[ April 18, 2024 ]
NEW YORK, May 20, 2015: Because freedom of speech is under violent assault, the human rights advocacy group the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) has announced a new ad campaign to defend the freedom of speech and stand up to violent intimidation kicking off in the nation’s capital.
AFDI President Pamela Geller said in a statement: “Because the media and the cultural and political elites continue to self-enforce the Sharia without the consent of the American people by refusing to show any depictions of Muhammad or showing what it was in Texas that had jihadists opening fire, we are running an ad featuring the winning cartoon by former Muslim Bosch Fawstin from our Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest in Garland, Texas.”
Let the American people see what the cowardly press is censoring in accordance with the blasphemy laws under the sharia (Islamic law).
Story continues below advertisement
The ad campaign has been submitted to the Washington DC MTA to run on buses and train dioramas in the Foggy Bottom, Capitol South, Bethesda, L’Enfant Plaza, Shady Grove stations.
“Drawing Muhammad is not illegal under American law, but only under Islamic law. Violence that arises over the cartoons is solely the responsibility of the Islamic jihadists who perpetrate it. Either America will stand now against attempts to suppress the freedom of speech by violence, or will submit and give the violent the signal that we can be silenced by threats and murder.”
“We cannot submit to the assassin’s veto.”
It was the jihadis, not I, who made the cartoons a flash point. If we surrender on that point and stop drawing Muhammad, we’ve established a precedent of surrendering to violent Sharia enforcement, and once established, we will be made to reinforce it again and again. Islamic government are a unique threat to free speech and liberty
Freedom of speech is the foundation of a free society. Without it, a tyrant can wreak havoc unopposed, while his opponents are silenced.
Putting up with being offended is essential in a pluralistic society in which people differ on basic truths. If a group will not bear being offended without resorting to violence, that group will rule unopposed while everyone else lives in fear, while other groups curtail their activities to appease the violent group. This results in the violent group being able to tyrannize the others.
Geller added: “There is nothing about this cartoon that incites violence. It is within the established American tradition of satire. If America surrenders on this point, the freedom of speech is a relic of history.”
AFDI Vice President Robert Spencer stated: “Many people on both the Left and the Right are saying that we should do nothing to provoke Islamic fundamentalism. The immediate answer would seem to be that we should do nothing to provoke violent jihadis, that the prudent thing to do would be to avoid doing things that anger them. But if we did that, they would not they stop coming at us. Last September, an Islamic State spokesman boasted: ‘We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah, the Exalted. This is His promise to us; He is glorified and He does not fail in His promise. If we do not reach that time, then our children and grandchildren will reach it, and they will sell your sons as slaves at the slave market.’
In light of that, what is the point of asking whether or not we should provoke them? They’re already provoked. A more useful question now is whether it is really productive and helpful to signal to them that we will acquiesce to their threats of violence and change our behavior accordingly, or whether we will instead signal to them that their violent threats are not going to frighten us into submission.”
The ads have been submitted to run on buses in Washington, D.C.
AFDI stands for:
–The freedom of speech – as opposed to Islamic prohibitions of “blasphemy” and “slander,” which are used effectively to quash honest discussion of jihad and Islamic supremacism;
–The freedom of conscience – as opposed to the Islamic death penalty for apostasy;
–The equality of rights of all people before the law – as opposed to Sharia’s institutionalized discrimination against women and non-Muslims.
Help us make it happen. Donate to the ad campaign here.
Or send your tax deductible contribution to
AFDI
Attention: Pamela Geller
1040 1st Avenue
#121
NY NY 10022
NY NY 10022
AFDI stands for:
- The freedom of speech – as opposed to Islamic prohibitions of “blasphemy” and “slander,” which are used effectively to quash honest discussion of jihad and Islamic supremacism;
- The freedom of conscience – as opposed to the Islamic death penalty for apostasy;
- The equality of rights of all people before the law – as opposed to Sharia’s institutionalized discrimination against women and non-Muslims.
The Truth Must be Told
Your contribution supports independent journalism
Please take a moment to consider this. Now, more than ever, people are reading Geller Report for news they won't get anywhere else. But advertising revenues have all but disappeared. Google Adsense is the online advertising monopoly and they have banned us. Social media giants like Facebook and Twitter have blocked and shadow-banned our accounts. But we won't put up a paywall. Because never has the free world needed independent journalism more.
Everyone who reads our reporting knows the Geller Report covers the news the media won't. We cannot do our ground-breaking report without your support. We must continue to report on the global jihad and the left's war on freedom. Our readers’ contributions make that possible.
Geller Report's independent, investigative journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe our work is critical in the fight for freedom and because it is your fight, too.
Please contribute here.
or
Make a monthly commitment to support The Geller Report – choose the option that suits you best.
Quick note: We cannot do this without your support. Fact. Our work is made possible by you and only you. We receive no grants, government handouts, or major funding.Tech giants are shutting us down. You know this. Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Adsense, Pinterest permanently banned us. Facebook, Google search et al have shadow-banned, suspended and deleted us from your news feeds. They are disappearing us. But we are here.
