[ April 18, 2024 ]
The nation’s capital banned free speech for fear of offending the very savages we are fighting here and across the world.
No war was ever won on the defense. Sharia in action.
“Muhammad Cartoon Ad Blocked From D.C. Buses and Train Stations,” US News, May 28, 2015
Story continues below advertisement
Transit board eliminates issue ads entirely, avoiding display of cartoon seen as offensive to Muslims.
The mass transit authority that oversees commuter buses and trains in the nation’s capital is banning issue-oriented ads for the remainder of the year after receiving an ad proposal featuring a cartoon of Muhammad, Islam’s central figure.
The cartoon is a sketch by artist Bosch Fawstin of a turban-wearing, sword-wielding man saying “You can’t draw me!” It won a “draw Muhammad” contest in Garland, Texas, that was unsuccessfully attacked by Muslim-American roommates earlier this month.
The ads would have sported a banner saying “Support Free Speech.”
Pamela Geller, the activist who made the advertising request and hosted the Garland event through her group, the American Freedom Defense Initiative, says the decision is “an end run around the First Amendment.”
“These cowards may claim they are making people safer, but I submit to you the opposite,” she says. “They are making it far more dangerous for Americans everywhere. Rewarding terror with submission is defeat. Absolute and complete defeat.”
The board of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority made the decision Thursday afternoon and plans to enforce the ban until completion of a review of its policies.
Metro spokesman Mike Tolbert says the board’s vote was unanimous and that members did not specifically discuss any ad. The transit authority will consider the legal and safety issues involved in running political ads during its review, he says. It’s not immediately clear what will happen to existing ads that may be considered issue-oriented.
Without the broad ban, Washington-area officials likely would have been forced to publish the Muhammad cartoon.
Courts have repeatedly ruled in favor of Geller in her bids to display controversial ads.
In April, she won a federal court ruling that New York City’s subway system must carry anti-Hamas ads that attribute the quote ““Killing Jews is worship” to the Palestinian group. U.S. District Judge John Koeltl found no evidence the ads “would be likely to incite imminent violence.” In March, a federal judge forced Philadelphia’s mass transit system to allow ads that say “Islamic Jew-Hatred: It’s in the Quran.”
In New York, transit authorities recently banned all political advertising to ward off future controversies.
It’s unclear if opponents of such a viewpoint-neutral ban could prevail in court or if Geller will sue.
Former D.C. Council member Jim Graham, who served 12 years as a member of the Metro system’s board of directors and twice as its chairman, says he can’t recall a similar advertising suspension.
“It’s obviously a way for them to avoid this very challenging issue,” Graham says. “By stopping all ads they’re able to say they’re doing it in a way that doesn’t [target] this one ad.”
Graham says he instinctively supports people’s freedom to advertise controversial messages, recalling his fight to place HIV awareness ads in the D.C. system in the early days of the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s.
But he says current board members are “obviously in a bind because we know what happens when you criticize Muhammad, we know how some people react to that. I don’t think we ever had a situation [in the past] where someone threatened to blow up a bus.”
Graham says he’s not aware of any credible threat in response to the ad, but that, “We know worldwide what has happened to others who have gone down this path.”
Many Muslims consider any visual depiction of Muhammad offensive. Artists and publishers who violate the taboo put themselves at risk of violence.
Jihadi brothers in January murdered 12 people at the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical publication that on several occasions featured cartoons of Muhammad on its cover. Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, whose cartoons launched global protests by Muslims a decade ago, survived an ax attack in 2010. Earlier this year, Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who drew Muhammad’s face on the body of a dog, avoided an assassination attempt that killed an audience member at a cafe where Vilks was delivering remarks about his work.Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the nation’s largest Muslim organizations, and a strident critic of Geller, says he personally is outraged by the ads she proposed for Washington’s transit system.
“It’s no different than neo-Nazis putting up ads with the ‘n’ word spelled out,” he says of the now-blocked ads. “You have to wonder how she looks herself in the mirror in the morning.”
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
So, is it not possible to simply reclassify the advert as something other than ‘issues based’ – perhaps selling something? For example, create a range of T-Shirts with the supposed offending image on it and display that on the advert ‘for sale’. In that way, all that is being advertised is a T-Shirt range for sale, with an image, and not a political or issues based advert. Just a thought.
8 years ago
Reply to
Stv
Yes, and leave mohamed out of it. Put in the t-shirts a baseball player dangling a football saying: You cant draw me. A baseball player dangling a bat. A turbaned man with a sword, etc. Who said the turbaned man is mohamed you greasy islamophobe!
