[lbo-talk] Link to Muhammed cartoons

[www.leninology. blogspot.com]

>I also happen to believe that religion is not a sacred cow and should be
>subject to the most merciless jokes because that is perhaps the only way to
>counter-balance this form of brainwashing, as true believers are often
>immune to reason but they do respond to ridicule.

I think, as you may have gathered from other remarks of mine, that you are 
missing an important point.  This is not about religion.  Consider the way 
these 'jokes' operate: they reinforce racist stereotypes about Muslims - 
suicide bombers, limb-choppers etc.  It is perceived as essential to their 
being.  Why Mohammed himself has a head made out of a globular black bomb, 
naturally embossed with the logo of Islam.

I'm not criticising you for posting the link, because I need to see that 
stuff to judge it properly.  But I beg you not to miss the way in which 
religion is being used as a handy surrogate for race.  Nick Griffin, head of 
the Nazi BNP, declares that Islam is a "wicked, vicious faith" - that isn't 
about mockery, that's about justifying murder.  It isn't about religion any 
more than the vilification of Jews was about religion - it's a substitute 
for "Paki" and much else besides.

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