Subscribe to Geller Report newsletter here— it’s free and it’s essential NOW when informed decision making and opinion is essential to America's survival. Share our posts on your social channels and with your email contacts. Fight the great fight.
Follow Pamela Geller on Gettr. I am there. click here.
Follow Pamela Geller on Trump's social media platform, Truth Social. It's open and free.
Remember, YOU make the work possible. If you can, please contribute to Geller Report.
Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spammy or unhelpful, click the - symbol under the comment to let us know. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
If you would like to join the conversation, but don't have an account, you can sign up for one right here.
If you are having problems leaving a comment, it's likely because you are using an ad blocker, something that break ads, of course, but also breaks the comments section of our site. If you are using an ad blocker, and would like to share your thoughts, please disable your ad blocker. We look forward to seeing your comments below.
129 Comments
8 years ago
BRAVO Pamela! This WILL put an end to the lunacy and the media WILL show the drawing! Then the idiotic taboo will be broken for good.
“Prophet” Muhammad’s Shariamonster, also known as “Islam,” wants to decapitate our freedom of speech. Muhammad himself began assassinating his critics soon after winning his first victory, at the Battle of Badr – and Muhammad’s Shariamonster has never ceased to follow his murderous “Excellent Example.”
https://drawthevileprophet.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/say-no-to-muhammad-s-shariamonster/
8 years ago
GELLER 2016!
D
8 years ago
Reply to
TheSnapDude
On another, but similar note…and we thought Palin was “hot”…well…time to get my mind out from where it is, right now…;)
8 years ago
Reply to
TheSnapDude
HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DRINK TO THIS!!! You can bet your life that with Pamela Geller as our USA President we’ll never ever have to worry about the assassin muzzies because, I want to believe, she’d send out ALL OUR POWERFUL FORCES OF MILITARY, NAVY, MARINE, POLICE, THE FIREMEN, ETC. TO ATTACK THEM ALL!!! She’ll know how to put fear and respect in them toward us in America!
Nothing like the caker pishers present prez and his gangsters AND even most of the so called conservatives, to sya nothing of the world’s zombies who follow them!!!
8 years ago
Good idea.
8 years ago
I tried to donate but when you pick a country the drop down box doesn’t change from States to other areas.
8 years ago
Reply to
Rick Smith
It could be a issue with the browser (Internet Explorer, Chrome, etc). Try opening this site using a different browser, then try to donate again.
D
8 years ago
The Canadian “Draw Mohammed” event that had been scheduled to take place this week has been cancelled by the Federal Govt. due to security concerns… this is not a joke.
8 years ago
Reply to
cmh
Now we know for sure that Canada only pretends to give citizens the right to Free Speech.
8 years ago
Reply to
cmh
You know what? The citizens of Canada should have had the event anyway. If millions of free Canadians choose to have a Draw Mohammad event how are the authorities going to arrest them all?
8 years ago
Reply to
cmh
At least that would be implying that the event would have been protected by the government. The FBI refuses to protect us.
8 years ago
I wish I still lived in Foggy Bottom neighborhood in DC to see this.
Incredible how something so small as putting up some innocuous posters is such an important stand for Freedom.
Freedom is not free, it must be defended.
D
8 years ago
Reply to
Honest Citizen
Defended…always. As we are seeing, right now…if “we” don’t stand up for and defend our right to free speech…we will lose it.
8 years ago
Reply to
Dave from San Antonio
When you bend your laws to accommodate other peoples laws soon they will bend you to their laws.
SAY NO TO SHARIA LAW…
8 years ago
I have to agree that it is strange how cultural critics and art critics are always claiming to admire artists who are “irreverent and edgy” but have freaked out or have simply remained silent over this Mohammed Cartoon free speech campaign.
What personally irritates me even more is reading about rich Arab Muslims who enjoy the art, lifestyle, and freedom of the West while upholding sharia and the oppression of women at home. (Not to mention the irritation I feel towards the Muslims who live in the West and benefit from the freedoms they enjoy, and yet want to uphold sharia and oppression here.) I’m referring now to the recent purchase of the highest priced painting sold at auction ($180 million), PIcasso’s “Les Femmes d’Alger,” by a Qatari — billionaire former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. http://pagesix.com/2015/05/20/buyer-of-record-setting-picasso-painting-revealed/?_ga=1.139064565.717132180.1432179919
The article goes on to explain that the painting of course will not be displayed in Qatar because of their strict rules about modesty, but will most likely hang in one of his many properties in the West. IOW, he’s free to do whatever the heck he wants, and we’re not.
8 years ago
Reply to
RCCA
I suspect he is buying it more to get out of cash than as something to look at himself.
People are seeking investments that aren’t subject to the Federal Reserve or other semi-private or governmental bodies being able to blow them up, as the Fed is currently doing to the dollar.
8 years ago
Reply to
RCCA
I used to know a Lebanese Christian woman, she said the muslims she knew in Lebanon were incredibly hypocrites who would drink brandy at home while substantively supporting Sharia publicly.
