"The purpose of this event is to set a particular day as a day to support free speech, support the right to criticize and satirize religion, and to oppose any resolutions or laws, binding or otherwise, that discourage or inhibit free speech of any kind. The focus on 'blasphemy' is simply because it is such a salient issue, and one for which a lot of consciousness-raising is necessary."
The tag line "Ideas don't need rights, people do" is an apt one. Blasphemy is irreverence toward holy personages, religious artifacts, customs, and beliefs.
A very powerful tool of social commentary is satire: "vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon."
No ideas should be above criticism, whatever the form - if they're good enough, they'll survive.
Religion especially should not be above this, as, because of religious notions: raped girls are stoned to death for adultery; efforts to combat HIV are actively impeded and people are killed over drawing cartoons, for god's sake.
Some of the things out there are so sickening, that all you have left is a dark sense of humour to cope with it all.
There's a time and a place for serious discussion, and there's a time and a place for irreverence.
Go to Jesus and Mo for more comics like that one!
NSFW
Great contribution to Blasphemy Rights Day, thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat cartoon is dead on!
It's important to do exactly as you've done, point out that campaigns like this are a means to achieve serious humanitarian ends.
Social progress has always depended on a wide spectrum of tools. Satire has always been critical a component to effective movements. Those seeking to silence us know this very well, so censor satire with humanitarian ends as blasphemy.
Thank you very much for your kind words!
ReplyDeleteThe cartoon is dead, but suddenyl realise that it's not clear it's by someone else, so, just to be clear, The Author of www.jesusandmo.net must take credit (I'll edit post after this), then I look forward to checking out your blog Bo!
Happy Blasphemy Day.
ReplyDeleteThanks Holytape, I see your Sasquatch and raise you LOLCat
ReplyDeleteYou too have a happy Blasphemy Day!
ReplyDeleteI deny the Holy Ghost.
Thanks Leftritter - also, apologise HolyTape, I didn't look close enough at your link. Loving you art work!
ReplyDeleteI missed your comment yesterday so Happy belated Blasphemy day to you as well!
ReplyDeleteI read through quite a few of your posts before commenting and I really enjoyed them all and I Look forward to reading more, Thanks for the comment and the follow.
-CAINE-
Thank you very much Glenn!
ReplyDeleteI hope this video will be released for x-mas 2010!
ReplyDelete