8 years ago
Reply to
nacazo
because there aren’t supposed to be images of Muhammad….that’s the point of the shirt
8 years ago
Reply to
nacazo
I agree, leave mohammed out of it. Out of sight, out of mind, out of America. Get out of it Mohammed. BLT hu Akbar!
8 years ago
that obamas god goat F;ing Muhammad. murder, cant eat… ham.. mad.. something to look up to..sick quran pig people.
8 years ago
Reply to
Davey Dunn
tell us how you really feel. And by the way, you’re in America. Learn English.
8 years ago
Reply to
The Truth Hurts
its the truth ..truth hurts you. obamas a quran pig with a goat F;ing muhammad
8 years ago
Buy ads on airplane which will pull the big cartoon around Washington DC and New YORK.
8 years ago
Reply to
Tom Cherian Mulammootil
You know the cartoon of the bomb / mohammed, couldn’t somebody make some helium filled balloons of that and just pin them up everywhere and give them out to young children?
8 years ago
http://conservativepapers.com/wp-content/comment-image/52102.jpg
Just eradicate these scum!
8 years ago
Reply to
426 HemiCuda
Unfortunately, the CAIR types will put your post as “proof” that Pamela hates all muslims.
8 years ago
OK so they have now banned ‘issue’ ads. Not a problem just advertise special sale of baseball caps, mugs, t-shirts etc featuring you know what cartoon etc…problem solved or at least circumvented. Play the legal word-smiths at their own game
8 years ago
Reply to
Barking Lord What What?
LOL, gr8. It won’t be an issue, it’ll be an advertisement for products.
8 years ago
First they came for the cartoonists. Since I’m not a cartoonist I didn’t care. Then they came for the women not wearing islamic garb. Since I’m not a woman I did not care. Then they came for the people eating pork. Since I don’t eat pork I didn’t care. Then they came for the people drinking beer. Since I don’t drink I didn’t care. Then they came for the Jews. Since I am not a Jew I didn’t care. Then they came for the wrong type of muslim. Since I was the right type of muslim, I didn’t care. When they came for me, there was no one left to defend me.
8 years ago
Reply to
defcon 4
right in their own opinion. The opinion of the muslim with the most guns. If shias happen to have power, sunnis are the wrong type of muslim. If sunnis have power, shias are the wrong type of muslim. If isis has power, all other muslims and infidels got to go (or pay the humiliating jizya and go whenever they sooner or later “offend” them).
8 years ago
Tell the flunky from CAIR Americans have dealt with the “n” word, the presence of the KKK and Nazis in our streets with the first amendment, not killings.
8 years ago
Reply to
realetybytes
Idiotic, cowardly, dhimmi Chris Cuomo revived a “rallying point” for the moohamhead (pigs be upon him) worshippers at cair.
8 years ago
Obviously, there was only one ad that prompted the ban. The judge ruled that they have to accept the ad so why isn’t his order still enforceable regardless of what any interim policy may say?
8 years ago
This action is unconstitutional, and you can cite DC precedent to prove it. You see, D.C. created a public forum by allowing issue ads and they don’t have to continue it forever. But there is a limitation. “The government may close a public forum that it
has created by designation, though, so long as the reasons for closure are not
content-based.” Initiative and Refer.
Inst. v. US Postal Service, 116 F. Supp. 2d 65, 73 (D.D.C. 2000).
I am writing, incidentally as a lawyer, admitted in D.C. They can fight this, they can force the metro to reopen this forum. And they can be expected to suck it up.
–Aaron “Worthing” Walker
8 years ago
Reply to
Aaron Walker
nice one Aaron . Champ !!!!!!
go for it Pamela. sue the pants off these cowering gutless spineless dhimmi sharia-complying cowards !! they make me sick !!
8 years ago
Reply to
Aaron Walker
Hey Aaron, I’m studying for the NC Bar right now and have found support for this too. I hope we stop sacrificing our liberties in fear of offending people; our founding fathers would roll over in their graves if they knew how the first amendment has been twisted. I still put a lot of shame on the U.S. news networks for not showing the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. Yes, it’s their choice as a corporation, but I expected a united front among all news stations to protect free speech. The Terrorists already hate US and everything we stand for, and we are going to have to kill them eventually – I say publish the fucking cartoons, it would be the ballsiest thing we’ve done in the last 7 years (after FINALLY letting the Interview go through… although why was that even a question?). Like everything in the U.S. these days, it seems like we are crippled by balancing political correctness with indecision and it’s causing the world to fall apart at the seams. The Ukraine, N. Africa and the Middle East have always been troubled areas for human civilizations and right now are a good barometer for the future. These terrorists gain ground because nobody is actively confronting them. What 60 nation coalition? This whole state of affairs is a giant fuck-up and you can’t blame it all on the Bush Administration – at least the surge worked, until Obama pulled all our fucking troops out of Iraq, against EVERY MILITARY ADVISER EVER. I’m so fucking pissed off right now because of the incompetence of our government and our impotence on the world stage. We are the best country in the world, and its time we had a leader who believed the same.
