Molly Norris, the cartoonist whose poster promoting “Everybody Draw Muhammed Day” on May 20th caused such a stir, has called it quits.
Her home page today shows the following statement:
I make cartoons about current, cultural events. I made a cartoon of a fictional ’poster’ entitled “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!” with a nonexistent group’s name — Citizens Against Citizens Against Humor — drawn on the cartoon. It was in specific response to the recent censoring of a South Park episode, a desire to bring home the importance of the first amendment. I did not intend for my cartoon to go viral. I did not intend to be the focus of any ’group’. This particular cartoon has struck a gigantic nerve, something I was totally unprepared for.
Personally I can feel afraid of Muslims because I really have no idea if in their hearts they hate non-Muslims. There are so many interpretations of the religion that I hear told — sometimes it is a very extreme translation (that’s the scary part, the radicals that believe that Westerners should die), then at other times it sounds more peaceful.
I hope for the sake of this country that moderate Muslims will speak out with everyone else against any violent members of that or any other religion. That way I would know that there is a difference. Maybe this cartoon I made, this fictional poster of “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!” had such a wildfire effect because it is finally time for Muslims and non-Muslims to understand one another more.
I am going back to the drawing table now!
Thanks,
Molly
I feel for Molly. She clearly wasn’t ready for all the fame and noteriety that her seemingly (to her) innocuous move made for herself. But there’s something disturbing about her tone here. Unlike many people, including my fellow bloggers and many commenters, sensitivity to cultural differences doesn’t seem to be Molly’s reason for pulling back.
There is clearly a tone of fear in what she’s done. Perhaps she’s simply an introvert and publicity gives her the creeps. Many artists are like that. But my instincts tell me that she’s actually caved because she fears genuinely for her safety.
It’s ironic, and a shame, for this to be the case. Those of us who have taken up this cause did so to mitigate such threats. As Mark Steyn so aptly put it:
If you want to put bounties on all our heads, you better have a great credit line at the Bank of Jihad. If you want to kill us, you’ll have to kill us all.
Fortunately for the First Amendment and other American values, the cause presses on, even without Molly: Citizens Against Citizens Against Humor.
Sometimes you choose to be an icon for unapologietic defense of Free Speech. Sometimes you have it thurst upon you.
-Nick (ColoradoPatriot, from HQ)
Agreed.
And for the record, I have yet to see criticism of Everybody Draw Mohammed Day which didn’t:
1) Assume that its supporters must be motivated by something other than a desire to protect free speech by “spreading around” the terrorist threats / risks of retaliation, and
2) Assume that “moderate Muslims” are delicate wallflowers, moral infants, unable to handle depictions of Mohammed despite the fact that such depictions are within Islamic tradition.
Both of which assumptions can only be characterized as stupid, as well as offensive to others (and thus hypocritical).
(i.e., offensive to moderate Muslims)
EDMD isn’t about about offending Muslims, it’s about saying “We’re all Spartacus.”
Sorry CP, you have just disproved the claims used to justify this silly, counterproductive demonstration.
So much for the disingenuous argument that this juvenile demonstration was ever going to be anything BUT a gratuitously offensive, utterly meaningless, juvenile demonstration MEANT to offend
Also so much for the ridiculous claim that this childish, unthinking demonstration is “spreading around the risk”. You’ll notice its all ANONYMOUS.
And what is truly stupid is non-Muslims telling Muslims what is and is not offensive to Muslims. I am reminded of Andrew Sullivan writing that HE knew better than the Pope himself what it meant to be a “REAL” Catholic, and that “real” Catholicism required, naturally, dropping all that outdated Bible stuff, adapting to changing times and supporting gay marriage.
IF WE DUNT DRAW MUHAMMAD TEH TERRERISTS WIN!!!!1111
is the blunt, imbecilic, unthinking falsehood used to justify a blunt, imbecilic, unthinking, and counterproductive demonstration that has always been akin to performing surgery with a wrecking ball.
And despite the silly claims that objecting to what can only be described as gratuitous offense is treating Muslims like children, James Taranto NAILS is that it is treating them EXACTLY the same way we treat everyone else.
perhaps thats the dream, but the reality is that what it says is:
1. “We’re all ANONYMOUS” and
2. “You’re all the same!”
In case anyone missed it when I posted this link the other day, Zombietime keeps an extensive archive of Mohammed portrayals:
http://zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/
To reiterate points I’ve made before, some are part of Islamic tradition; in other words, it is arguable indeed whether any Muslim should be offended by any neutral-to-respectful portrayal of Mohammed. Many others are part of modern controversies and include the artist’s working name – whether that be a partial name, a blog name from which the artist could be determined, or in some cases, the artist’s full, legal name. I have no doubt that what’s coming in EDMD will feature a similar mix.
In case anyone missed it, here again is the REALITY of the depictions of Muhammad
Which are EVERYTHNG that Althouse, Taranto, and I said they would be.
Juvenile, intentionally, gratuitously offensive, and ANONYMOUS.
ALL of the claims of the supporters of this childish demonstration destroyed by the demonstration itself.
Some great reads out there. First, the hat tip to My Pet Jawa for linking them:
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/202182.php
Next, Bookwormroom. A teaser:
There’s more. But next, Ayaan Hirsi Ali in today’s Wall Street Journal. A teaser:
There’s more. But next, The Simpsons, with a clever ironic/reflexive commentary:
Next, the Powerline guys (names available on the blog: John Hinderaker, Scott Johnson, Paul Mirengoff) yesterday brought us a Mohammed / free speech cartoon from Chris Muir:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2010/04/026168.php
I’d not seen that one. “And a high chair for my wife.” ROTFLAMO.