8 years ago
Reply to
defcon 4
Just like the Jew-hating malaysian I knew in college, except add marijuana and opium to the alcohol.
8 years ago
I am so sick and tired of seeing western leaders and their media saying how high every time a muslim says jump. So it is so awesome seeing people like Pamela standing up to the muslims
8 years ago
Reply to
Vluk
By Aryeh Citron
The power of speech is one of the most valuable gifts that G‑d has given us. It is the power of speech that sets us apart from animals.1 This gift should be utilized to study Torah and praise G‑d and pray to Him, as well as to attend to our more mundane needs.
It is best to keep to a minimum the words one speaks regarding mundane matters, and maximize speech in holy matters. This is derived from the Biblical verse: “And you shall teach it [the Torah] to your children to speak in them.”2 Our sages have interpreted3 this to mean that one’s speech should be mainly about Torah.
In a similar vein, the Jerusalem Talmud4 states: “All patter [unnecessary talking] is bad, with the exception of Torah patter. All silence is good besides silence in Torah matters, which is bad.” Likewise, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel taught,5 “I grew up my entire life amongst scholars, and I did not find anything as beneficial to the body as silence; action is the main thing, not talk, and whoever speaks too much will bring sin [upon himself].” In the words of King Solomon, “Even a fool is considered a wise man if he remains silent.”6
One of the punishments for misusing one’s power of speech by talking slanderously about others is a skin disease called tzara’at (translated loosely as leprosy).7 This is learned from the story of Miriam8 who spoke ill of her brother Moses and was punished with tzara’at.
A person who was declared a metzora (leper) by the priest was required to leave the encampment or city. This served to remove him from the company of the people with whom he was accustomed to engage in gossip. In addition, as punishment for creating a rift between spouses and friends, he must now separate from society.9
Even the name of the leper is a testament to the gravity of his sin. The word metzora is an amalgam of the Hebrew words motzee ra—”one who brings forth evil.”10
After he is healed, the leper must go through a process of ritual purification. Part of this process includes taking two birds, slaughtering one and setting the other one free. This symbolizes that he must slaughter (i.e., rid himself of) negative speech (symbolized by the bird which is constantly chirping) and accustom himself to speaking only positive speech (represented by the bird which was kept alive).11 The Talmud teaches,12 “What must the gossiper do to fix himself [in addition to stopping the gossip]? If he is a Torah scholar, he should study Torah. As the verse states: ‘Healing for the tongue is a tree of life.'”13
The rest of this article will focus on how one should use one’s power of speech in a positive and healing manner.
The Impact of Speech
One must recognize the immense power of speech; it can affect others in a beneficial or a harmful manner. King Solomon, the wisest of all men, emphasizes this theme many times in his writings:
“He who watches his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from troubles.”14
“The lips of a fool will enter a quarrel, and his mouth calls out for blows.”
“A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for himself.”
“The words of a grumbler are like blows, and they descend into the inmost parts.”15
“With the fruit of one’s mouth, a man will be satisfied [i.e. the speech of a person will bring him either positive or negative results].”
“Death and life are in the hand of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its produce.”16
“The tongue of the wise enhances knowledge, but the mouth of the fool pours out folly.”17
Tone of Voice
King Solomon said:
“The words of the wise are heard [when spoken] softly, more than the shout of a ruler of fools.”18
“Do not be hasty to become angry, because anger lies in the lap of fools.”19
“A gentle reply turns away wrath, but a distressing word stirs up anger.”20
The Talmud21 says that when reminding other household members to prepare for Shabbat in the appropriate manner, one should speak gently, for otherwise the reminders will go unheeded.
Nachmanides, in his famous letter to his son, instructs him: “Speak gently at all times… When someone calls you, don’t answer loudly, but gently and softly, as one who stands before his master.”22
When Rebuking
One who needs to rebuke another should do so in a loving way. For example, he might point out to that person how wise and learned he is, and that therefore it would be proper for him to alter his behavior.23
If one sees that the individual who needs rebuking is very sensitive, then it is better to deliver the message indirectly. It is said that the holy brothers Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk and Rabbi Zushe of Anipoli would do this. When they became aware of an individual who needed to be admonished, they would have a conversation within earshot of that person. One of the brothers would “confess” to the other that he had committed the particular sin that they knew the listener had transgressed. The other brother would then direct him to do teshuvah (repent) for that sin. The person who “overheard” the conversation would then be able to apply this advice to himself, without the embarrassment and pressure of confrontation.
The Power of Vows
The making of vows can be a very powerful tool in helping a person protect himself from sin. The Mishnah states: “Vows are a fence for abstinence.”24 On the other hand, if one transgresses a vow, it is considered a severe sin25 for which dire punishments are exacted.26 For this reason, it is better to abstain from making vows as much as possible. In the words of King Solomon:
“When you pronounce a vow to G‑d, do not delay to pay, for He has no pleasure in fools; that which you vow, pay.”