8 years ago
Reply to
Greg
Freedom of speech is to be enjoyed especially by natural citizens of America!!!! Obama needs to be GONE. And I don’t believe he is going anywhere and I so don’t believe Jade Helm is a benign exercise. This president is evil to the core.
8 years ago
Reply to
Aaron Walker
I can’t help but wonder about the fact that time can be of the essence of this message. The topic of the cartoon is freshly proven to be on point and not an exaggeration.
8 years ago
Reply to
BraveOnMyKeyboard
We’ve had the fraud of islam for 14 centuries.
We’re on it now.
8 years ago
Reply to
Zaba
There is something about talking about events while they are current as opposed to waiting until January
8 years ago
A judge ruled against them so now they won’t allow any issues on posters. Heads you lose, tails I win. And I suppose no reimbursement of the legal costs Pamela incurred?
8 years ago
“members did not specifically discuss any ad”
— —
In public, they failed to add, due to legal considerations.
8 years ago
You know what’s really offensive? News groups that call CAIR a Muslim civil rights group, when it’s really a Hamas propaganda front. On July 20, 2014, CAIR held a rally in Miami in which they yelled “We are Hamas! We are jihad!” Watch for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlzCxzni89A They’re anti-Israel foreign agents! CAIR was founded by Jordanian nationals Nihad Awad & Omar Ahmad, whose first group was the Islamic Association of Palestine. IAP later became the Council on American-Islamic Relations (to sound more American). Nihad Awad and Omar Ahmad both ran CAIR. Awad still runs it.
8 years ago
Pamela, that’s a good article in US News. It goes off the rails in the last 3 paragraphs quoting CAIR, but most people don’t read down that far anyway. Not many publications are willing to state that fear has a veto in what they publish.
8 years ago
Bumper stickers!!!
‘000’s of them!
8 years ago
what would people do if there was a christian image that was just as sacrilegious to us (i AM a christian) as this image is to muslims? i’m not being a jerk…honestly just wondering opinions?
8 years ago
Reply to
Isaiah Shane
they’d lose their minds and claim religious discrimination. But since it’s against Muslims (or any other religious sect other than christianity) it’s ok!
8 years ago
Reply to
Lacouray Too
WRONG: For many, the Cross has become an icon – as has images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, or Fatima, or just ‘Mary Worship’ in general. Lots of idolatry comes out of naive worship practices. It even happened with Moses. A brass serpent (representing sin judged (-think JESUS)) was placed on a pole (see Numbers 21:8-9), but had to be destroyed 850 years later, as the people had come to idolize it for its former healing powers (2 Kings 18:4). Even Christians need to always be alert about their walk through this wily world. Deceptions and deceits lie all around – it is exceedingly easy to be led astray by a simple glance, a soft touch, or a whispered word. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
8 years ago
Reply to
The Truth Hurts
Something like that has already happened countless times, you two must be very young and inexperienced.
The only reaction to such a thing by Christians (and atheists) is like: Zapping away, Yawning, forgetting it.
In the past, say 2nd half 20th century, Christianity was the target and “victim” of the Left far more than today’s Muslims are by the Right. The Left still attacks Christianity and now defends Muslims.
The Left and Muslims seem to help each other against a common Enemy; the American, Christian right and the Western governments and big corporations.
But go ahead, try to provoke Christians/ Atheists to your heart’s content.
Or watch South Park doing denigration of all religions, or watch MEMRI TV, Press TV, Qaradawi and all those Muslim clerics in their own countries do huge and daily “hadget-jobs”, I mean vicious denigration of Jews and Christians. It is massive, coming from important leaders there.
But hey, if you want to just look at America, I can’t change that. I can just say; You seem to have a good sense of fair play, but you sound VERY MYOPIC to me.
