Saturday, April 24, 2010

Cartoonists Strike Back: Everybody Draw Mohammed Day on May 20th (Send Your Complaints to Revolution Muslim)

To clarify my position ahead of time, I'll say that I don't advocate offending people just for the sake of offending them. However, I don't believe in backing down from terrorist threats either. When terrorists threaten someone, and people do what the terrorists want, it only encourages further threats of violence. Thus, whether we find it tasteful or not, it's difficult to condemn cartoonists for standing up for their rights in response to terrorist threats.

If terrorists hadn't threatened to kill Trey Parker and Matt Stone, other cartoonists wouldn't be calling for the First Annual "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day." This means, of course, that Muslims around the world should be blaming Revolution Muslim for the avalanche of Muhammad cartoons that will be coming next month.


Associated Press--After Comedy Central cut a portion of a South Park episode following a death threat from a radical Muslim group, Seattle cartoonist Molly Norris wanted to counter the fear. She has declared May 20th "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day."

Norris told KIRO Radio's Dave Ross that cartoonists are meant to challenge the lines of political correctness. "That's a cartoonist's job, to be non-PC."

Producers of South Park said Thursday that Comedy Central removed a speech about intimidation and fear from their show after a radical Muslim group warned that they could be killed for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

The group said it wasn't threatening South Park producers Trey Parker and Matt Stone, but it included a gruesome picture of Theo Van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker killed by a Muslim extremist in 2004, and said the producers could meet the same fate. The website posted the addresses of Comedy Central's New York office and the California production studio where South Park is made.

"As a cartoonist I just felt so much passion about what had happened I wanted to kind of counter Comedy Central's message they sent about feeling afraid," Norris said.

Norris has asked other artists to submit drawings of any religious figure to be posted as part of Citizens Against Citizens Against Humor (CACAH) on May 20th.

On her website Norris explains this is not meant to disrespect any religion, but rather meant to protect people's right to express themselves. Source.

WOOD'S PREDICTION: Despite the fact that the cartoons next month are a direct result of threats from Revolution Muslim (and the worldwide massacre that took place as a result of the Danish Cartoon Controversy), even "moderate" Muslims will be more upset about these cartoons than they are about the brutal murders that took place in the name of Islam.

32 comments:

sam said...

yes finally i can do something im good at. im gona get started rite away. I BET I CAN DRAW THE BEST PIC OF MOHAMMAD AND HOPING TO WIN ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD. whos with me on this? anyone anyone

and im gona send out a copy to revolution muslim and all other diluted muslims oout there. osama abdulla and dr zaiqa wutever the hell his name is will get my master piece of art of mohammad EXCLUSIVLY SIGNED BY MOAHAMMAD HIMSELF.

WUT A JOKER I AM. OMG I HOPE I DONT DIE TOMORROW FOR SAYING ALL THIS

minoria said...

I am surprised.I honestly thought NOBODY in the West had the courage to propose such an idea.The person could get killed.

How about Jesus?I think most Muslim think Jews hate Jesus.Maybe a few rabbis but today they have(the intellectuals I mean) accepted him as their own:

1.SMULEY BOEACH:Orthodox Jew,very famous in the US(watch his videos on youtube) says he was a Jewish holy man and martyr.
2.BENEDICT SPINOZA (1632-1677),died of tuberculosis,was the greatest philosopher of Jewish extraction,and one of the greatest of all time.In his TRACTATUS THEOLOGICO-POLITICICUS he rejects Jesus was the Messiah or God but e was the GREATEST of the Jewish prophets,even greater than Moses.

3.PINCHAS LAPIDE(1922-1997),Orthodox Jew,Israeli born in Germany,rejected Jesus as the Messiah or God but considered him a holy man and that he RESURRECTED.In his book:"The Resurrection of Jesus:a Jewish Perspective".

Radical Moderate said...

I have personally signed up for this on Facebook. I hope everyone does the same.

I can not draw but i will do my best to artistically represent Mohamed. I'm thinking of just doing his shadow, cast over little Aisha clutching her doll tightly against her chest. Or a shadow being cast over a little doll in the desert sand.