“It is better that you vow not, than that you vow and do not pay it.27”
By keeping this advice, one will also fulfill the next verse: “Do not allow your mouth [that makes excessive vows] to cause sin to your flesh [to bring punishment upon yourself].”
Caution in Speech
One should be very careful in one’s speech as a spoken word can never be retracted. Although the intention may be for a discussion to remain private, one never knows where it will reach. In the words of King Solomon: “Even in your thought, you should not curse a king, nor in your bedrooms should you curse a wealthy man, for the bird of the heaven shall carry the voice, and the winged creature will tell the matter.”28
The Talmud29 tells a story where this lesson saved the life of a great Torah scholar. In this story, the person who was persuading the scholar to curse the king was none other than the king himself. The scholar’s caution prevented his imminent execution.
Positive Mitzvot of Speech
There are many positive mitzvot that involve speech. Several of them are:
Torah study
Prayer
To say blessings before and after eating
To count the Omer
The Priestly Blessing
Negative Mitzvot of Speech
Some of the negative Mitzvot involving speech are:
Not to speak slander or gossip
Not to blaspheme—curse the Almighty
Not to curse a fellow Jew
Not to bear false witness
Not to utter a false oath
Not to give bad advice
Hours of Torah Study
Our Sages teach that one should spend at least one sixth of the day (four hours) studying Torah, reciting Psalms, etc.30
FOOTNOTES
1.
See Onkelos on Genesis 2:7. See also The Storyteller.
2.
Deuteronomy 6:7. This verse is recited as part of the daily Shema.
3.
Sifri 34.
4.
Talmud, end of Tractate Berachot.
5.
Ethics 1:17.
6.
Proverbs 17: 28.
7.
Midrash Rabbah, Leviticus 17:3. See there that tzara’at can be a punishment for nine other sins as well.
8.
See Numbers 12:1-15. See also Exodus 4:6-7 with Rashi.
9.
Talmud, Erchin 16b.
10.
See Midrash Rabbah, Leviticus 16:2.
11.
Kli Yakar on Leviticus 14:4.
12.
See Talmud, Erchin 15b.
13.
Proverbs 15:4.
14.
Ibid. 21:23.
15.
Ibid. 18:6-8.
16.
Ibid. 20-21.
17.
Ibid. 15:2.
18.
Ecclesiastes 9:17.
19.
Ibid. 7:9.
20.
Proverbs 15:1.
21.
Talmud, Shabbat 34a.
22.
The full text of the letter can be seen here.
23.
Alshich based on Proverbs 9:8.
24.
Ethics 3:13.
25.
See Talmud, Yoma 86a.
26.
Ethics, ch. 5.
27.
Ecclesiastes 5:5.
28.
Ibid. 10:20.
29.
Talmud, Bava Batra 3b.
30.
HaYom Yom of 7th of Tevet.
BY ARYEH CITRON
Rabbi Aryeh Citron was educated in Chabad yeshivahs in Los Angeles, New York, Israel and Australia. He was the Rosh Kollel of The Shul of Bal Harbour, Florida, and is now an adult Torah teacher in Surfside, Florida. He teaches classes on Talmud, Chassidism, Jewish history and contemporary Jewish law.
More from Aryeh Citron | RSS
© Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with Chabad.org’s copyright policy.
8 years ago
Reply to
Jews for Zionist
Dude, get back on your meds… take more of them… SOMETHING, ANYTHING but you’re f’ing crackers.
8 years ago
Reply to
Ray - God Bless Israel.
Oops! I’m being censored by Pamela the retard Geller. She’s a dizzy witch and will only let you see what she want’s you to see. That’s the freedom you’re (probably not) fighting for. Wimp.
PS: Screw Israel.
8 years ago
Reply to
Ray - God Bless Israel.
OK, I thought about it. I now think you need to move past coloring books and educate yourself. You did a really nice job of coloring within the lines though. When you grow up enough to talk for yourself and not use fictional pictures to speak for you then you might… MIGHT have something useful to say.
8 years ago
Reply to
Ray - God Bless Israel.
And take off that uniform when you talk your sh!t. You might (who knows) be in the military which means you’re sworn to uphold the Constitution, not the bible.
8 years ago
Reply to
RB118
Psalms 9:17
The wicked shall be turned into hell, [and] all the nations that forget God.
8 years ago
Reply to
Vluk
I’m definitely not pro-Muztard, but what do you make of this: I read that Muslims believe the sun will rise in the west in the end times.
I read that AFTER watching a youtube video about the reversal of the earth’s magnetic field that is supposed to occur soon – maybe within our lifetimes, maybe in a couple thousand years. One of the video comments said …….”and the sun will rise in the west”. I thought it might be from the Bible so I looked it up – it appears to be from the Quran. Fact is, if South becomes North, then the sun will rise in the west. So maybe they got one right?
Any thoughts?
8 years ago
Reply to
Vluk
But when a so called Christian says jump you expect the rest of us to ask how high? What is the difference?
8 years ago
Reply to
Larry Gist
Sexual activist do not always understand how others think. Special rights have caused so many problems. I would prefer if the Government got out of the marriage license business altogether myself.
