Blasphemous
Cartoons: Our Responsibility
By Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd.)
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Western societies with their
so-called liberal approach towards life, which
is more of a concomitant of lewdness and promiscuity,
and their much trumpeted freedom of speech, must
draw a fine line of propriety between such freedom
and the licence to mock at and ridicule the beliefs
of others. We are aware of their waywardness and
the so-called secularism and agnosticism which
turn most of them away from religion resulting
not only in the abandonment of their churches
but also transforming some of them into night
clubs!
It is a common sight in Belgium to see a church
yard serving as a huge bicycle park. The world-renowned
churches of Europe, thronged the year around by
tourists, hardly hold any Sunday service. Making
fun of Holy Christ (Peace Be Upon Him) in cheap
jokes sends no qualms in the mind of most there.
Nothing much in terms of respect for august religious
personalities can be expected from such people.
This, however, does not mean that they could altogether
be indifferent to the sensitivities of others
in taking liberties with the most exalted being
(SAW) in the universe. Muslims all over the world
are rightly anguished and justified in protesting
against the cartoon profanity. But the protests
should be peaceful, resolute and disciplined.
Damaging public and private property, resorting
to hooliganism, looting and arson cannot be condoned.
Burning of embassies and calling for the death
and destruction of the perpetrators tarnish the
very image of Islam, a religion of peace.
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