[etravers]

And what would be your reason for doing this? I really don't understand. I do not follow any religion, but that does not give me the right to ridicule things that others hold dear.

It is _my_ opinion that anyone who participates in this is a sheep with a "me too" mentality.

[cturner]

    I do not follow any religion, but that does not give
    me the right to ridicule things that others hold dear.

That aspect doesn't give you the right, you have that right regardless.

[WiseWeasel]

"but that does not give me the right to ridicule things that others hold dear."

No, that would be the US Constitution's first amendment. Conversely, you do not have a right to not have the beliefs you hold dear ridiculed. There is no legal protection against having one's beliefs ridiculed. That's because it's not a big deal. Get over it.

[saikat]

To be fair, there is also no legal protection for "protecting free speech" in a general sense. The first amendment only prevents the GOVERNMENT from limiting your free speech. Companies limit free speech all the time (think NDA), and they are often within their rights. Maybe this is a technicality, but many on this thread would do well to know it.

[etravers]

First, there is nothing to get over. I am not emotionally involved. Second, just because you have a right to do something doesn't mean you should do it. It's not about laws and amendments. It is about people's feelings. I have the right to draw Jesus, Mohammed and Moses having sex. That doesn't make it any less offensive to a great many people. So should I do it just because I can and want to see what kind of reaction I get?

So your cartoon was censored. Maybe you are the one who needs to get over it.

[WiseWeasel]

I'm just saying that expression shouldn't be limited in any way. Then, you can go on debating morality with everyone else for as long as you want.

As for the cartoon, it was likely a mistake to give in to the threats, as it simply validates them and invites more.

[etravers]

I agree 100%. Expression should not be limited. The issue I have with this is that the participants aren't expressing themselves. They're expressing someone else, "huh-huh... that's funny. I'm going to do that too."

And just to put it out there; I have no problem with you (I don't know you) and I am not trying to argue directly with you. Your's was just the reply link I clicked.

[maxharris]

I don't think that you understand what a right is. You have the right to say whatever you want, so long as it does not violate the rights (as defined by the Bill of Rights) of another.

You have to learn how to think in principle (and identify the correct principles - those that will advance and enhance your life), or your life will turn out to be a mess.

[tzs]

"Mohammed, peanut butter upon him" does not ridicule anything held dear by Muslims. It's just an amusing pun on a common convention of the Muslim world. It does not violate the teachings of the Koran.

[maxharris]

But that doesn't matter. Everyone of us has the right to say that the Koran is a load of feces (I think it is, along with every other religious text ever written), just as we each have the right to say that it is the greatest thing ever.

Everyone should be free to choose this for themselves, and to tell anyone they can about what they think, without being threatened.