8 years ago
Reply to
CaptainUSA
Since when is equal treatment under the law a “special right”? And surprisingly I agree with you that the government should not sanction religious marriage at all. However, as much as you may dislike it, there are people in this country who are not driven by divine retribution in the decisions they make on a daily basis. So they need to have a way to solemnize their relationships as well. The problem here is that your ilk have made the rules for so long, and now you are being told you have to share the pie and you don’t like it. Well buck up mister because whether you like it or not the law will change. That does not mean that you have to change your beliefs in ANY way, but it does mean the the law will now apply to all people equally. You just hate that don’t you?
8 years ago
Reply to
Larry Gist
My ilk huh? Evere hear what a collectivist is? Your definition of “equal treatment” is a Lie. No, I don’t hate you, I understand your confused. I just don’t understand where your going to get all the needed funding for your health problems you bring on yourself. I will do ok without your help. I hope you don’t need mine maybe you haven’t noticed they sold us all out long ago. The UN will not give you special rights like you enjoy now either. BTW.
8 years ago
Reply to
CaptainUSA
You are (contraction is you’re not your) completely driven by your faith and in your world there is no room for anyone not similarly driven. You seem to want a Theocracy – not a Republic. If you TRULY believed and understood what freedom means you would not have a problem with equal treatment under the law. But YOU are the one that has been lied to, and completely bought into the lie. FREEDOM entails allowing others to do what you may find morally reprehensible. I totally agree that Ms. Gellar has the freedom to do whatever she wants to do, she just needs to understand that there will be consequences to those actions. A SMART person would see that Muslims have a moral decree that says depictions of their prophet are deeply offensive, so when Ms. Gellar chooses to use her freedom to offend an entire religion, she gets what she deserves. This has NOTHING to do with sex (you made it about that presumably by reading through my past posts.) My health is not your concern. My marriage is not your concern. With whom I have sex is again NONE of your concern. Again, you and your ilk, seem to think you have the right to inject your morality onto people who do not share it. That is not the way America works, and that is not freedom. That is a Theocracy in a nutshell. If you want to live in a country like that you can try any of the -stan countries. They excel at that.
8 years ago
Reply to
Larry Gist
Yeah that is how I noticed you are a sexual activist. I haven’t brought up my Sex life once nor do I care about yours. You Collectivist do not grasp people do not all think like you, this is a Nation founded on Individual rights not special rights because of your sex life.
8 years ago
Reply to
Larry Gist
Same to you dude. In case no one has explained to you. Westboro Church doesnt represent all Christians. I am the non 501c3 type Christian. I don’t hate you, I dont want businesses losing the Liberty to choose who they serve either. I just have noticed most sexual activist are hateful in a instant a judge people and go into insult mode. I am not trying to be insulting. I just find it surreal someone so hateful is asking everyone to listen to them. If ya didnt notice I never called you ~ Ilk.
8 years ago
Reply to
Vluk
I might agree… please give examples of muslims telling others to jump and when those leaders/media do jump.
8 years ago
Reply to
Vluk
Name the leaders and “their media” and who are jumping. It’s amazing to see Pamela not putting her neck on the line but acting as if she does.
8 years ago
It really is quite funny how politicians, the media, lefties and everyone else refuse to admit that muslims are unstable and violent, dancing around the issue and avoiding the very large elephant in the room.
8 years ago
I’ll try and send a check when next I’m paid.
Let’s torment the libotards with politically incorrect cartoons.
8 years ago
I really wish I could donate, But that out stretches my means. So I’ll fight the only way I can. By initial force. I hate Islam with my total bgeing
8 years ago
I think this is wrong to do. It’s only going to lead to more violence.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
“The simpleton media, especially the Islam-compromised BBC, obligingly
rushed to portray the event as a righteous protest against a blasphemous
insult, instead of what it was – a malignant assault on free speech and
democracy. Apparently they cannot see through a staged ‘Day of Rage’ to
perceive the motive behind it.”
http://libertygb.org.uk/v1/index.php/news-libertygb/6562-and-take-their-wives-as-war-booty
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
Why don’t you go tell Muslims that it is wrong to get violent over cartoons and drawings!
8 years ago
Reply to
knowTheEnemy
How about those that aren’t violent which is majority but are highly offended by this drawing, which is near if not all Muslims?
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
Why is it that these non-violent Muslims get “highly offended” over drawings and cartoons, but never get offended at their fellow violent Muslims??
8 years ago
Reply to
knowTheEnemy
Muslim organizations have spoken out against violence of any kind in general but I agree CAIR and ISNA need to do a better job than gloss over it by following it with but’s and however’s. Drawing their prophet Mohammad is considered blasphemous. The thing is many Christians would also be offended at provoking depictions of Christ and his disciples; Jew’s would be offended at provoking depictions of Moses; Buddhists to provoking depictions of Buddha; Confuscianists to depictions of Confucius, Hindu’s to depictions of Gandhi, etc.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
It may be blasphemous to draw offensive cartoons of religious figures, but in the US Free Speech is most sacred, even more sacred than God. You and I know about God (and other religious figures) only because someone was free to tell us about Him. It is for this reason (among others) that Free Speech is considered a fundamental human right and is sacrosant in the US.
