The Furious Spinner

Windchime Walker talks about what's happening in Iraq and links to Riverbend's blog. She also has some interesting things to say about the cartoon fiasco. She has a more in-depth perspective than I did in my writing. Jane Smiley had a good piece on it too. She talks about the differences between cultures, particularly the North and South of these here states. I agree with her. Absolutely. And I still think they're wrong. I think people killing other people over perceived or direct insults is absurd and obscene. It is the better valor to walk away. Violent crime is going up in this country because people are killing each other over the stupidest things. Being "dissed" is not a reason for violence. Give me a break. Violence is the end of imagination. Just look at what our government is doing. They have no imagination; they are so stuck in their own cultures (see Jane Smiley's essay)that they cannot perceive of another way. But then I'm a writer. Freedom of speech is everything to me. When they start killing and/or imprisoning writers, artists, cartoonists, satirists, it's the end of all of us.

And yes, I'm certain we're not getting the straight skinny on any of this. But I'm still asking: why are thousands of people rioting over a cartoon? Why aren't they rioting over the United States invading Iraq? Over their countrymen starving themselves to death in Guantanamo? 4 comments

4 Comments:

"Being 'dissed' is not a reason for violence." Couldn't agree more. After all, I believe it is Bush's perception of being dissed that took the country into the wholly illegitimate, immoral, and stupid Iraq war. It's just words and pictures, people. We're not in kindergarten anymore. Time to grow up.

I am reminded of the time that George Clooney (and others) were the subject of a fictitious magazine cover that portrayed them as traitors because of their opposition to the Iraq war. Did Mr. Clooney get his cohorts together and riot? No. He made up his own fictitious magazine cover in which he portrayed prominent people such as the Pope and Pat Buchanan as traitors for their opposition to the Iraq war. (You'll find a brief note about the incident towards the end of this link.) It was the perfect response. Without rising to the bait, he answered the charge with wit, charm, and truth. Those offended by the cartoons might consider concocting a few cartoons of their own, perhaps depicting cartoonists as ignorant dolts. This is more the way grown ups address their grievances.

By  Mario, at 1:32 PM  

Thanks, Mario. Good example. I would guess we sound very patronizing to those who are so outraged by these cartoons, however. Who knows? Maybe we're wrong. Maybe tolerance isn't a good thing. Of course, then some would say we weren't being tolerant because we didn't understand their intolerance over these cartoons which they considered intolerant. I'm giving myself a headache. Nunnery, anyone?

By  Kim Antieau, at 1:56 PM  

OK, maybe I was a little patronizing. When the fatwa was declared against Rushdie I told an acquaintance I thought it was a terrible thing to do. He told me I didn't understand how offended Muslims were by The Satanic Verses. He was right. I didn't understand then and I don't understand now. But I still don't think you plot someone's death just because they offended you. There have to be other better ways to deal with being offended, and I mean that in the most unpatronizing way possible.

By  Mario, at 2:17 PM  

Well said.

By  Kim Antieau, at 2:21 PM  

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