.. there will be a play in a month or so about Jesus. This is written and directed by a fellow teacher. The play is very creative and interesting. The writer believes Jesus is really the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier. The play also tells the story of Jesus' last days but with a very different twist than we have all been told. From what I have heard..the idea behind the play is very thought provoking. I will pass on any news about when the play opens and where if anyone is interested. The subject matter could be really controversial for some people. I am sure they will show the face of Jesus. Twisted Evil

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Tatil bitti !

jamessmart50 · Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 91 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Well where I live we had a 50000 people protest right outside my front door on Sunday. Try teaching a lesson over that racket! I popped out with my camera to see what all the fuss was about - well basically just angry chanting and some guys with big loudspeakers. I have to say it didn't seem violent and I saw no signs of vandalism or suchlike as you might find in a good old-fashioned British protest.

I've seen the cartoons - I don't see the point really, they weren't especially revealing or funny, just cowardly and inciteful. I guess free speech and sacred religion don't mix - theis was bound to happen sooner or later. What troubles me is that should this ever escalate to a war - unlikely I know but it won't take much the way things are - my money's on that cartoonist going into hiding, the newspaper editors in bunkers, and Denmark being neutral! Typical.

Here's another thought: - what do the Danes export anyway? beer and bacon isn't it?

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

The issues of free speech and taste are full of nuance and grey areas, all of which I'm too lazy to get into at the moment, but it seems to me it's not the best idea to go around teasing the guys with homemade bombs strapped to their chests...

Mikana51 · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 41 Location: Istanrubble

Hog · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 6

In my opinion, while the row around the 12 caricatures has been framed as an attack on freedom of expression, it is a case of straightforward racist demagogy. What I find incredibly alarming, though, is that public opinion seems blind to the racism and is drawn towards the image of the Muslim threat as backward, as threatening of liberal democratic values, and as having no sense of humour. A cursory glance around this board alone reflects these sentiments, the sorts of Orientalist views expressed by scb222 and, if one ventures into the China forums, most concerning, equally dehumanising and racist expressions regarding Muslims.

It's worrying that while the mass media start spewing out dehumanising racist propaganda of the kind that equates Muslims with terrorists, in the midst of an official and bloody war on terrorism, we merely defend freedom of expression.

In case there is any doubt, that these cartoons spring from malice and not ignorance, and that the editors/journalists were quite conscious of the political agenda they pursued, I quote parts of the following article:

Expert Warnings About Cartoons went Unheeded

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

a friend sent me an article by a Danish journalist, who pointed out that in Denmark, with a population of abt 5 million, there are 200,000 Muslims, who are not allowed to build mosques or Muslim graveyards. This says a lot about the xenophobia there.

Even worse than publishing the caricatures in the first place are the newspapers that republished them in the name of freedom of speech, thus further fanning the flames. The ignorance on both sides is appalling. I doubt that many of the protestors have even seen the caricatures and I doubt that many of them have the critical skills to weigh them. The protests also show that in some ways the violence expressed in the cartoons is supported.

What also concerns me is that in many of those societies violence is a fact of daily life. Children grow up expecting it and participating in it. What is with human beings that they are so self-destructive?

Hog · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 6

billybuzz · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 219 Location: turkey

This whole episode is just over the top as far as the response from the "injured " party is concerned ,they burn our flgs and issue death threats over a bit of harmless fun .Makes you wonder what would happen if we did the same to their holy book and flags or blew up a mosque or two . Then the the fan would get well and truly clogged with it .