To watch Free Speech being held more sacred than religion is a price that every person has to pay for living in the US. If that is not acceptable to someone, s/he is welcome to move somewhere else. There are plenty of countries all over the world who value other things more than Free Speech.
8 years ago
Reply to
knowTheEnemy
Oh, yes and from biblical records we also know many died b/c of the sin of idolatry. Were those people free to believe in what they desired to believe in?
And weren’t the founding fathers of America pious? You think they believed it was perfectly alright to offend their faith?
D
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
If the Founders of our Country were “offended”…by another person’s speech…they would, most likely, have recognized that person’s “right” to speak as free speech was prized. Biblical records? Idolatry? Ah, yes…the Old Testament…those weren’t Christians and the laws were Mosaic Laws.(Very similar to islamic laws that are in use, today) If you are talking about the RCC…you are still talking ancient history. Islam is the only religion, in modern history, that still, today, kills people for not believing in “their” religion…and they do it with enthusiasm. Free thought and speech are both extremely “foreign” ideas and are not tolerated…unless, of course, the “thought or speech” agrees completely with the ideology of islam…then it’s called “free speech”.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
CAIR and ISNA are completely disengenuous and are Hamas-linked. Forget about ‘Muslim’ special interest groups. We need real ‘westernised’ Muslims to show the world they care about things being done in the name of their religion. When have you seen the streets filled with Muslim protesters with placards saying “not in my name” or “Islam against violence” after an event like Charlie Hebdo? That’s right. Never.
If they did THAT – well that would change hearts and minds. But they don’t. And that tells you a lot doesn’t it?
As for your point about blasphemy and a long list of other religions, it’s beside the point. Those other religions don’t loot and burn cars, behead or bomb at the ‘offence’ of a cartoon. The Left LOVED the “Pi$$ Christ” and used it to rub in the nose of disgruntled Christians, then fell back to the 1st amendment. In the UK, our leading Left wing paper The Guardian, even listed it as one of the most important works of art of the 20th Century (!). Where was the outrage, the calling for ‘limiting’ freedom of speech? where was the the attacks on the artist and the papers who ran copies of this ‘artwork’ – ad nauseum – for YEARS?
That’s right. They were nowhere. They instead used it to attack the offended party for trying to limit freedom of speech.
Here we have a complete U-turn. People are scared and confused about Islam, and the risks, and they try to hide their lack of courage (or moral fortitude) – by attacking the victim.
This is precisely what the Texas contest exposed, and precisely why we need to do more to expose this hypocrisy.
Cowardice, political correctness and a refusal to understand Islam is going to cause the collapse of Western civilization. We have to stop the rot HERE AND NOW or our children and grandchildren will pay dearly for our cowardice.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
Offended Max ? Perhaps. Reaction is done by verbally disagreeing not but killing and setting cars and shops on fire. You need to read!! Have you? Please do so before defending this murderous cult of the moon god and posting here.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
We know THAT! But none of these religions, or none of their followers, try to impose a ban on provoking depictions through violence.
And because we cannot ourselves impose a total ban legally, an unbalanced situation arises, resulting in a very unfair advantage for both Islam and ALL Muslims.
If the intimidation of killing the cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo works, in that ridicule of Islam diminishes strongly, and we think that it does work. While at the same professional cartoonists continue to “draw and ridicule against” all other religions.
Your problem Max, under these circumstances, is that you in practice only help stopping the ridicule and severe criticism of only ONE religion while the same towards other religions goes on. And for a big part that originates from Muslims in Islamic countries too, which may be your blind spot. I mean you cannot hope or discourage to stop THAT.
So please either discourage ALL or allow ALL. Now: You are helping to make Islam the exception that is protected, which is to the advantage of Islam and all Muslims. And to detriment of all other religions and their followers. This can’t be your intention.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
I was offended by a crucifix in urine, but I did not take that as permission to kill anyone. I just apologized to Jesus for them. That’s the difference between a peaceful religion and a violent religion.
D
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
Muslims get “offended” by just about everything that isn’t “islamic”. Do you get offended when someone…anyone…steps on your right to free speech? Islamics constantly “offend” me with trying to push their values and religion on everyone…I don’t get violent about it…I just sigh and say, “So goes life” and go about my business. Violence…is a choice you make…sometimes, it has to be, but at other times, such as this it doesn’t. Islamics continually put down Christianity and other faiths…along with killing them…for no reason other than they refuse to submit to islam…in most cases. Back to free speech. If you don’t get truly upset or mad when someone prevents you from having free speech…where will you draw the line on your freedoms being taken away?
8 years ago
Reply to
Dave from San Antonio
It’s not a matter of kowtowing to Islamists. What I’m saying is why offend any religion especially in public places or public transport? What does it really accomplish? If you were a Muslim would you want to sit on a bus facing that depiction of Mohammad?