8 years ago
Reply to
Isaiah Shane
That’s one of Pamela’s points: what about the Christ-On-The-Cross-In-Urine ‘art project’? Sure, Christians were outraged, but didn’t pick up weapons to go kill the POS ‘artist’. Those who believe in the God of the Bible know: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19 (NIV) citing Deuteronomy 32:35. The whole world HATES Christians – if you’re a Christian and aren’t suffering from the slings and arrows of those around you, you’re probably standing too far away from Jesus, and need to tell others His Truth more boldly – but even THAT was foretold by our Master: ““If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is,
you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
That is why the world hates you.” – John 15:18-19 (NIV) Review 2nd Corinthians 4 again to see just how we are to confront this dark world.
8 years ago
If this was advertising an art exhibit featuring crucifixes in jars of urine, they’d be tripping on themselves to get such an cutting edge and brave art show on as many bulletin board as possible for as long as possible. The politicians with double standards we’ve collectively voted into office need to GO, but that means an electorate willing to stop voting for every dip stick soccer mom and willy nilly extreme left voter brown noser that comes along. We voted for this world, this is the kind of backwards upsides down stuff that comes with it. Welcome to democracy where every single minority view point has to take precedence. It’ll NEVER change, get used to it.
8 years ago
Reply to
Peter Westberg
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” – B. Franklin, 1773
8 years ago
Harry – Look Hagrid, I drew Mohammad!
Hagrid – I wish you wouldn’t draw pictures of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Drawn, Harry!
Harry – Why not, Hagrid? Dumbledore does it all the time.
Hagrid – Yeah, well that’s Dumbledore, isn’t it?
8 years ago
So, Freedom of Speech has lost this battle.
Damn.
There are and will be other Free Speech and anti-shari’a battles in this same war. How many will we lose? Some of them. But all of them? I don’t believe that because to believe so makes me submit to the shari’a. And that I will never do.
8 years ago
Pamela: Are you planning on riding DC’s Metro trains and buses bearing ads you know will draw fire from insane militants? As an American, you have every right to speak your mind and organize your events, but as a human being, you have every right not to endanger your fellow man. And by putting out these ads, you’re waving a red flag to the insane bulls would would kill the innocent.
How dare you ask the people of the DC area to fight your battles for you.
8 years ago
Reply to
Travis Johnson
Well then, since a long time, it is customary in Western society to allow “drawing cartoons, ridicule, denigration” of ALL religions/ lifestyles. Which was not always the case. In the past there was much more violent reaction from powerful adherents of faiths in order to censor, drawings, ridicule, denigration.
But now, all followers of all religions behave civilized, non-violent to all “provocations”, except a part of followers of one religion.
YOu take that for granted, like a spoilt child (no offense to your overall personality). But you in effect dare to demand from all followers of all religions except one to behave civilized, non-violent when “provoked”. As you know you can’t stop ALL cartoons, ridicule, denigration.
And you do demand that from all followers of all other religions because you obviously demand that people do not die by THEIR violent reactions.
All followers of all religions/ lifestyles oblige you, except followers of one religion. But you do not reward the good behavior, only the bad.
8 years ago
Reply to
Demsci
Agreed..If Muslims want to keep their own dictates than that’s fine but if I a non Muslim wants to insult or expose the intimidating beliefs of another religion than I whom am not under that religions rulership should be able to do so freely! However this is where the true face of Islams wickedness is being brought to light. And as the saying goes people who love sin love darkness…
8 years ago
Reply to
albeit
Exactly! we are under our OWN rules, not theirs!
And yes, so many Muslims openly or covertly will try to force their rules on us! And “dhimmi Westerners” oblige and turn on their own!
UN – AC CEP TA BLE!
8 years ago
Reply to
Travis Johnson
This battle isn’t just in the DC area – it’s from sea to shining sea. This campaign should go “from California to the New York island, from the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters…*.” Anywhere and everywhere brave people still yearn to be free from tyrants and live in peace without threat of oppression this ad campaign should find a welcome venue. We’ve sent men and women into harms’ way worldwide seeking a better life for others, but when trouble comes to YOUR doorstep, your plan is to hide in the dark under fat mattresses, whimper quietly, and simply hope that it will all just go away by morning. The really sad part is, your ‘morning’ will never come unless you learn to stand up, go out, and fight for it. Your ‘mourning’, however, will begin sooner than you think – you’re already loosing the very freedoms that once made this country the beacon of hope to all the world.
