That Clare College Mohammed Cartoon

At last, here is a copy of the Clare College Mohammed cartoon that caused all that trouble a few weeks ago.

As you can see, it shows a picture of the student union president next to one of the Danish cartoons.

The person who sent this to me also attached a copy of page six, which has some good jokes and tips on how to read the bible.

I'm told that the college disciplinary hearing has taken place and that, although some of the college fellows wanted to expel the guest editor,  most were satisfied with making him write an apology. This appeared in the next issue of Clarification. A copy was placed in every college pigeon-hole so that all students and members of staff got one.  I don't know whether the apology was sent to the local Muslim leaders who kicked up such a row.

The guest editor and the other students involved have, apparently, still not been told whether they will be prosecuted.

Anyway, have a look for yourself and see what all the fuss is about. To me, it looks like typical student irreverence and there is nothing worth getting steamed up about, unless you are the student union president, who, I guess, might be just a bit annoyed.

   

Comments

[Chris U]

Is that all? Is that what all the fuss is about? Bit of an anticlimax, isn’t it?

So this is the level of cowardice and intolerance to which our great centres of learning and free enquiry have sunk. It’s a long time since I was at university, but aren’t they supposed to be places (a) which encourage freedom of thought and enquiry and (b) where student excesses are viewed with a certain amount of indulgence? Don’t seem to recall any crackdown when they were holding forth against the evil Thatcher in the 1980’s. Funny, that.

And why aren’t the students out on the streets demonstrating against this grotesque infringement of their rights to free speech?

Perhaps someone of the islamic persuasion could tell us which parts of the text aren’t true.

I might conclude that Christians probably have more grounds for complaint, if I could understand all those biblical references. But then of course they won’t go out and kill people, will they?

[G. Tingey]

Gutless cowardice and dhimmi appeasment of the worst sort.

The Clare College authorities should be ashamed of their stupidity.

[Peter Risdon]

I've taken the liberty of reproducing these images, Steve, on the grounds that since they've been banned, the more they get reproduced the better.

Please let me know if that's a problem.

[Steve]

No, Peter, post away. And that goes for anyone else too.

At least we can all go to jail together.

[James G]

Chris U,
Can't speak for all Christians, but this one was not particularly offended by those bits that sent Christianity up. In fact, they appear to be backed up by good scholarship. I'm sure others might get offended, but for me, it is one of those things that enlivens and challenges my faith rather than makes me want to launch a jihad...

[Peter Risdon]

There's a thought. It'd make a change to do so in a good cause 8-P

[Esmerelda Weatherwax]

Thanks for that. I have put a link from NER to here.

[Chris U]

James

Thanks for your explanation. Anyway, even if Christians are offended, I don't see them threatening violent retribution or even complaining to the College. They're grown-up enough to take it on the chin, in other words.

If we stood up to these extreme elements they might eventually learn to do the same. And the more moderate among them might take courage and speak out more. As it is, the extremists seem to be pushing on an open door...

Our civilisation, and our democracy, is going to suffer terrible damage if we carry on with this absurd policy of appeasement.

[David]

Good work, Steve.

[pommygranate]

Steve

I have to disagree.

I was very disappointed when i saw the publication. It is gratuitously offensive to Muslims. Not to Islamic extremists, Islamists or to those who invoke terror, but to ordinary Muslims.

He basically accused them all of being rapists. This is not 'gutless cowardice and dhimmi appeasement'. It is a stupid, peurile article that could not have been more offensive had it tried.

He is a very, very lucky boy that he still has a place at Cambridge.

[Jonny]

Pommygranate, I disagree.

The article specifically makes fun of those who would riot and take violent action in response to being called violent (which occurs, at least according to the news reports I've seen, in the 'Islamic World').

Yes, the article replaces violence and killing with rape in the satirical questions, but in this sense it equates those who take violent action (and not ordinary muslims) with rapists.

Whether any murderous rioters reading the article were offended by being compared to rapists I don't know, and couldn't care less.

[drunkenblogger]

LGF have mysteriously got up exactly the same pictures as here. Charles hardly ever credits anyone for their work...

[kingpin]

Pommygranate,

He really doesn't accuse Muslims of being rapists. That's just not what it says at all.

It's using rape as an _analogy_ to hold the cartoon riots up to ridicule. It's not that funny - so what?

[jonz]

What is it with the Americans? Don't they like hat tipping Brits?

Jihad Watch have them too now

[pommygranate]

Did LGF get the pics from the PP? Cheeky bastards. I had assumed it was the other way round. Apologies to Steve.

Jonny and Kingpin - a religion that proclaims peace and then threatens violence to anyone that disagrees is open to satire. In fact, it is a satirist's equivalent of an open goal. It is a disgrace that not one 'famous' comedian has the guts to have a go.

However, for all his courage (and, perhaps, naivety), i believe our mysterious 'Guest Editor' has put the ball over the bar from two feet. Rape is an emotive charge. He most certainly has equated the 'Islamic world' with rape. It's a shame because it's a wasted opportunity.

[Esmerelda Weatherwax]

Good manners in the matter of a hat tip costs nothing, but its absence means a great deal.

[Alison]

Steve - have you noticed 'Little Green Footballs' have your images up on their site without any credit? No surprise there given how they like to be the Voice of Authoritiaaaay (say it Cartman style) on all things British.

[Steve]

Yes Alison, I have noticed. They are the same files - I know because the person who sent them to me did all the blacking out of names and faces.

I also know someone sent LGF a link to this site but not copies of the files.

Blogger etiquette? What's that then?

[Cleanthes]

Pommygranate:

" Rape is an emotive charge. "

I know it's really stupid. How much nicer merely to have been accused of stoning women and gays to death, ransacking unrelated embassies, murdering authors and other, you know, trivial joshing stuff like that.

[nick]

It must really stink to be called a "lucky boy" when you've just been interviewed under caution for expressing a view about a religion.

Seems to me that when you have to fight your own battles against people persecuting you, you're not a "boy" any more.

[Anon]

I am disappointed these were forwarded to you, I can see no purpose for it than to stir up trouble about the whole thing again. It should have been dealt with within college and a potentially dangerous situation this avoided. Considering the reaction of previous publications of the cartoons, although the 'editor' was an idiot, the people that raised a stink about it would have been as much to blame for any serious consequences arising from it.

[poimandres]

Anon.
try growing a brain