dobbadan, "This website tells of the multiple atrocities done by Muslims all over and not one word has been said against them,but one cartoon of Allah who is dead is causing mayhem and trouble worldwide."

Not sure if you had noticed the war on terror which seems to be essentially against the extremist form of Islam which is responsible for the previously mentioned attrocities. It's all pretty low key so maybe you had not noticed it, just a couple of countries invaded, tightened security, massive news coverage etc - easy to miss really. Rest assured that more than one word has been said against extremist muslims, perhaps you could read the article this thread hangs off. A few words being said against extremists muslims in the article.

On a less significant note there are apparently 12 cartoons in the series, my impression from what I have read is that only two of them are particularly offensive to most muslims. Maybe you meant 1 dozen cartoons rather than one cartoon.

The issue many are struggling with is how to confront the excesses of some muslims without unreasonably holding all muslims accountable for them. Clearly some want to hold all muslims responsible for the actions of a minority.

Irfan's article is a gem in confronting that issue, no moderate muslim need feel threatened by a fellow muslim challenging extremism within their faith. Our best hope of heading off ongoing escalation of the conflict between millitant Islam and the west is contained in Irfan's call for both sides to step back and put their own house in order before condeming the other. Clearly those who want an escallation in conflict will seek to undermine what Irfan is doing here or use this thread for yet another muslim bashing exercise. The rest will be saying "Thanks Irfan".

R0bert

It has to do with "Antagonism".

We should make it against the law to unfairly and unjustly antagonise. Common sense should be the determining factor.

We really have no laws or requirements that obliges us to be nice to each other. Given there is a culture clash happening and in reality humans do tend to lean towards aggression and violence, the result is what we are seeing today.

Oh and just with the story in the paper today about Students having a negative attitude towards Muslims. What is making that situation so much worse is that Muslims, like Asians, tend to speak in their native tongue when they get together. In schools the students group with their own and speak their own language.

Its really rude and disrespectful and it alienates the other students and it shouldn't be allowed.

In school everybody should speak English in the classroom and out. We need to encourage these kids to intergrate so that they can develop empathy and compassion for each other.

I think that Irfan has written a thoughtfull and balanced article.
Its so easy to always blame others, much harder to question ourselves, but that is part of wisdom, which so many lack.

The thing about religion is that we cannot expect others to respect what we believe, just our right to believe it. Respect has to be earned, it cannot be legislated for.

Religion has a problem, when it becomes political. Few people question or comment on religions which keep out of politics.
Both Islam and Catholics are highly political. Denying free
speech about either, would be back on the slippery slope into theocracy, which as we have seen, is a disaster for all except the clergy and those associated with them and their absolute power.

Ifran, I really enjoyed your article, apart from two lines:

"Like the other Prophets recognised by Islam (including the Messiah Jesus), Mohammed always preferred forgiveness over revenge."

"Instead of protecting the honour of their Prophet, some Muslims seem intent on destroying their own honour by behaving in a manner their Prophet had condemned 14 centuries ago."

Ifran, I'm sure you have read the Koran and the Hadith. How then can you say the above? Did everybody else skip over those lines?

Well I could berate Irfan for implying that I was one of those armchair Nazis.No,instead I congratulate Irfan in having the courage to stand up for what he believes in.
There are many who are critical of Irfan and don't realise that Irfan is risking a lot in being so out spoken.There should be many more who that not only want to allude to free speech,but actually practise it.

Alexander Downer was today was saying that the cartoons should not be published here because of the economic trade ramifications for our primary industries.Most of our media have decided not to publish.Is this the thin end of the wedge?If one religion becomes offended,which subsequently incurs censorship, be it voluntary or imposed,then that means that the Catholic Church could then ban books like Dan Brown's Davinci Code or movies like the Life of Brian.

These protests in Denmark and London are not about religion,but the lust for power of a minority group,using religion as a tool of supression against the majority.

If God/Allah is all powerful and knowing,nothing will insult him,only foolish men pretend to know the will of a Supreme Consciousness.He doesn't need feeble minded men to do his bidding.It just happens.

Unless more people like Irfan Usuf speak out,it will end in civil war and innocent people on both sides will suffer.

>>How far some of today’s Muslims are from the golden example of the man in whose name they are causing so much destruction.<<

Irfan Yusuf don’t fool your self and others with this false image of your prophet. For more information please go to:
http://www.faithfreedom.org/

I am from country where our Western tradition and heritage was stolen from us after WWII. For almost fifty years we have to fight communism for freedom and democracy. I know all the methods used by communist regime to suppress our most effective weapon– freedom of speech. They not succeeded and they lost. Now I know the real value of this basic right of freedom. It is disgusting to see the same methods used by muslim to suppress idea which they never understood because of their religious conviction.
We shouldn’t give in to this primitive mob and their terror. NO ONE HAS “RIGHT TO BE NOT OFFENDED”

Fight Vilification law in Victoria!!.