What is a cartoon? It is a work of art that aims to illustrate thoughts or actions of specific people, groups of people or organizations in a realistic, semi-realistic or non-realistic manner. Many times, cartoons tend to illustrate a few key points in an exaggerated manner so as to cause effect.
Now the question – why do the muslims get upset when Muhammad, the founder of islam, is depicted in a cartoon?
One explanation is that cartoons are akin to idolatry and since islam is against idolatry, muslims are against cartoons of Muhammad. But you would say, this is errant nonsense. Cartoons, rather than idolizing a person, tend to make them an object of ridicule. So a person who is truly against idolizing human beings will be a vocal supporter of drawing cartoons of people.
Another explanation often given is that Muslims rather than being against idol worship, have been conditioned to idolize Muhammad to an extent that they are unable to tolerate anything said against Muhammad.
So, let us examine both the explanations closely. What if an artist tries to draw a caricature of Mohammad with the intention of belittling him and making him an object of ridicule rather than worship? But is it possible that the caricatured depictions of Muhammad resembles what is recorded about him so closely that the caricatured Muhammad seems like the real Muhammad especially to those muslims that idolize him. Let us consider some of the cartoons that have been drawn of Muhammad:
- Cartoon showing a man murdering a woman. ✔ Check. Records show that Muhammad ordered that.
- Cartoon showing man beheading a number of people. ✔ Check. Records show that Muhammad ordered the beheading of jewish prisoners of war.
- Cartoon showing man robbing caravans. ✔Check. Mohammad taught his followers how to be successful pirates.
- Cartoon showing a 54 year old man doing the deed with a 9 year old. ✔ Check. Mohammad did that
- Cartoon showing a man lusting for and then marrying his adopted son’s wife. ✔ Check. Mohammad did that
- Cartoon showing a man buying and selling human beings like cattle and sheep. ✔ Check. Mohammad did that
- Cartoon showing a man taking women as sex slaves. ✔ Check. Mohammad did that too
Need I say more? If caricatured depictions of Muhammad resembles the historical Muhammad so closely, is it not understandable that muslims are unable to tell the difference between the caricature and the real thing? Is it not entirely within the realm of possibility that muslims who are conditioned to idolize muhammad may now start worshipping the caricatures? This brings us to the next question that will be asked – how do you idolize someone who is beheading people. Tough, is it not, when the emperor is not wearing any clothes?
