Of wobbly legged friends and practical jokesters

Dusty,

If you read this, hope all the tests and things go ok. Passing out so that you don't have to finish your gig on Sunday night was a bit drastic in my opinion... i mean, we weren't playing THAT bad were we???

So anyway, sitting at home this evening Sharon and I are watching CSI when I see someone through the blind and hear running down our decking. Naturally I go outside to check it out, and what do I see. We'll, firstly I see things plastered to the outside of my car. They read

Name: Nath & Sharon
Crime: Asking too many questions...
Sentence: A lifetime supply of pranking!

So anyway, I then look up to see someone (and yes, I DO know which one of you it was although I assume you were both there...) running away down the driveway into the distance. Not-so-mystery-girl, you would have been better staying put - I wouldn't have gone that far... But taking off down the driveway wasn't exactly composed under pressure. :)

So, I'm wondering what to do, what to do. I mean, I simply asked the obvious question as to whether or not they lipsticked Brad's car, which it seemed pretty likely they did. Next thing I know they mess with someone in a whole different LEAGUE!

We're watching girls... and of course we know who you are, so if the metaphorical gauntlet has been slapped across the face then so be it. Just wondering whether exposure on my Blog will help with the publicity...

Hmmm... nah. Not yet anyway...

What do you want... pretty busy here!

Sorry, the title is a quote from an old game I used to play in the UK that we would joke about at work... Won't be funny to anyone else... *sigh*

Just a quick note for anybody still checking my blog to say I know it's been a week (again). I'm getting there. Work is swamping me and from a mental engery perspective, so any time I have left I just kind of flake out at the moment. I'll work on the posting - promise!

"Hello, Kettle? Pot here. You're black!"

Here's the problem... There is now a media competition running by an Islamic newspaper inviting submissions of cartoons with the subject of the holocaust. Apparently it is to test the tolerance of freedom of speech in Western media. I'm sure it's not the same people at all that are insiting riots, but what strikes me is that you kind of lose your right to protest against something if you then decide to do it yourself. It just simply takes all of the sting out of your arguments.

It's one thing to stand up for your beliefs. Another entirely when you stand up for your beliefs, but then go and do the same thing in return... The protests become irrelevant and disempowered. Those moderates who may have been sympathetic become enitrely less so when you retaliate in kind. I can certainly understand how this could be the response of some to what was a deeply offensive incident to their beliefs. It's just that it's difficult once you start doing the same thing in return.

The little elves...

Once there were four little elves. Two of them couldn't stop licking their lips because of all the chocolate they just ate, one was VERY upset because she didn't get any, and the fourth one... well, "d'uh, what chocolate?" is the kind of the HE most often says...

OK. No, I don't have a really good reason for posting this picture... Sorry about that. You see, when Sharon and I lived in the UK we took a trip to Venice, and down one of the very back alley ways, was a stunning little costume shop, filled with amazing hand crafted masks and things. In the front window were these four dolls. They were so amazing that I wanted an excuse to post them here... I couldn't think of an excuse, so i just went ahead and posted them anyway. If you can think of a story for them then please post a comment - I'm dying here!

Oh yeh. To REALLY see how good they look, click the picture for a larger version!

Other blogs

Finally got around to adding a couple of links to friends blogs today. Fee is a prolific and consistent blogger, so always something new. Brad has a hidden talent for entertaining stories, and Darren, well Darren had what many would see as an unusal life, so whenever he actually gets around to blogging it's usually pretty fascinating...

If you are reading my blog and want a link to yours on my site, place the reference in the comment section. If I like it I'll make a link. (And in return put a link to mine in yours - you know you want to!)

Free speech and your beliefs

All of these 'goings on' at the moment surrounding the cartoons of the prophet Muhammad have so many sides, issues and points of view that debate could seemingly rage for a long time.

How do you weigh up freedom of speech and expression against the rights of others not to feel offended, disenfranchised and mocked? How do you understand each other when you view the world so fundamentally differently?

As a committed Christian, I know my job is to love others and stand up for my beliefs, but I get frustrated when I hear people with no religious convictions complain about religion and politics not mixing. The very nature of who I am cannot suddenly split into two seperate things. Every way I view the world is THROUGH my beliefs, as is every other person on this planet.

So, I read an article yesterday pointing out a couple of things. Firstly, it stated the reason that images of Muhammad are not allowed is to avoid a situation of idolatry. As a Christian, I can understand this concern. The author then argues that therefore, these cartoons should not be an issue - they are hardly going to lead a Muslim into idolatry. Fair point - sort of. He also then stated that there are Islamic bookstores that have violent literature promoting hatred and violence towards both Jews and Christians, and that this is far worse than the cartoons, and smacks of grave hypocracy.

Now, on the surface at least, the argument seems reasonable. However, the reality of religion is not always one of seeing things the same way for all. Perhaps it should, and certainly that is a reason many don't like religions of any kind. But when you fight for your beliefs you don't always see things as others would - your concern is your beliefs. You may fight for a cartoon, but still have literature condemning others. Right or wrong, that is often the case, and THAT seems to be the problem here - that is not something that can be changed by sound reasoning and logical arguments.

I'm sure not all Muslims feel burning down embassies and killing people is a reasonable response to the act of someone who according to their beliefs is doomed anyway, but it is evident that some do. It is happening even as I write this in response to those cartoons.

Publishing those cartoons is a strong statement that people won't be bowed to others' censorship. And since the original publication (over 4 months ago, so why the flare up now??) it has been published by roughly 20 other publications in other countries as a show of support. But, if anyone thinks that will somehow 'prove' the point then I fear they have it all wrong. It is just as likely to widen the gap between Islam and the West and just as likely to push moderate Muslims to more extreme views.

The only question remains is this: Is that reason enough to censor freedom of speech? I have my own answer, but it's my own... What's yours?