“ISLAM” means “SUBMIT”, and that is precisely what we’re doing. We’re only so happy to play their game if they just stay calm and promise not to hurt us. You need to research EVERYTHING Islam. For one, lying is condoned in both the Quran and the Hadith. The end always justifies the means, and the worldwide caliphate is the end that is staring you right in the eyes, but you’re still too blind to see it. You need to crawl out of your comfort zone and go outside – look around – the whole world is burning, and by our indulgence to indifference the many will be devoured. The cancer of Mohammed will destroy everything that was once great and good and right and true in this world. Pamela Geller is the canary in the coal mine. She’s been singing her song for a long time now, but most have been too entertained elsewhere to hear what she’s saying is marvelous, refreshing, and TRUE.
* From first stanza of “This Land Is Your Land” – Arlo Guthrey (C) 1956, ’58, ’70 & 72
8 years ago
Reply to
Zaba
How am I a troll? I have legitimate for myself and the people who actually ride DC Metro. I think it’s cowardice to draw fire on a target you’re not going to be near.
8 years ago
Reply to
Gary Alan King
Gary Allen King when SHTF we need you here. You can make your “Stand”
8 years ago
Reply to
Travis Johnson
Wowser!
Please study up on islam.
All kinds of info at jihadwatch.org
8 years ago
Reply to
Travis Johnson
How dare you enjoy all of the freedoms of the constitution that thousands of men and woman have sacrificed their lives to protect for you.
8 years ago
Reply to
Travis Johnson
I’m thinking about the massacre on the Nigerian bus by Muslim terrorists.
8 years ago
Reply to
BraveOnMyKeyboard
Five a Day muzlim terror attacks.
26,000 since 9-11, all faithfully chronicled at TROP:
8 years ago
Reply to
Travis Johnson
This quote is perfect: “How dare you ask the people of the DC area to fight your battles for you.” Haha, leadership from Washington.
8 years ago
Reply to
BraveOnMyKeyboard
Uhm, the citizens of the Washington area aren’t the leaders. They’re average every day Americans who don’t want to be blown up or shot because Ms. Geller has decided to hide behind them in her battle.
If ya’ll want to get into a gunfight with radical Islam, that’s fine with me, but actually be here for it, and don’t just use the people of this area as your personal human shields.
“BraveOnMyKeyboard” seems fitting.
8 years ago
Reply to
Travis Johnson
Of course, I get your point and share it, but not to the exclusion of others. I also get Ms Geller’s point and she’s nobody to criticize as hiding behind others. It can be true that Muslims aren’t insane bulls and can be civilized if we let them know it is expected. We share risk and don’t sit back and expect one civilian to hold the line for a country or world.
8 years ago
Reply to
BraveOnMyKeyboard
It can be true that Muslims aren’t insane bulls and can be civilized if we let them know it is expected.
Really?
Check out then Barbary Wars for starters.
8 years ago
Reply to
Zaba
Thank you, those are interesting examples. I hate pirates.
My comment was meant to expose that Muslims possess human DNA and so are scientifically capable of behaving like civilized humans (vs insane bulls). Long term civility requires constant pressure on humans. We need to let Muslims participate in that forward pressure rather than exempting them as hopeless.
8 years ago
Reply to
BraveOnMyKeyboard
You are welcome!
Still wrong.
It’s in the koran, stronger than DNA.
At any rate, muzlims have been marrying their siblings and cousins for 14 centuries.
Do a bit of research on just the health effects of that,
let alone muzlim behavior..
8 years ago
Reply to
Zaba
I’m thinking along the lines of the Stanford Prison Experiment where the subjects took on their assigned roles as if they were real. It suggests that labeling people with expectations can play a role in the outcome of sadistic or victim-like behavior. If civilized society and daesh both define the role of Muslims to be insane bulls, I’m concerned we’ll get that outcome partly for suggesting it. I’m saying we should stack the cards for success and set expectations for Muslims to be civilized. From another angle, there may be some who fall into the submissive role as Cuomo seemed to. Geller had to tell him to snap out of it. I think you are referring to a more deep seated condition.
In any case, I’m not willing to pre-issue mass insanity defenses. I think people like the security of discipline, and strong expectations which I think we are lacking.
8 years ago
Reply to
BraveOnMyKeyboard
I’m not willing to pre-issue mass insanity defenses.
Too late.
We have 1400 years of islam to prove you incorrect.
islam means submission.
Head on over to https://themuslimissue.wordpress.com
8 years ago
Reply to
Zaba
In what way am I incorrect. I’m not willing to do thing X. Are you saying that I am willing to do thing X?
8 years ago
Reply to
BraveOnMyKeyboard
Are you defending islam in any way?
What is one good thing about that ideology?
8 years ago
Reply to
Zaba
I’m not defending it, Roughly, I”m exploring the psychology of the effects of expectations in exacerbating a bad situation. And I don’t know what I’m talking about.