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
The followers of Islam kill people in public places, bomb public transport, and commit other grotesque atrocities. The ad tells them that we are not going to put up with their violence and thuggery.
8 years ago
Reply to
knowTheEnemy
Extremists of all streams of faith have resorted to violence. Surely there are other ways to ‘tell them’
‘we are not going to put up with their violence/thuggery” than by placing a picture of Mohammad on transit buses.
D
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
IF you were a Christian…how would you feel about all the Christians that have been killed…or Christian churches that have been violated, etc…would you be “offended” or, at the very least concerned…but…the question, “IF you were a Christian”…probably makes it a moot point. It all comes down to the ideals of “free speech”…if people can’t take it and get “offended”…and violence is their response…they need to go. As for the “non-violent” muslims…I guess they must all live in the U.S. and are not yet in a strong enough position or they shipped all the aged of infirm ones here. Jihad…violent jihad, is commanded in the qur’an for all muslims unless they are too old or too sick…but, even then they are required to support the violence of jihad. Maybe that’s why we never hear the “non-violent” muslims protest about the “violent” ones and call for an end to the violence that is islam.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
Because I can and I am free to do so. What it accomplishes is telling them that we are FREE and they need to learn and understand this or get the hell out. Why don’t you leave with them. I am sure you will be very happy and free in a Islamic country. You are a fool. Submit or die, Max. You are submitting. and when the time is right you will be dead anyway.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
Then move to an islamic state, any islamic state. You’ll never have to see, read or hear anything truthful about Muhammad or Islam ever again.
8 years ago
Reply to
Dave from San Antonio
Dave,
Muslims get “offended” by just about everything that isn’t “islamic”.
Such as art galleries, certain music (such as Carmina Burana), churches, synagogues, pigs.
The list goes on and on.
D
8 years ago
Reply to
Always On Watch
…and on and on and…well…on…;) They get offended…just to be able to say…they are offended…
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
Muslims need to be called out for not cleaning their house out. Plus it is much more offensive when people of other faiths are attacked by them.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
Not violent today perhaps, not instructed to be violent today perhaps, will be violent when told to be. This cult enslaves the body, mind, and soul. Stop being a sheep Max. Educate yourself, read their book and all the other writings that are part and parcel of this moon god cult. Islam=submit or die. Freedom= defend and defy. Which will you choose Max?
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
A muslim is a muslim is a muslim. They are violent, loud muslims in the open or violent, quiet muslims in the background awaiting the word from their ‘leader’.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
The truth is – doing nothing – has and will lead to more violence. It cannot be wished away by being nice. I wish it were otherwise. But it’s not. We are witnessing the culmination of the age.
8 years ago
Reply to
The Legends
The Legends,
The truth is – doing nothing – has and will lead to more violence. It cannot be wished away by being nice.
Precisely!
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
Max, Violence is the essence of islam. It does not matter what you do, or don’t do, you will still get violence. Bottom line of islam, “Submit or Die”. Educate yourself, pull your head out of the sand, then defend and defy.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
It’s the right thing to do.
If muslims and their supporters don’t like it – tough.
8 years ago
Reply to
Ray - God Bless Israel.
Ray, Thank you for exercising your right to free speech.
8 years ago
Reply to
Max Mendelbaum
It only leads to violence when good people hang each other out to dry.
One artist is a target. A unified society is not.
8 years ago
In fairness, and not to be nit-picking, Bosch Fawstin’s excellent
drawing is not a “cartoon”, as understood by most Americans.
It is not a caricature.
It is not derogatory.
It is not offensive.
It is not humorous.
It is deadly serious.
The speech bubbles make an extremely valid point.
Perhaps we could be careful to refer to it as a “drawing”.
8 years ago
Reply to
Michael Copeland
Indeed. Similarly, criticism of Islam, ten times out of ten, is simply description of Islam.
8 years ago
Creating a Muhammad cartoon is a worthy artistic endeavor.
D
8 years ago
I am stunned by your courage. I hope you have an exit plan.
8 years ago
I wholeheartedly support this latest ad campaign. Defying them (those bent on limiting our fundamental right to Free Speech) is the best and wisest thing to do if we hope to somehow save our rights and freedoms.
D
8 years ago
“Free speech”…”offends” those of islam…as does everything else. The very idea or thought of “free speech”, I believe, scares them…along with all other “freedoms” that are not found in islam. Islam does not promote freedom in any way…it promotes ignorance and slavery…to a ‘moon-god’, I might add. The truth that comes with free speech…shows the light on the lies islam promotes and pushes on the world.
8 years ago
The Western leaders know where the votes lie. If they are going to offend voters it is best not to offend those whose numbers are growing fastest. They don’t believe in free speech or anything else.
8 years ago
Reply to
Greyfox
That is why Immigration is the great threat for peace and prosperity in the WEST.
Demographics is KING in a democratic society.
Peace,
Brown Skinned Immigrant
8 years ago
Love it love it love it 🙂
high five for freedom
8 years ago
“Drawing Muhammad is not ILLEGAL under American law,
but ONLY under Islamic law.”
