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Obama doesn’t get satire, and neither does the Muslim culture

Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, Jul 29, 2008 - 05:37:47 am MST

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To the Editor:

I finally figured it out. The “Grand Canyon” rift that divides Islam from the West pretty much boils down to (1) women, (2) alcohol, (3) religion and (4) satire. Focusing on the latter, Muslims can’t comprehend Westerners’ propensity to poke fun at ourselves.

In our culture, even images of Christian deities aren’t immune from occasional satirical barbs whereas Islamic tradition prohibits all depictions of the prophet. When a Danish newspaper printed cartoons (February 2006) satirizing the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims in Europe and the Middle East rioted, destroyed Western property. Publications in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain then re-printed caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad to show support for the offending Danish newspaper.

Recently, an edition of The New Yorker magazine hit the newsstands with a cover depicting Barack and Michelle Obama in the Oval Office, dressed respectively in Muslim and terrorist garb, both triumphantly bumping fists. The artist who drew the cover included a framed portrait of Osama bin Laden hanging over the mantle while below, burning in the fireplace, is an American flag. For more than 70 years, The New Yorker magazine has been an icon of open-mindedness, sometimes liberal, other times conservative, widely read in public and private college libraries, praised by educated Democrats and Republicans alike for its wide-ranging, in-depth, social, scientific, business and political articles; witty observations; and satirical cartoons.

The cover of the latest edition of The New Yorker elicited a lot of mirth from conservatives but triggered nothing but outrage amongst liberal Obama supporters. Democrats obviously love satire when it works to their benefit, but in this particular election year, they don’t seem to be willing to tolerate it any better than Muslims.

Francis McWilliams

Sierra Vista

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DR wrote on Aug 12, 2008 1:28 PM:

" The world will never get along and thats a fact, and BHO cannot save the US or the world. We should stick to our guns and religion which has worked for over 200 years, both of those are the American way. The 2nd amendment is a right and religion is a freedom. Since when are those bad things? According to Oblame-a they are. "

DR wrote on Aug 10, 2008 6:27 PM:

" At least Fox news tries to get to the truth, instead of the 3 networks that constantly show disdain for the commander in chief. Those networks are facist! "

Hmmm wrote on Aug 9, 2008 10:42 AM:

" The New Yorker is simply an outlet for hate that the republicans breed just like Fox news. They are so over the top bigoted it is just a shame. "

Aha wrote on Aug 7, 2008 8:55 PM:

" The New Yorker is sophisticated and witty, unless they use satire, heck it's Obama, not a lampoon of the prophet Mohammed, or is it?

Being schooled at an Indonesian Madrassa at age 6 during ones most formative and impressionable years leaves a life long memory that cannot be readily erased.

Intolerance taught at a young age explains how you can get married by and attend church for 20 years with a race baiting loon that you identify in your biography as your "Mentor". No wonder people are skeptical, talk is cheap, and actions speak louder than words. "

Hello wrote on Aug 7, 2008 6:22 PM:

" We do not need to do anything to Iran. It is not our fight. Israel is going to make Iran a parking lot probably by the end of the year. Why some republicans think otherwise is chalked up to pure paranoia spun by the paranoid right. "

Mark C. wrote on Aug 7, 2008 10:28 AM:

" The image reinforced a myth that the right has been selling, even in this commentary the author couldn’t help but find some way to associate Obama with Islam. “Obama doesn’t get satire, and neither does the Muslim culture.” It’s not that the Obama camp doesn’t get satire, it’s that the editors of the New Yorker don’t understand how much energy the Obama camp has put into trying to set the record straight and the sad truth that 1 in 10 Americans still believes Obama is Muslim. "

hmmm wrote on Aug 5, 2008 6:55 PM:

" To "To", No government research has been done on alternate fuel sources nor has any private automaker made the effort. If the Iranians controlled the oil supply they would cripple our economy. It is people with your mentality who have stifled American vision and ingenuity. To most people the potential threat of allowing Iran to go unchecked is a great risk to the US and the West. Walking away from the problem doesn't fix it. "

Winston Smith wrote on Aug 5, 2008 5:54 PM:

" To the best of my knowledge Iran, Persia hasn't moved since before Alexander the Great. Now it is a threat because of the proximity of our troops? "

Aha wrote on Aug 5, 2008 3:51 PM:

" Francis...well said!
It's not satire they don't get, it's humor. Satire requires intelligence. Humor requires a funny bone. No, Obama is not lacking in intelligence, he just lacks experience with the concepts of humor. OTOH, his rabid supporters may indeed not understand satire. Poking fun at Mohammed the Prophet carries a death sentence in the Muslim world. Ding...not funny if you are on the receiving end. Cav Scout...the Inquisition was 500 years ago. Progress has been made on the Christian side, sorry the same can't be said for the Muslim side, still living in the 8th century. "

To hmmm wrote on Aug 5, 2008 11:02 AM:

" Let Iran control all the oil in the middle east. In ten years it won't matter. The only thing we will have done is wasted billions of dollars in needless money, and put ourselves in harms way and for what? The answer is nothing. You are so narrow minded, how do you even function in daily life? "

hmmm wrote on Aug 5, 2008 4:54 AM:

" To "To" Troops aren't targets for strategic missles. We have troops and assets within range of Iran's missles in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq and Afghanistan so what is your point? We can strike with a lot more force next door to Iran then from 7000 miles away or from some ship. If you think we have record gas prices now, pull out of Iraq and watch the prices sky rocket when Iran controls the region's oil fields. "

To hmmm wrote on Aug 4, 2008 6:54 PM:

" Our troops are nothing more than strategic targets for Iran's missle forces. Leaving troops in Iraq to become targets when Israel bombs them is one of the biggest strategic mistakes we could make. Wake up and smell the coffee, Iran has already spread their revolution throughout the middle east. They have been supporting the Hizbolah and Hamas for decades. There support for the Taliban has been published, and bush decied to attack Iraq who we supported when Iraq and Iran fought. We don't need Iraqs oil. Our investment in Iraq has lead to record gas prices. "

hmmm wrote on Aug 3, 2008 10:07 PM:

" I'm not an advocate for McCain, but you can't undo History and leaving our troops in Iraq makes more sense then taking them out. Strategically having military bases on both sides of Iran allows us to apply pressure and enforce embargos and sanctions of Iran by the world community as they continue to defy the calls to eliminate their Nuclear weapons programs. Taking our troops out will allow Iran to carry out their long sought after ambitions of spreading their Islamic revolution throughout the Middle East. They will dominate the region's oilfields as soon as our troops leave Iraq. "

To hmmm wrote on Aug 3, 2008 6:23 PM:

" Bush has left Iran unchecked for 8 years. The idiot attacked the wrong country. Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. It had no nuclear capability. It was also at war with Al Qaeda. I could care less if Sadam beheaded his people. Iran has been supporting terrorism for decades, and Bush wants to attack Iraq, and now his ugly half brother McCain wants to spend 100 years there? These guys are idiots. "

hmmm wrote on Aug 1, 2008 11:02 PM:

" hmmm...you may want to rethink that sentiment there "Mike M". Good luck though on your trip to Afghanistan. The Rape depicted in the Story Kite Runner is an event where someone has Raped another male to humiliate them and demonstrate their control over that person...which is usually the goal of a rapist. Sharia Law forbids homosexuality. Homosexuality is punishable by death. Sharia Law does not recognize a human right of sexual self-determination. Under Sharia Law a Rape victim has to have four male witnesses to the crime. You may not want to travel to Afghanistan alone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia
http://www.un-instraw.org/revista/hypermail/alltickers/en/0424.html "

hmmm wrote on Aug 1, 2008 10:26 PM:

" Here's some Satire, hmmm. It seems that there's an Islamic Revolution coming to the country near you. Sit back, do nothing and don't miss the next showing in your own country. Get a sneak preview of the European Islamic Revolution. Which country will be first? Which will be next? Be the first to see what happens when Iran goes unchecked! Will Iran gain control of the Iraqi oil fields? Will they gain control of the Arabian Gulf? Let's wait and see. Get your tickets early so you can get a front row ticket. "

Mike M wrote on Aug 1, 2008 9:52 AM:

" gays would be killed under Islamic law??? Watch the Kite Runner movie. Based on the culture of the Afghan people. They would love me there. "

Seriously wrote on Jul 31, 2008 10:22 PM:

" To suggest Sen. Obama missed the Satire of the New Yorker cartoon is catty, after all, he is a learned man. The concern lays with the ignorance of the voting public and the ability of the media, radio, the internet, etc., to manipulate this information way beyond its original intent. You know that sir, and look how you have aided in making a mountain out of a mohill. What do you have to say for yourself? partisan junkie or sneaky pete? "

CAV SCOUT wrote on Jul 31, 2008 3:37 PM:

" With the world changing as quickly as it is, it will not take another 300 years for the Muslum culture to change. But if you ever been overseas to a third world country like that, where sewers run in trenches in the street,Sewers are nothing more than drains exiting from the side of thier homes, and chickens and goats live in there house. They all seem to have cell phones,though, in which some use to warn others of our troop strenth and route. Gays would be killed under Islamic law. CAV SCOUT out. "

Mike M wrote on Jul 30, 2008 11:23 PM:

" We are not talking 300 years ago. With the instant knowledge of what is happening around the world, the world is a diiferent place than it was 300 years ago. I make fun of you, you make fun of me. Get over it. I've been rediculed because I'm gay, I laugh it off. Why cant you? "

To Williams wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:37 PM:

" This is what McCain thought of the magazine On the record, the McCain campaign adds: "We completely agree with the Obama campaign, it's tasteless and offensive" So what is your deal Williams? Why would you find degrading a religion or a man and his family funny through satire? Obviously you are not on track with McCain's beliefs either because he did not find it at all amusing. You are truely a sick individual who lacks respect. You are obviously not a Christian. "

CAV SCOUT wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:38 PM:

" I believe to see Islam now, is to look at Christions 300 years ago. Do you think Christions would tolerate Jesus being "poked fun of" back then. In a time of burning heretics at the stake, I believe many would keep there mouth shut.The war between Catholics and Protestants should not be forgotten.The power struggle between Shia and Sunni can be looked at as the same.Perhaps in another 300 years Islam will fade as the Christion religion has. Still important, but less vital to your life. "

Francis McWilliams wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:19 AM:

" To the "Passerby" who prefers to remain anonymous but who is more than willing to advise me that my "genius" could be better directed if I were to write an outline of how "we in the WEst" should cope with encroaching Muslim culture, my advice to him (or her) is that there is nothing wrong with a chronic complainer that a dose of orignality won't aggravate. Touche, mi amigo "

Passerby wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:01 AM:

" You've done a good job of summarizing the usual conservative stance on Mohammedanism. I scoured your post for something new and/or original, but it was--sorry to say--ho hum. Instead of rehash, why don't you fire up your genius and outline how we in the West should cope with the encroaching Muslim culture. Now that would be worthy of a Letter to the Editor. "