8 years ago
Reply to
BraveOnMyKeyboard
Well, I would respond, but I’m not sure what you may be saying or asking…..
8 years ago
Reply to
Zaba
Fair enough. It didn’t come off clearly. The Stanford Prison Experiment was probably as close as I’ll get for now. Strangely, I think it may have come off as making excuses which was not my intent.
8 years ago
Reply to
Travis Johnson
How about the six muzlim brotherhood members
of the /Federal Govt.?
I’m sure Pam and/or Robert has posted on this.
8 years ago
I support Pamela Geller, the contest, the event in TX, the winner, Free Speech, and blocking Sharia 1,000%, but I don’t support this ad. Many people who ride those buses don’t have another option. This ad is forcing them to risk their lives, and no one has the right to force people into that situation. I am not one to back down from muslims or anyone, but I don’t demand others to stand in harm’s way with me and put them in a position where they don’t have a reasonable choice. “Go to work to feed my children and possibly be killed by a jihadi bomb VS Stay home and lose my job, my home, and my children” is not a reasonable choice.
8 years ago
Reply to
Athena007
OK, I grudgingly concede your point, but then, under these circumstances, it is still highly unfair and creating an unbalanced situation, that ….
Mocking, denigrating, drawing, ridiculing etc of all OTHER religions is allowed and unpunished.
So we can consider the next step; EVERY TIME ANOTHER religion get’s denigrated, say, by SOUTH PARK, we could loudly highlight this UNFAIR event and tell the world about it. Tell the world about every denigration of other religions done BY Muslims on their own territory MEMRI shows us, that is allowed and NOT followed by a threat of violence.
Let us consider a suitable reaction to that then! Restore balance in THAT WAY then!
We can’t perpetuate the full allowance of “Denigration of all other religions and NOT Islam”, that unbalance is NOT FAIR, not good for our descendants.
8 years ago
Reply to
Zaba
There is no free speech when it poses a viable danger to others. It is the same as yelling fire in a crowded theater or making a joke about having a bomb on a plane.
8 years ago
Reply to
Zaba
I don’t click on random links in comments. My statement is based on legal fact, regardless of what your link says.
8 years ago
Reply to
Athena007
In this case, the speech isn’t the thing posing danger to others. The danger is the reaction to the speech–the hecker’s veto. The heckler or would-be assassin is not guaranteed the right to shut down legitimate speech.
8 years ago
Reply to
BraveOnMyKeyboard
Internet Lawyer, you can try to spin it as best you can with illogical semantics, but the fact is that the billboard will result in danger to those riding the bus. It isn’t speculation. It’s experience. Or need you be reminded about the murders and deadly riots that have broken out all over the world because of these cartoons?
8 years ago
Reply to
Athena007
You don’t follow the logic? Let me try again. Suppose hypothetically that your reasonable comments were offensive to someone and they threatened you and others. Clearly your comment isn’t the problem. The problem would be the reaction to your comment. As another example, giving testimony in a trial may be offensive to the guilty, and they may make threats to a group. The true testimony isn’t the problem, but the illegal threats. Which part is illogical?
8 years ago
Reply to
Athena007
I see your legitimate concern. Silencing speech against the assassins is also a danger that will grow. That also isn’t speculation, its experience. I’d be happy if the question of how toe best contain the problem were submitted to the CDC.
8 years ago
Reply to
BraveOnMyKeyboard
I’m not at all saying we kowtow to them. NEVER! But I don’t support putting innocent people’s lives in danger just to make a point. These can be sold in numerous ways – t-shirts, keychains, bumper stickers… They can put up billboards throughout the city. The transit system was chosen because they knew it would be rejected as a safety precaution and they could yell about free speech. That’s all there is to it. If they were serious about making a point, they would choose other ways that aren’t an imminent threat. Notice how requests to put this elsewhere have gone ignored.
8 years ago
The D.C. transit authority chose to change their policy and stop accepting issue ads after they refused to accept AFDI ads. Isn’t this similar to an enterprise that refuses to accept certain customers by changing their services. For example, if an establishment offering a particular service that has begun to be patronized by a certain type of clientele, which the owner does not approve of, for example homosexual couples patronizing a bed & breakfast inn, decides to refuse the said customer by discontinuing the service, would that business owner be in some type of legal jeopardy?
8 years ago
BS … stop trying to hide behind the guise of ‘protecting free speech’.. and be man (or woman) enough to say what its really about…. spewing hate and offending Muslims. Whatever.. keep that mess off our buses and out of our metro.
