GraceAbounds

Anger at Malaysia 'Jesus cartoon'

By Jonathan Kent
BBC News, Kuala Lumpur


Malaysia saw protests over the Prophet Muhammad cartoons

A Malaysian newspaper is facing calls to shut down after it published an image of Jesus holding a cigarette and what appeared to be a can of beer.
Malaysia's Muslim-led government closed two publications last year for carrying controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
Now some members of Malaysia's minority religions say they want the same treatment over this latest incident.
Religion is a famously sensitive subject in Malaysia.
So when Tamil-language newspaper, Makkal Osai, published a picture on its front page apparently showing Jesus smoking and drinking it was bound to cause offence.
Christian groups said that although the Jesus of the Bible was a compassionate figure - who turned water into wine, shared a flagon with his disciples at the Last Supper and mixed with tax collectors and prostitutes - action should still be taken.
The paper has since issued an apology, explaining that a graphics editor had mistakenly taken the image from the internet. Most of Malaysia's churches appear to have been appeased.
Not so though the Malaysian Indian Congress, an ethnic Tamil political party in the governing coalition, most of whose members are Hindu.
A senior party official has demanded that Makkal Osai's editor be sacked and the paper closed.
Interestingly, Makkal Osai has been very critical of the Malaysian Indian Congress, which owns a rival Tamil-language newspaper.
Non-Muslims are also waiting to see how the government responds, given that it took tough action over the publication of the Prophet Muhammad cartoons.

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Anger at Malaysia 'Jesus cartoon'

__________________

Charmer

Muslims are crybabies.

Christians are crybabies, but only because the Muslims are bigger crybabies.

Everyone should just chill.

Sure, state your disapproval calmly of the cartoons and whatnots, but then move on...........too much killing and hatred in the name of religion. Everyone, show your peaceful sides.

Sticks and stones, people....sticks and stones....

__________________



When I post, please don't read; I have no idea what I'm saying!

icecuban

This is amusing, and thats coming from someone who believes whole heartedly in jesus, and i think it should be just as amusing to others who believe as well. I mean, what are the effects of seeing "blasphemous" images? To the believer, it should be seen as a joke, like calling a bald guy "Harry", lol. Who cares? The image is so far from the truth, that it actually becomes funny in the grand scheme of things. I dont think there should be any type of uproar, or even a peep, because it really doesnt matter in the least. I feel the same about Rushdie's "Satanic Verses". Who cares about "blasphemy"? I mean, think about it, a true believer is not fooled by misinterpretation, and a non-believer does not become any more a non-believer, so what changes? LIfe provides many more images that show the exact opposite!
The believer should be a good example, and act like heaven is around you. The "blasphemous" picture was made by a brother or sister, or if that doesnt help, was made by any one of us, because no one is perfect right now, so be kind and encouraging (to anyone,lol).

__________________
"better wave your hand if you need a breeze, and spread your wings if your giong to fly" wsp

Maritxu

I think that people find offensive all short of things and some of them are ridiculous. When it came to Muhamad's cartoons I did think they were offensive because it was calling muslims terrorists, the way I see it (though this never justifies the reaction they had, which was far too much, and against a whole country). But this is just plain stupid.

__________________
"They came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up."

yahyakehidupan

Please be aware: this has much more to do with the fact that Makkal Osai had been severely critical of powerful politician Samy Velu than any protest by Malaysian Christians. The Malaysian Christians had already forgiven Makkal Osai when they apologized the next day.

See PRESENT POINT POWER for an analysis.

GraceAbounds

Good post. I agree.

__________________

groundpounder

I think it's pretty blasphemous, just as I did when the Muhammad pictures surfaced.

Call me crazy, but while a little good natured humor is OK when it comes to our deities (see Grace's avi), showing them in vices or caricatures is potentially disrespectful. Why not err on the side of caution?


This doesn't seem right, but maybe I'M not right...

__________________

GraceAbounds

The picture does not bother me.

__________________

Peter Parka

Personally I don't give a shit about the picture and if Jesus even exists, I'm sure he dosen't either!

__________________

All Else Failed

Nothing should be "off limits" to humor. There's humor in everything. Hell, maybe jesus did smoke some sort of tobacco product, we don't know. We do know he drank alcohol. (supposedly).

GraceAbounds

That is a good ethical question. You should start a separate topic/thread on it. I bet it would be a good convo.

__________________

All Else Failed

It would be.


Since humor is so subjective, and everyone finds different things funny or unfunny, there is a lot of grey area.

Reaver

it's

a

cartoon.

__________________
<)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))#



"Yeah, that dood looks like he will eat the cookies, fuck yer mom, break the milk glass and stab yer pops with it"
--Boomer

yahyakehidupan

Let me reiterate: this whole thing is falsely portrayed! The Christians here in Malaysia are NOT behind the closure of the Makkal Osai. Christians are much more offended by the corrupt politician hijacking their faith for his own political ends than by the original picture!

See yahyakehidupan's Journal for more details.

GraceAbounds

I read the article yahyakehidupan. I just didn't comment regarding it.

__________________