The Innocence of Muslims

Yes, this is a post about what is happening across the globe.  Notably a film and come cartoons that have caused offence.

Let me start by stating my position on this.  I think that freedom of speech is important.  I think that we should be free to speak our minds, and if doing so, in what every form, is considered an act of blasphemy, so be it.

I also think that with great power comes great responsibility.

And free speech gives us great power.  And some are using it for good.

Needless to say, I think that it is wrong for people to demonise Islam and try to stir up hatred.  Just as I think that it is wrong for (a minority) of Muslims to attack and kill and destroy things that are linked to America because of a video.  Of course, saying this, it is not just about a video, it is about the way that many in the Muslim world see America.  But let us face a few facts.  America can be worse, far worse.  It has been in the past, and if Romney is elected, can be so again in the future. While many people have died in Iraq and Libya, thanks to the actions of the USA, one thing that they do have is the right to vote.  (I do not include Afghanistan in this due to the problems that have been present with Putin like elections there.)  I understand the frustration that many have towards America, especially the way it has backed oppressive regimes but two wrongs do not make a right.  Islam is perverted by extremists and idiots, and it is wrong to judge all Muslims on the actions of a minority, however much damage that minority causes.  And the same should hold about they way Muslims look at others (again, please note, I am aware that it is only a minority that are being violent).  I have not watched the Innocence of Muslims, and unlike one of my friends (who felt it to be a terrible YouTube clip) I am not going to.  It is my choice not to do so. I am not going to look at the cartoons in Charlie Hebdo either.  Again, that is my choice.

One of the many things that Islamophobes use to castigate Islam is the claim that one wife of the Prophet was nine when the marriage was consumated with the marriage taking place when she was aged six.  Not everyone agrees with this claim.  Even if true, it has to be considered in a historical context.  I was born in England.  I live in England.  And my nation has had many child Queens.

Ealdgyth was the wife of Harold, it is recorded that she was born in 1057 and married in 1066, which means she was married at the age of thirteen.
At the age of twelve, Isabella of Angoulême became Queen in 1200, married to King John.
Queen to Henry III, Eleanor of Provence was queen at the age of thirteen.
Eleanor of Castile was Queen aged thirteen to Edward I being born in 1241 and married in 1254.

But Isabella of Valois was only aged eight on getting married to Richard II before her birthday in 1396 being born in 1387.

This is just looking at the Queens of England.  I have not looked at the ages of Queens of other European nations at the time but I am sure that there are many child brides there.  I am proud of the history of England, but there are things that have happened in the past which are not acceptable now.  People who wish to 'bash' Islam need to learn history and learn that nations and cultures that the far right consider 'civilised' have a history that is not whiter than white.

I do not judge all Catholics on the actions of paedophile priests.  I do not judge all Israeli's on the actions of Israel, just as I do not judge all Jews on the actions of a few.  I do not judge anyone based on the actions of a minority, and no one should this applying to Muslims as well as Hindu's and any religion.  I judge people on who they are, just like I would like to be judged.

Below is a quote from a famous play.

"Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, heal'd by the same means,
warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and summer
as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us,
do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?
If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that.
If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility?
Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his
sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge.
The villainy you teach me, I will execute,
and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction." (Act III, scene I) The Merchant of Venice

In summary, we are all different, but we are also all the same.  We should respect each other and the differences between us.  The past can teach us what happens when he let fear and hatred fester and breed.  Let us not let that happen again.