8 years ago
Reply to
jimathai .
Look at this worldwide, NOT ONLY TO AMERICA! Spewing hate and offending MAY BE happening in America TO Muslims.
But BY Muslims TO “KUFFARS” it happens too!, especially in Islamic countries. Oh, we know, by MEMRI TV, how Muslims in Islamic countries SPEW AND SPIT AND BREATH HATRED OF JEWS. And Americans!
Don;t you think yelling “Death to Jews, Death to America” is spewing hate and offending?! It is happening in Iran in many places EVERY Friday by hundreds of thousands, stimulated by the government of Iran!
We allow what the Muslims do under free speech. Muslims MUST then allow these ads on the buses in America!!! You have to measure with the same standards and you have to do worldwide!
anything less is just dishonest, playing false and hypocritical.
8 years ago
Reply to
jimathai .
The point is that there is no hate in this cartoon at all. There were many cartoons submitted and some depicted Muhammad juggling severed heads and certainly would accurately portray what Muslims have been doing around the world. But they chose a simple innocuous cartoon of Muhammad saying “You can’t draw me.” and the artist saying “That is why I draw you.” The fact that this alone can cost someone their life illustrates better then any obscene
drawing could have done, the danger of Islam in America.
8 years ago
Reply to
Crystal Waters
again.. stop playing ignorant. If you know that they find it highly offensive to draw images of their prophet .. yet you sponsor a contest to DRAW IMAGES OF THEIR PROPHET… THATS HATE.
8 years ago
Reply to
jimathai .
It’s acculturation. Muslims need not be treated as if they are expected to be mentally unstable. They can take legitimate criticism. The art is fine.
8 years ago
Reply to
jimathai .
It is not hate at all. It is love of freedom that causes people to draw Muhammad. We don’t draw him because Muslims find it offensive, we draw him because Muslims threaten peoples lives for drawing him and that is unacceptable to a freedom loving American.
8 years ago
Reply to
Crystal Waters
a few of them take it to the extreme because it is offensive… just like in any religion you have extremist. so I guess your solution is to double down on whats offensive to teach them a lesson eh? Offend the whole religion because of the actions of a few. got it. great strategy…
8 years ago
Reply to
jimathai .
People don’t draw Muhammad because Muslims find it offensive. People draw Muhammad because Muslims threaten to kill them if they do.
Its not hate but a love of freedom that inspires them.
It is hate that causes men to cut off children’s heads because of their parent’s religion as Muslims do, but draw a cartoon? You are delusional.
8 years ago
Reply to
jimathai .
Do you recall the massacre on the Nigerian bus by Islamic terrorists? Let us keep that mess of our buses.
8 years ago
It is high time the GOP congress awoke from its coma and started to defend the Constitution and the citizens of the USA! Those clowns were ELECTED to carry out their constituents desires, not to serve sultan Barry blindly and make money!
8 years ago
The detractors are saying, don’t provoke the Muslims by drawing their murderous Mohammed, they might kill you for doing so!
The proponents are saying, that is exactly the reason we are publishing and printing the cartoons! We want to show the world that they are a pack of 7th Century savages who will resort to violence at the drop of a cartoon. Furthermore, we will not be intimidated or dictated to by their threats and actions! If they make us fear them over a cartoon, what will be next? Eating pork? Drinking a beer at a ball game? Seeing a woman wearing a bikini at the beach?
There will be no end to it until they have usurped all our freedoms and way of life. Everything we have taken for granted for decades and hundreds of years will be swept away in their draconian, barbaric way of thinking and life.
I will not live as a slave under Islam! I will fight them in every possible way.
8 years ago
Reply to
Fred Smith
Then I suggest you paint the biggest cartoon of Muhammad you can and put it on your house or your car. If you want to fight Islam, fight it. Don’t make others fight your battles.
8 years ago
Why should it be morally and socially acceptable to us as Americans to condone public display of advertisements which blatantly offend an entire religion based on the actions of a very small minority? Ask yourself honestly: If the ads gracing the entire public transportation system consisted of imagery blatantly offensive to Christians, would this conversation would be about “Christian Persecution by the Government”?
8 years ago
Reply to
ThinkForYourself420
There would be no problem in the first place when imagery blatantly offensive to Christians would be displayed, no matter where and how often.
That’s the central issue; Why it is ONLY the Islamic religion that is NOT MOCKED, DENIGRATED, RIDICULED as a matter of routine. Why is Islam the EXCEPTION?
