Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit: Chicago Islam Examiner
By Qasim Rashid | Chicago, IL | May 22, 2010
A much unreported 'battle' took place yesterday between Muslims and Atheists that focused around the controversial May 20th Everybody Draw Muhammad Day. The results were astounding.
Yesterday, I wrote an article condemning any and all Muslims who chose to respond to EDMD with violence. I reaffirmed what I've written in several articles that Islam celebrates free speech. Though EDMD is likely offensive to the vast majority of Muslims, the only response the Qur'an permits is one of peace and tolerance. While I doubt the Muslims at the University of Wisconsin-Madison read my article - they certainly behaved in a peaceful manner.
So what of this battle? At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Atheist, Humanist, and Agnostic group chose to exercise their Constitutional free speech and proceeded to draw Prophet Muhammad. They traversed the campus, drawing chalk stick figures of the Prophet where ever they could. Then, they wrote "Muhammad" next to the stick figure, thus completing their artistic masterpieces.
The Muslim Student Association took immediate, and comical, action. They followed suit. Muslims at the University of Wisconsin-Madison followed the Atheist group all over campus. As the Atheist group drew a picture of Prophet Muhammad and moved on, the Muslim group drew boxing gloves on the hands of the stick figure. Then, they added "Ali" under the name Muhammad. Thus was born, Everybody Draw Muhammad (Ali) Day.
Reports indicate that the Atheist group is complaining to the University that the Muslim Student Association violated their right to draw Prophet Muhammad. Perhaps they have a case. If what the MSA did was against University policy, I certainly don't approve of violating University policy.
However, how great would it be if Pakistan, instead of banning Facebook, for example, responded with a peaceful (and comical) campaign to counter? I, as an American Muslim, would love to see that happen. I suspect my fellow non-Muslim Americans might agree? For the Pakistan Supreme Court that decided to ban Facebook, and the thousands that protested in the streets—there's a lesson for you in the MSA of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
On a side note, Muhammad Ali has not commented on the 'blasphemous' drawings of him. However, somehow I doubt he'll protest.
Read original article here: Everybody draw Muhammad day: Atheists "vs" Muslims
Qasim
Rashid is a contributing member of Majlis Sultanul Qalm, USA (MSQ USA) and regularly
writes for Examiner.com and various other publications on topics ranging
from Islam to human rights. Leave your thoughts and comments, or email
Qasim at 1muslim.examiner@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.