Thursday, July 29, 2010

International Burn A Koran Day

Oh chickadees. Haven't we been over this before with the whole "Draw Mohammed" fiasco? Haven't I already explained why "protests" like this are really just thinly veiled excercises in xenophobia and racism?

Obviously I need to go over this again.

By violating objects and ideas that are held sacred by marginalized populations with an eye to upholding your own privileged hegemony you are doing harm. You are doing harm by normalizing and celebrating violence (for the violation of the sacred is a form of violence) against an entire population of people. You are doing harm by courting a negative reaction from this population that will then add to the fire that caricatures Muslims as reactive and unreasonable. You are doing harm by using your position of privilege to publicly deride an already marginalized population.

Sure, I realise this time this display of ignorance and prejudice is being organized by a fundamentalist non-denominational church in Florida (that has previously joined with the Westboro Baptist church, a punchline in and of themselves, to protest homosexuality) so commenting on it is like shooting fish in a barrel, but the Poultrygeist over here just sent me a link to the goddamn Facebook page for the "event" and over 1200 people have liked it.

Thank you humanity for this current fail that I may use it as an education tool. Hopefully. And I pray to whoever the fuck cares to listen that this time MY LESSON WILL STICK. Yours in faith, Cat.

P.S. If you are tempted to leave a comment about how no one has the right not to be offended and this is all about free speech, please read the comments on the "Draw Mohammed" post first, as I've spelt out a reply to that quite clearly. If you want to continue the conversation, by all means, but just make sure you read that first. I really don't like repeating myself.

4 comments:

  1. thank you for this post. actually, thank you for this entire site. it's nice reading what thoughtful AND witty people (OH SORRY, LIVESTOCK) have to say :)

    f.

    ReplyDelete
  2. f.:

    Thanks for the love. We appreciate our readers here as well. It's nice to know we're not shouting into an abyss :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just a way to show all Christians don't think that way. I'm sure the
    vast majority of Christians in the world, and even in America, are
    against this horrendous and completely anti-Christian initiative, we
    can prove it if this group reaches more members than the International
    Burn a Koran Day page. Please join.

    http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=142891872396094&ref=ts

    We won't burn a Koran, because Jesus wouldn't have done it !!!

    Muslims are also welcome, if they want to discuss in a respectful way
    (but all agressive/disrespectful posts will be deleted, no matter who
    posts them).

    My way to spell Islam : I Sincerely Love All Muslims

    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm a Christian and disagree with Burn A Koran Day. If you want to know why I posted a little blog about it:

    http://eyeonapologetics.com/blog/2010/08/02/burn-a-koran-day-should-christians-participate/

    Glenn Hendrickson
    eyeonapologetics.com/blog

    ReplyDelete

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