The Mohammed Cartoons

As an artist and free-thinker the controversy over what I call the Mohammed Cartoons is fascinating.

I can easily understand how a person convinced that the material world is both a manifestation of, and manifested by, a deity's intent, is offended by anything that insults that deity (and by inference, them as well).

It is exceptionally dangerous for people to be so invested in such beliefs. I think it is the inherent danger to freedom of thought, of ALL forms of religious fundamentalism.

When you read the context from which the images arose you get a sense of why the cartoons arose--indignation. We often satirize those things which anger us--it is a safe form of expression in a culture. I for one think all the major religions should be satirized in cartoons. We take religion, especially in America, way too seriously. Maybe we should consider that taking religion too seriously is a manifestation of taking ourselves too seriously as well:

What the cartoons were about: "The cartoon series appearing on this page that sparked a global controversy was commissioned and published by a Danish newspaper as a deliberate challenge to Muslim insistence that their religious feelings must be given special consideration.

The drawings were commissioned by the Jyllands-Posten (Jutland's Post) to accompany an article on self-censorship and freedom of speech after Danish writer Kare Bluitgen was unable failed to find artists willing to illustrate his children's book about Mohammed for fear of violent attacks by extremist Muslims."

(UPDATE)

He has said the issue has gone beyond Denmark to become a clash between Western free speech and Islamic taboos.

Fresh Muslim protests flared on Friday in a number of countries over the cartoons, one of which shows the Prophet wearing a headdress shaped like a bomb.

Another shows him saying that paradise is running short of virgins for suicide bombers.