Michael said...

I cant tell you how happy this makes me feel. After many of us have watched how other countries have cowed to these religious nutbags, hopefully americans will be awake enough to fight back before it's to late!

BlackbootJack said...

I believe the revolutionmuslim.com has been shut down...but you can send your drawings to the radical muslims blog...
revolutionmuslim.blogspot.com
This is the site the ITF is trying to get taken down.

Radical Moderate said...

I have updated my photo to show what I am working on. Its a photo of a mans shadow reaching out to a rag doll in the desert sands. This is jsut a rough template that I through together it needs a lot of work. But what do you all think.

Radical Moderate said...

When I first singed up for the Facebook event "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" a few hours ago There was only 134 people now its over 900 and climbing. The funny thing is who ever set up the event did not share it out so you have to go the actual site to sign up.

Radical Moderate said...

Correction I don't know what I'm doing you can share the Event lol

Radical Moderate said...

Wow its now up to 1201 members.

Traeh said...

Muslims try to terrorize people into not drawing Muhammad, and instead they get Draw Muhammad Day. This is sort of like the stone that was rejected being placed at the head of the corner.

Unknown said...

FINALLY! We need to stand up with the creators of South Park for free speech!! Let this be called Free Speech Day from now on. I call on all librarians, and all public libraries to join in as well, in the spirit of Banned Books Week!!

John said...

You don't wanna see my cartoon of crazy mo.

dee said...

I strongly object to this discrimination against those that cannot draw.

Sepher Shalom said...

What's the deal with this?:

"I am NOT involved in "Everybody Draw Mohammd Day!"
I made a cartoon that went viral and I am not going with it.
Many other folks have used my cartoon to start sites, etc.
Please go to them as I am a private person who draws stuff:

facebook page by Jon Wellington: http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1339465578442&sk=messages#!/event.php?eid=113257775375783&ref=ts

blog page by Dan Savage: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/04/22/everybody-draw-mohammed-day

email drawings to a guy at: drawmohammedday@gmail.com

Thank you,
Molly"
[Source]

Anyway, I'm still in. I'm not much of an artist but with free-speech you either use it or lose it.

Anonymous said...

Why the sudden interest from terrorists ? South Park featured mohamamd as a super hero with flame powers who got karate chopped by a giant statue of Abraham Lincoln (dont ask!) years ago. im surprised no Muslims ever rioted about that but I suppose it slipped under the radar as it was before the whole Danish cartoon thing. Then after the Danish cartoon controversy they were too scared to show mohamamd in an episode on the subject of another cartoon show , family guy depicting Mohammad and causing a terrorist attack. In this episode instead of showing mohamamd they showed Jesus being defecated upon. now they are pulling an episode of Mohammad again because of threats of violence? it seems like there is some double standards here since those Danish cartoons as south park has mocked Christianity, Buddhism, Mormonism, Hinduism and Judaism (most often Christianity) but now the shows producers are afraid to show Mohammad out of a fear of violence. This is the same old story of appeasement as people in the west know they can get away with mocking Christianity without any riots or murders but as always Muslims get special treatment. I say its hypocrisy, to mock religions all other major religions then decide not to for Islam (not that im saying that Islam should be mocked by south park but that it reveals a double standard in the media’s attitude towards not offending Muslims whilst any other religion can be abused and ridiculed).

Unknown said...

i don't watch south park but it is my understanding that they make fun of all religions then why is this any different if it continues to be different there will be a problems

Radical Moderate said...

Sepher I don't think the person who created the event realized what he was getting into. He thought this was going to be a love fest, when its really a knock down drag out bar fight.

The comments were getting kind of nasty and some of the people have posted such foolish things as this below.

Creator of the page- I applaud you for your post on this page.. I'm attending because I think the censorship aspect is wrong. And because I think the muslims that threatened them with death are stone cold crazy- not all muslims... Just those ones. I think that a lot of people here do not understand the religion of isla.

minoria said...

In the news on March 10,3 Swedish newspapers published a drawing of Mohammed with the body of a DOG,in protest over an attempt to kill an artist for drawing Mohammed.

