Berkeley Breathed's "Opus"cartoon was pulled from print editions of the Washington Post because they believed it would inflame Muslims around the world. In other words, they censored themselves.
The cartoon is fairly innocuous as it portrays a recurring character who becomes a radical Islamist because it's fashionable. Here's some background from Fox News:
A popular comic strip that poked fun at the Rev. Jerry Falwell without incident one week ago was deemed too controversial to run over the weekend because this time it took a humorous swipe at Muslim fundamentalists.
...Sources told FOXNews.com that the strips were shown to Muslim staffers at The Washington Post to gauge their reaction, and they responded "emotionally" to the depiction of a woman dressed in traditional Muslim garb and espousing conservative Islamic views.
There was also considerable alarm over the strip at the highest echelons of The Washington Post Co., according to the sources.
You can view the strip
here and I encourage everyone to do so to draw there own conclusions.
Just as the
Mohammed cartoon issue last year set off a wild fire is Muslim countries (and this
today in Sweden), the Post evidently thought this would as well. Note that many in the
MSM ran a picture and story showing the NEA-subsidized "
Piss Christ" in which Jesus was portrayed in a glass of urine and my guess is they didn't show it to any Christian staffers to gauge their opinion. Christ in urine and the
Virgin Mary smothered in feces are quite alright for liberals, making a small unfuny comic about Muslims; 100% taboo.
Are people really not seeing what is happening here? America is free to any and all religions or if you choose not to believe, we're cool with to. Religious jokes have been around since most religions began and will continue for millenia more. We have certain freedoms in this country and when we start self-censoring what is printed in our papers, one has to think about what other items the WaPo didn't run because it would cause an uncomfortable feeling for Muslims. It's not only the Post not running stories about Muslims, it's a collective effort on the part of many big newspapers. There is a
major trial going on as we speak that has the Holy Land Foundation as a defendant and they stand accused of providing material support to Hamas. How many of you have read about that in your local fishwrap?
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. This cartoon actually hits on something very accurate about youth in the world needing the newest "something" to be "identified" with until they can figure out who they REALLY are. These wayward young people usually find something so extreme that it can be hazardous to their mental and physical health (as well as to others), whether they are drawn into Radical Islam, dangerous local street gangs (similar to radical Islam), religious cults, KKK, Arian Nations, Louis Farrakaun's bunch, the Goth Ghosts, or the Drug and Dog Brutality culture...it's all dangerous and destructive. Radical Islam is out to kill ANYTHING not as radically Islamic as THEY are and their members destroy THEMSELVES along with their targets, which even includes other Muslims. When the Post pulled this cartoon as a result of being "fearful" it would incite Muslims all over the world and they let the radicals win, without a fight. Which is another reason the cartoon needed to be printed, to show exactly what part of our society needs to watch out for the most. They let the terrorist hatred of radical Islam WIN.
Jean at 11:18AM on Aug 28th 2007
2. Correction: Make that "terrorist hatered CALLED radical Islam win".
Jean at 11:28AM on Aug 28th 2007
3. The Washington Post exerted respect and restraint borne out of Islam's greatest tool - FEAR - if it were Christianity, for which there is NO respect, or any other PEACEFUL religion, the Post would have had no compunction; however, we've all seen the riots in the streets, the beheadings, the murders. The press lines up to see who can show THE MOST RESPECT to Muslims - and it has nothing to do with their being a maligned or misunderstood minority religion. It's because we are physically afraid of them.
Missourimule at 9:44PM on Aug 31st 2007
4. And one further thought -- Washington Post's decision here is very similar to South Korea's "negotiations" with the Taliban for the release of the missionary-hostages -- it only shows OUR weakness and feeds Radical Islam's belief - perhaps well-founded - that we don't have the courage for a fight. This will continue to bite us deeper and deeper until we can either take it no more, or succumb completely.
Missourimule at 9:59PM on Aug 31st 2007