Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Okay, I bash them enough so let's point out an agreement: I agree with JonJayRay when he says that the refusal of many newspapers to print this Opus cartoon out of fear of offending Muslims is beyond absurd. Editor and Publisher reports that at least 25 newspapers out of the 200 that run the cartoon, and possibly many more, won't be running this one because they're afraid of offending Muslims with it.
Berkeley Breathed's Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 strips -- which comprise sort of a two-part series -- show the Lola Granola character wanting to become an Islamic radicalist (and wear traditional Muslim clothing) because it's a "hot new fad on the planet." Content also includes what Shearer described as "a sex joke a little stronger than we normally see."Wyson said some client papers hesitated to run a sex joke and others won't publish any Muslim-related humor, whether pro or con. "They just don't want to touch that," she said.
I've said it before, I'll say it again: we absolutely should not be acquiescing to the insanity of the radical Muslims in cases like this. They seek nothing less than the destruction of all liberty to criticize their religion; the last thing we should be doing is voluntarily censoring ourselves. I'm not crazy about arguments that take the form of "if we do X, the terrorists will have won", but what else is there to say other than that in such cases?
It's as insane when it is justified by leftists on the basis of cultural relativism as it is when it's justified by rightists like Dinest d'Souza on the basis of his own moral crusades. I say no. We will not, cannot, give up any measure of our liberty to appease violent thugs, not now, not ever. If your religion says that it's okay to kill those who criticize that religion, then your religion needs a lot more criticism, not less.
Comments
Especially because this isn't really offensive in any meaningful way. Anyone who'd be offended by it probably already has a stick up their ass.
If it means anything to you it's already been on Digg, Reddit, and Fark (and probably others), and thus been seen by more people than if the newspapers had just printed it.
Posted by: Stuart Coleman | August 26, 2007 10:58 AM
Is there any evidence that anyone was actually offended by this? I have the feeling that I'm going to need to run over to the local University library and crap on a copy of the Koran. Again.
Posted by: kehrsam | August 26, 2007 11:36 AM
A strong sex joke? Wow, that has to be one of the weakest sex jokes I've ever seen/heard.
If newspapers balk at running this because it might offend Muslims, but are A-OK with running B.C. even though it likely offends everyone non-Christian (not to mention anyone with an actual sense of humor), the world has gone topsy-turvy.
Posted by: Gretchen | August 26, 2007 11:58 AM
If only there was an organization dedicated to preserving freedom of speech, even when criticizing religion. . . Does STACLU know of anyone like that?
Posted by: William Burns | August 26, 2007 12:15 PM
I noticed that Opus was missing from the Detroit Free Press this morning. I guess this explains why.
Posted by: Wyatt | August 26, 2007 1:13 PM
Just for the record, it offends some Christians too.
(Of course, it, like Opus, shouldn't be self-censored for religious reasons.)
Posted by: JuliaL | August 26, 2007 3:11 PM
I actually had to go back and look at the comic a second time after reading this post to find the "sex".
Posted by: PhysioProf | August 26, 2007 3:13 PM
Wow, I'm pretty sure that "sex" joke would past clerical muster even in Iran.
The rest, not so much, but jeez how repressed do we have to become when a very well disguised entendre becomes a strong sex joke.
Sigh
Posted by: Dan McCausland | August 26, 2007 3:44 PM
What I find most funny about this day's Opus is that it plays up the right winger fantasy the liberalism leads to the likes of John Walker Lindh.
Posted by: Janine | August 26, 2007 6:38 PM
I can't wait to see Poly's take on this post.
Posted by: Tyler DiPietro | August 26, 2007 8:53 PM
The Philadelphia Inquirer had no hestitation--at least not public--publishing it today. Any paper that didn't has a spineless wonder for a comics editor, one who doesn't understand humor and its place in politics, etc. Now I'm looking forward to the sequel next Sunday. And may Breathed draw many more like it.
Posted by: Keanus | August 26, 2007 9:08 PM
Reporting in for Portland, OR. The strip made it into The Oregonian. I thought it was kind of "out there" but pretty amusing.
Posted by: Gerry L | August 27, 2007 12:05 AM
The cartoon doesn't even mock Islam, it mocks trendy-lefty westerners. This is simple spinelessness.
Posted by: James | August 27, 2007 1:11 AM
FWIW, it also made it into the jointly-published Sunday paper of the two Seattle dailies (it's a little weird, but yes, they publish a Sunday paper together). Since he lives around here, maybe that's not surprising. Also, since we're a bunch of lefty-loonies -- but maybe we're supposed to be fearful enough to NOT want it in? Oh, hell, I dunno. As I get older, I worry less about what I'm supposed to do and more about what I should do.
Posted by: Josh Hayes | August 27, 2007 2:14 AM
I give you kudos for admitting to agreeing with the STACLU loonies, that's for sure.
But make no mistake, if this comic was somehow aimed at the xian right in the US, you know those same fruitbars at STACLU would be screaming about how they were being persecuted.
I'm just pointing out the obvious. =)
Cheers.
Posted by: Fastlane | August 27, 2007 4:55 PM
Fuck Ed Brayton
Does anyone find the above offensive? Eddie? (Eddie knows that I'm just trying to open his mind and enlighten him, so I doubt he'll find it offensive.)
Posted by: Whitey the Cat | August 27, 2007 5:21 PM
I don't find it even remotely offensive, but then again I think the word "fuck" is highly undervalued.
It's an integral part of several of my favorite curses and a word I dare say I could not live without. Or rather, would not want to live without.
Posted by: Leni | August 27, 2007 7:47 PM
I don't think the problem is people not wanting to offend Moslems because they respect their religion -- I think people censor themselves because they're afraid of what might happen to them if some Moslems do get offended. They tend to kill and threaten people a lot. If it comes to a choice between your being beheaded and having your family killed, or not running the cartoon, most people will just not run the damn cartoon. It's not worth the risk.
Posted by: Stegve | August 28, 2007 10:59 PM