On the cover of this post-murdering attack issue, the prophet Mohammed sheds a tear while holding a “Je Suis Charlie” sign, under the words “Tout Est Pardonné” (“All Is Forgiven”).
CNN says that it won't show the cover due to “potentially offensive images of the prophet.”
“CNN will not show you the new cover, which depicts the Prophet Muhammad, because it is our policy not to show potentially offensive images of the prophet”NBC and MSNBC also refused to show the cover; most other national TV stations didn't lack the backbone.
CNN's claim, is (of course) full of bullshit, since they had no issue (no pun intended), as recently as 2014 in publishing Andres Serrano's "Piss Christ," which is certainly an offensive image to some Christians, none of which, as far as I know, has retaliated to CNN in any terroristic manner. Furthermore, Muslims also consider Christ a Prophet!
The power of art reveals the double standards of these cojonesless news organizations... uh?
Cowards...
As an artist that sometimes creates controversial pieces, I fervently defend freedom of speech in all forms. But it's simply a fact that Charlie Hebdo has published many images that are offensive to certain parts of society. That periodical has also published cartoons that I - as an African-American - would find offensive. If the networks that you mentioned chose not to re-print the picture of the Muhammad, it could quite possibly be out of respect, and not, how you stated, because of a lack of "cojones". You also mentioned a lack of consistency in their policy. And if true, is definitely something that should be addressed. But is your argument that just because they have offended people in the past, that they should continue to offend people?
ReplyDeleteSidney,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment and keep creating art!
My issue is lack of consistency and a large degree of palpable fear to a reaction by extremists and professional agitators...
here's my point a little clearer (I hope): Just like you, sometimes I find some things offensive - but rather than try to get them off the plate for ALL, just because they offend me, is not the solution... in fact, more often than not I would defend the publisher's right to publish the image... furthermore, in the case of Islam... One of the moral traits most strongly recommended in the Qur’an is forgiveness - the issue is that these terrorists are using Islam to satisfy their own sick drives... Allah commands in the Qur'an, 24:22: “… They should rather pardon and overlook. Would you not love Allah to forgive you? Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
CNN and MSNBC feel "safe" publishing potential insulting images to all other religions, but they make an exception to Islam not because they are afraid of insulting Muslims, but because they are afraid to insult Islamic extremist terrorists, who pollute Islam by using it as a weapon, rather than as a religion.
Keep creating art!