Then the anti-Islam Skane Party,Swedish,recently put 20 posters in Malmo,a city with alot of Muslims.They showed Mohammed nude with little Aisha.

Subvet said...

I consider South Park loathsome, juvenile and reprehensible.

But other than that, they're cool dudes.

I can't draw a straight line but I'll be stealing and posting whatever cartoons suit my fancy, not just that day but in days leading up to it.

Radical Moderate said...

I just realized this, the creators of South Park did not back down. The sataire was on how taboo Mohamed was. So what did they do they made it Taboo. The bleeped out and visually blocked every reference to him. Turning the name of Mohamed into something OBSCENE, like a cuss word or public nudity.

Brilliant simply brilliant.

Radical Moderate said...

Semper the person who created the event on FB is not the same person as the artist.

Radical Moderate said...

One more thing on this, and then I will put it down for a while. To those Muslims who believe that I am attacking Islam or this has anything to do with relegion you are WRONG.

For me its about my God given right to freely express myself. If someone was to publish offensive pictures about Jesus I would be offended as you are about Mohamed, but I would defend to the death the author's right to create such images and distribute them.

You have a right to be offended and to express how much you are offended. But what you do not have the right to do is to oppress others because your feelings where hurt. If you have the liberty to be offended then I have the liberty to offend you.

Sepher Shalom said...

Hi David,

In a recent YouTube video Yahya Snow has made the claim that you have been "blacklisted" by an Islamic apologetics group (I believe in the UK).

Is this true? If so, is it MDI? I remember Abdullah Al-Andalusi threatened you with blacklisting some months ago. If Yahya's claim is true, I find it interesting that this action coincides with your blogging about Muslim assaults on free speech and threats against people that dare to depict Muhammad.

David Wood said...

Sepher said: "In a recent YouTube video Yahya Snow has made the claim that you have been "blacklisted" by an Islamic apologetics group (I believe in the UK)."

First I've heard of it. (Note: I don't think I could conceivably care less if some Muslim group blacklists me).

Craig% said...

An adaptation I did of a famous poem about Nazis by Pastor Martin Niem?ller.

Muslim outrage:

At first, the Muslims were outraged by cartoons but I didn't speak up because I wasn't an artist.

And then the Muslims were outraged by history books and news but I didn't speak up because I don't read much.

And then the Muslims were outraged by women who weren't completely veiled but I didn't speak up because I'm not a woman.

And then the Muslims were outraged by the practice of other religions but I didn't speak up because I'm not very religious.

And then the Muslims were outraged by the existence of Infidels so when they came for me … there was no one left to speak up.


The last line is the ultimate goal of Islam the rest are just steps towards that goal.

Radical Moderate said...

Everybody Draw a picture of Mohamed day Update.

At last refresh the Total Number of those who will be attending this event is 9,037. Now to honest this does seem a little childish, almost as childish as making death threats, rioting and killing over cartoons. And for most who joined this event I'm sure "Cheezin off Muslims" is their only motive. But there is a bigger picture.

Right or wrong it is our Western Culture that is built on questioning authority. Where would we be with out such greats as Voltaire, Montesquieu, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau to name a few.

Montesquieu who influenced the separation of powers that we now ignore. John Lock who's work on the Republican model of government influenced one of the greatest documents to be produced by men, The Deceleration of Independence. Sadly few know what this document says past "We hold these truths to be self evident" and sadder yet confuse this document with The Constitution of the United States.

Of all these great men my favorite by far is Voltaire. A man who's writings were salacious, and profane to those he challenged with his pen.

I do not draw a picture of Mohamed for Christ. No that would be profane. I do not draw a picture of Mohamed to deliberately hurt the feelings of Muslims, that would be obscene. (Although I'm sure it will cause some pain)

Instead I draw a picture of Mohamed for CANDEED. Because Muslims that live in the west and even those that don't. Like it or not, challenging authority, writing and drawing that to some is profane and obscene are a few of the things that our western culture is founded on.