Think about what leading Islamic clerics say in Islamic countries, that is viciously denigrating and demonizing Jews and Americans! O yes, MEMRI TV shows us.
Don’t you see this really is an all or no-one-case? Not only Muslims but all sorts of people denigrate, mock, ridicule all the other religions.
And no one can stop it, Muslims don’t want even want to stop it on their territory, it seems. But stopping denigration of religion with violence, as the Jihadi’s are doing, that works.
But now the other religions have a choice to make; will some of them TOO respond with violence when provoked (by Muslims or all these other mockers)? Of course not!!! It’s impossible to stop this mocking. For Muslims too, for you too.
The only other way to restore the balance between religions, in regard to denigration to all religions or no religions, is to ALLOW denigration of Islam too!!!
DON’T MAKE ISLAM THE EXCEPTION!
8 years ago
i think idiotic to compare an offensive slur(n word) with political cartoons but let’s take cuomo’s logic for the sake of argument. nword is offensive to a group of people ( african-americans), therefore it should not be done. cartoons are offensive to a group of people (jihadis and some muslims), therefore it should not be done. cuomo’s tv show is offensive to a group of people (anti-jihadis), therefore it should not be done so cuomo should stop broadcasting on tv. what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
8 years ago
I think everyone who has any testicles should post the cartoon and other info in their autos…for everyone to see…and to show the morons we do not like the censorship of free speech that protects satan’s Islam..
8 years ago
Reply to
e1313ruth
I agree, but please include those of us with out testicles in your expectations.
8 years ago
Revelation 20-4 I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; This Bible verse shows that those that behead Christians are of the beast entity…That information should be posted worldwide to to show that Islam is demonic………..
8 years ago
While I personally am not the type to knowingly attempt to belittle or embarrass anyone, I believe that the relevant issue is far more than free speech. Our society is facing a threat to its very basis for what we all recognize as our “Americanism”. While Islamic representatives claim that certain conduct to them is “insulting”, they fail to recognize that the Islamic belief system, and its sharia law is a life style and belief system that is innately contrary to everything that I consider American. Their commentary fails to recognize that what they are being “accused” of is an inability to assimilate into American society, as has all those immigrants have done after coming into this country for the past hundreds of years. By refusing to recognize that fact, and by constantly claiming that they are being insulted, they merely accentuate their own failure to see the so-called “trees from the forest.” To me the bottom line is not free speech, which is but one of the rights that Islamists cannot understand, it is a philosophy of conduct that makes the possibility of assimilation impossible. Until the Islamists recognize that they must change the way they conduct themselves, and recognize that it is they who must adapt. They need to see the reality. Until they do that, they will never be able to assimilate into our great society.
8 years ago
Reply to
Dennis
It is not just assimilation. It is that Islamists are waging a stealth jihad.
“The process of settlement is a ‘Civilization-Jihadist Process’ with all the word means. The Ikhwan [Muslim Brotherhood] must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging’ its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers…”
http://www.clarionproject.org/Muslim_Brotherhood_Explanatory_Memorandum
This, The 1991 Muslim Brotherhood Strategic Goal for North America, is the reason that CAIR exists — to suppress free speech.
8 years ago
Muhammed is a goat pluggin, child raping, murdering, woman beater and is NO FRIEND TO THE CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE. My God sent the prophet God Jesus that died to set the captives free, not to steal, kill and destroy like Muhammed commands. Ya hear these liberals defending Muslims but out of the other side of their mouth they pretend to teach love and tolerance. The Muslim religion is HATE and MURDER liberal morons!!! You will find out soon enough, the hardest way possible. When you’re waiting for your turn to submit to Allah or die, you will say to yourselves, I brought this upon my stupid self.
8 years ago
Reply to
Love Teresa
Jesus died for our sins, but Death couldn’t hold Him. He’s alive today, at the right-hand of His Father in heaven, and HE IS COMING BACK. All this swirling chaos around us is merely the prelude to His return. Keep looking UP: His return will be swift and sure – there will be much confusion while the talking heads spin all their prearranged stories to deceive the gullible masses left behind – but the end is not yet. Pray in earnest for dreams and visions, for these ARE the days foretold from of old. Learn to love your enemies through Christ, but hate their wicked ways. If you succeed, you’ve gained a Brother or Sister in Christ. But if they remain apart, your prayers will be like heaping hot coals from the fires of Hell upon their heads. Selah, and stay in the Peace of Christ Almighty, that He may bless you exceedingly always.
8 years ago
Is it my imagination, or are there more trolls here than usual?
An awful lot of naive sounding posters with low vote counts.
