Alrighty now...you have all seen the flack seemingly about the cartoons depeicting the Prophet Muhammad.  The way the media tells it, the whole thing is all about forcing (Muslim) views on the rest of the world.  It is freedom of expression, and I have also heard that we are getting all upset about cartoons when (Muslims) don't speak out against the violence of the radicals.

First off, I would like you all to know that there is no excuse, whatsoever to violence and destructive behaviors.  I (personally) do not encourage, aid or participate in these activities.  I wish that people would stop using the good name of Islam to veil there evil intentions and purposes.  With that said, now it is time to speak (post) my peace.

I personally are offended by the cartoons.  Not because of there content (I have not seen them, and intend to avoid it at all costs) but because of the irresponsibility of those who printed them.  It angers me that there seems to be no thought, restraint, or judgement or respect and dignity for the people of Islam.  I want you all to know that it is not all about the cartoons, but part of a constant rant of villification, and dehumanization of all of the people of Islam.  WE ARE NOT ALL TERRORISTS !! 

You all know that there is no such thing as absolute freedom of anything.  If we could do what we wanted, everyone, without regard to the law, or neighbour, or community it would be mayham and anarchy.  Just think how it would be if everyone drove the way they wanted to on the freeway, without regard to the lanes, rules, signs, and laws in place to protect us, and speed us on our way to where we are going, safely.  What I am saying is just because one CAN do something, does that mean he SHOULD do it?  Should you, for example go 120mph because your car's speedometer says so?  You CAN, bu SHOULD you?

It seems, that in this day and age alot has been lost in the area of respect of others.  If it is easy to slander others, we will, if it is common to propagandize others, dehemanize them, we do it.  And what is the distance between dehumaization and killing.  It seems that we already had a lesson in the art of dehumanization and villification that cost 6 million innocent people to be exterminated.  But we have forgotten.

I want to remind people that liberty only means that we are in charge of our freedoms, rather than the state.  We are to make judgements as to what is right or wrong, instead of the state.  And we must suffer the consequesnses of our actions directly, rather than having the state to blame it on.  Those are the only differences between freedom, and something else less free.  We cheapen our freedoms when we hide behind it's legalities to justify our purposeful incitement of others.  This is what I am posting.  Do not cheapen your freedoms by letting others use them to hurt others on purpose.

Honestly, I know that the papers were excercizing ther rights.  I know that they had the legal right to publish those pictures, and I know that there is nothing I can do to change it.  But where is the dignity, respect, thought, restraint, and judgement in our world gone.  I guess it went where debate, rather than villification of the opponent went.

Peace Be Unto You

Zanubiya