I would cretinly not do this in a Muslim culture or country. Not because I would fear death, but because it is your culture not do such things. So if you want me to respect your culture, then please respect mine. AND DO NOT THREATEN WESTERN ARTIST, ANIMATORS, WRITERS, THINKERS, AND ANYONE IN GENERAL, because you find them profane or obscene or because your feelings were hurt.

Just refreshed and the count is now up to 9,097

Radical Moderate said...

One more thing. Believe it or not Muslims living in the west I draw this picture for you.

By doing such I am defending your right to OFFEND ME. Yes you are offensive to me. You hurt my feelings when you say the things you do about MY GOD, you Blaspheme against MY GOD and call him A LIAR when you deny the SON>

So if you want Blasphemers to be put to death or you want people who hurt your feelings or insult you to be put to death. Just look in the mirror.

Anonymous said...

Statement:

I did not launch a draw Mohammed day.

I make cartoons about current, cultural events. I made a cartoon of a fictional poster entitled “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!” with a nonexistent group’s name, “Citizens Against Citizens Against Humor” drawn on the cartoon. It was in specific response to the recent censoring of a South Park episode, a desire to bring home the importance of the first amendment. I did not intend for my cartoon to go viral.

I am totally freaked out and just want this to end.

Let's all of us make something POSITIVE out of this phenomenon. Obviously we must need to communicate with one another if this is such a big deal.

For those of the Muslim faith, I am sincerely sorry that this has caused you offense. I apologize that this cartoon was misconstrued as serious.

From now on I will be more careful about making cartoons. Live and learn.

Thank you,
Molly

http://www.mollynorris.com/

David Wood said...

Hi Molly,

Did you change your mind out of fear? If so, by backing down, you've actually encouraged more Muslim threats.

It works like this.

(1) A Danish cartoonist draws Muhammad. People around the world are killed. As a result, other cartoonists, the media, etc., refuse to draw Muhammad anymore. Violent Muslims thus recognize that they can manipulate and control others through violence and fear. They understand that, the next time someone criticizes Islam, violence is the best solution.

(2) Trey Parker and Matt Stone draw Muhammad. Muslims threaten violence. Comedy Central refuses to even allow Muhammad's name to be mentioned from then on. Violent Muslims thus recognize that they can manipulate and control others through violence and fear. They understand that, the next time someone criticizes Islam, violence is the best solution.

(3) You suggest a "Draw Mohammed Day." But due to Muslim threats, you change your mind. Violent Muslims thus recognize that they can manipulate and control others through violence and fear. They understand that, the next time someone criticizes Islam, violence is the best solution.

We need to make a rule here for all future would-be critics of Islam. "If you're not willing to see things through to the end, don't challenge Islam. If you're going to back down at the possibility of violence, don't challenge Islam. You'll only end up encouraging violent Muslims when they see they can break you."

naim said...

Saberpoint.com will post your drawings.

Expect censoring of drawings sent to address drawmohammedday@... cited in this thread. From person of that address:
"ensure that the message is tasteful.... not depicting Mohammed if you wouldn't depict your own holy figure that way."

Spread the word about availability of the saberpoint.com resource.

naim said...

Correction: site is saberpoint.blogspot.com
and link to it is correct in this revised posting.

Saberpoint.blogspot.com will post your drawings.

Expect censoring of drawings sent to address drawmohammedday@... cited in this thread. From person of that address: "ensure that the message is tasteful.... not depicting Mohammed if you wouldn't depict your own holy figure that way."

Spread the word about availability of the saberpoint.blogspot.com resource.
Also solicit more offers to display drawings.

ReeBz said...

I wont waste much of my time in talking with a group of people who are all mad and aggressive.
just few lines for all the pagans and non-Muslims

You should have fear of Allah, but we don't expect it from you.You call it freedom of speech but it just shows that how dirty you all are.
In your heart you too believe that Muhammad S.A.W is the last prophet of Allah and he brought peace and love to all mankind.All such filthy events from you people is the proof that there is a fight going on between your heart and your mind!!!

i still ask you again "HAVE SOME FEAR OF ALLAH, NO DOUBT HE IS THE MOST MERCIFUL- IF YOU BEG FOR PARDON FROM HIM, HE WILL FORGIVE YOU ALL"