Against my better judgment ...

[Boreal]

39. The entire conversation

that has ensued as a result of the murders in Paris and Charlie Hebdo has been really interesting to observe. I'm shocked at how many don't get the principal of freedom of speech.

I'm an absolutist on freedom of speech and will defend anyone's right to exercise it, no matter how repugnant, racist, bigoted, stupid or insensitive. At the same time, I agree with you about ridicule. It's not something I choose to engage in but if others do I don't much care. That's on them.

One of the funnier things I've observed is how some who express extreme dislike. disapproval or even hate for Islam try to remain politically correct and say it's not about Muslims or they aren't attacking Muslims. I keep repeating this and will again: Islam is a religious philosophy consisting of beliefs and practices. It's not Islam the idea that discriminates against women, punishes gays, delivers barbaric punishments, tries to change the cultures of countries they adopt. It is Muslims, the people who adhere to the belief system. Islam is expressed by and through Muslims. Without Muslims (the adherents to the belief system and practices) making Islam manifest, it would be a moot point. It is Muslims, the people, who make Islam come alive. I know this seems like I'm straying off point from your OP but bear with me because I'm getting there, lol.

Brigitte Bardot has been an open critic of Islam and Muslims - especially the abuse of animals - and the negative effects of Muslim immigrants in France. Unlike Charlie Hebdo, she never couched her criticism as humor and ridicule. She said and wrote what she meant, in a direct manner. For that she has been charged with hate speech and prosecuted five times (there is no freedom of speech in France). Her approach is genuine and honest, whether one agrees with her or not, while so called satire is very passive aggressive. People defend the the passive aggressive (which has also resorted to really lowbrow sexual content) but call Bardot a bigot. Honesty is punished but ridicule is lauded, even though the target of the criticism is exactly the same. I see some kind of weird schizo thinking in that that has everything to do with political correctness and an imposed demand to embrace "multiculturalism". Well, multiculturalism is the opposite of integration and assimilation so the alleged proponents of multiculturalism are kidding themselves if they think they can attack Islam but not the Muslim who is the personification of Islam! So, they hide behind passive aggressive ridicule and call it humor. While I support anyone's right to to engage in ridicule, I don't respect it as honest or productive. I respect Bardot for being forthright and expressing her genuine disgust and concerns. It's not the criticism that I question, its how its done. One way is honest while the other is not. Why hide behind ridicule and "humor" instead of being forthright?

Anyway, I'm all for anyone saying straight out, "I don't like you or the repulsive things you do and say". Cartoons of a naked Mohammed, aimed directly at the Muslims who believe in him, do fuck all to address real complaints. Bardot attacked their behavior. Charlie Hebdo attacked them through their religion and prophet which is convoluted, indirect and chickenshit.