Remember when the publication of cartoons of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in 2005 and how it led to violence, arrests, inter-governmental tensions and riots in several countries? Remember the debate about the right of free speech? How many Muslims claim that any image of Muhammad is blasphemous, while many Westerners say that this is the right of free speech? Some people just do not learn.
Artworks depicting Osama bin Laden in a Christ-like pose and a statue of the Virgin Mary covered in a burqa have been showcased in a prestigious religious art competition in Australia, and of course people are screaming bloody murder. Australian Prime Minister John Howard is leading a chorus of condemnation against the decision to include the two entries in a prestigious art competition that ridicule the Christian faith. The Australian Prime Minister, who was very quiet in 2005, now say that the artwork is "gratuitously offensive to the religious beliefs of many Australians."
Funny how different people are when situations are changed, isn't it?
But no matter what your views are on the Australian Prime Minister, he was right in that religious icons should not be mocked. Osama bin Laden in a Christ-like pose, that I can accept as he is not a religious leader. He is either a terrorist or a Islamic warrior (depend on who you speak to), but he is not a religious leader. The Virgin Mary statue covered in a burqa is another matter. I don't care if you are a artist or a newspaper, you should not mock religious icons. Why can't these morons learn from past mistakes? Some people will hold the opinion that these "art" works are a provocation, and I'm not that sure they are wrong.
Yes, I will admit to be very interested in the reactions of "free speech" U.S and Europe but this is an issue which should never be bought up in the first place. Please, stop these morons from causing further problems by banning such provocation works in the future.
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