—Allah’s shari’ah law DIRECT from his Qur’an e.g. 9:12, 61-66, 5:72-73
& Muhammads “best example” 33:21 in Bukhari ‘… severest punishment
from Allah will be the PICTURE MAKERS.’—Vol. 3. Book 34 No. 428 &
Vol. 7, Book 72, No. 834 http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/072-sbt.php#007.072.833
DEVOUT(who implements Allah’s COMPLETE Quran!) Muslim,
2:30 min :
“…teach them JUSTICE” Q45:18, 5:48 “…To each among you have WE PRESCRIBED A [Allah’s shari’ah]LAW”
https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.meyer.925/posts/937341299640949?pnref=story
8 years ago
Reply to
Stephanie
And we are Americans, under American law. We are NOT muslims, so we need not worry about how our free speech is used. We are Americans.
8 years ago
This will provoke the Muslims into destroying Palmyra, just like Pamela Geller earlier provoked the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, the massacre of the Armenians and the burning of the library of Alexandria.
8 years ago
Reply to
Mohammed Schicklgruber
Frankly, they will destroy Palmyra even if nothing takes place. Remember WHO the Muslims really worship and it is SATAN.
8 years ago
Has Bill O’Reilly sent in his donation yet? I quit watching his show after he became Shria compliant.
8 years ago
When the DC authorities receive Ms. Geller’s ads, they are going to piss in their pants.
8 years ago
LOVE IT!!
8 years ago
The media — Left, Right, and Center — will have a meltdown.
Grab the popcorn and the beer (or soda).
And pony up the bucks to AFDI!
8 years ago
How long before the Ku Klux Kair starts to complain?
8 years ago
Profiles in Courage, time for a new chapter .
8 years ago
Thank you, Pamela, for your courage and initiative. We need this just like Americans once needed the Boston Tea Party to express our refusal to submit to tyranny from any source.
8 years ago
The WMATA disclaimer looks pretty silly under a “Support Free Speech” ad.
8 years ago
“I have sworn upon the altar of god, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man” ~ Thomas Jefferson ~
8 years ago
I consider Bosch Fawstin’s drawing the most important piece of political art since Picasso’s Guernica. It deserves to be seen by every freedom loving citizen on planet earth. Keep up the good work Pamella.
8 years ago
Go, Pamela, Go!!!
8 years ago
Sounds like Trump has been bought off as hard as that is to believe.
8 years ago
Obama’s fellow muslims did this.
8 years ago
New Zealand seems to be having this freedom of expression debate at present in the news papers, i get the feeling we are going to get a few weeks of debate which is great. Below is a good opinion piece which mentions Pamela Geller and the shooting in France. But the part where the current PM Helen Clark of NZ encouraged business to sue newspapers that printed pictures of Mohammed if the business suffered at all though boycotts etc. Guess what the PM was a liberal.
But the letter was well written and interestingly he used to be a Journalist but now works in the real world – i wonder if he got his act together after he left the enemidia!
8 years ago
** Either America will stand now against attempts to suppress the freedom of speech by violence, or will submit and give the violent the signal that we can be silenced by threats and murder.” **
The fact that NONE of the media – magazines, news papers & TV news outlets – have printed any of the Muhammad Art entrants is rock-solid proof that America is already ‘Sharia Law compliant’.
The whole ‘camel’ – not just his nose – is in the tent.
8 years ago
I’m cool with that.
Maybe next you could run a contest to see what artists can best capture the horror of Josh Duggar’s sisters as he greedily penetrated their tiny vaginås with his pudgy Christianist fingers.
8 years ago
OK so when people offend YOUR morality you call it blasphemy and attempt to change civil law to prevent same-sex couple from getting married. But when you go OUT OF YOUR WAY to offend the morals of another religion, and they attempt to gun you down that is wrong somehow? Explain to me the difference between what you do and what they do? You are 10 gallons of crazy in a 5 gallon bucket.
8 years ago
If hundreds of Americans are killed in a DC transit bomb as the result of Pam Geller’s ad, will anybody here feel still feel that Geller is just making a point?
8 years ago
lead by example, Pam, and put your money where your mouth is: cartoon your home and car and we’ll follow suit.
8 years ago
Geller is a hate filled c**t, a miserable creature, a rabble rouser who doesn’t care who gets killed as long as she makes her point, and it’s an unfortunate byproduct of freedom of speech that we have to hear what toxic slimy gashes like Geller think about anything. A baseball bat to the side of the head is what this b**ch needs.
8 years ago
Pamela Geller, you’re so brave you want to put images of Muhammed on public buses and trains so that commuters become targets of Muslim extremists. Grow some balls b!tch and paint the images on your house.
8 years ago
all you religious nuts need to break free from the dogmatic framework built around your minds. Stop giving your power to some unseen entity. we all know right from wrong. it has nothing to do with a prophit (profit) or a “god”. This is why humanity cannot move forward. You’re all to busy arguing about something that cannot be proven or disproven. many theological teachings are worth living by regardless of who spoke the words. cmon people
