Religious Intimidation and a Sense of Humor

It's been a bit odd to watch the ways in which certain elements in the Muslim community appear to have no sense of humor. Of course, religious fanatics of all stripes rarely do (hard to imagine the leaders of the Spanish Inquisition cracking too many jokes, for example). Many Muslims, for example, whined and made an exceptionally big deal about a Danish cartoon showing a bomb coming out of Muhammad's head claiming it was racist. Sadly, key voices in the west (media, polititians, other religious leaders) succumb to the intimidation.

So the Pope this week makes a vague and obscure reference to a 14th-century Byzantine emperor's remark about Islam imposing itself by the sword -- trying to illustrate and protest the linking of Islam and violence. And the intimidation continues as many are now calling for the Pope to apologize for this allegation. As noted columnist and commentator Charles Krauthammer stated, there is a "plague of self-censorship when it comes to anything remotely controversal about Islam."

As we well know, religious sensitivity is a one-way street. One needs only to look at American pop culture -- among many examples -- to see that Madonna including a mock crucifixion in her latest concert (with no major outcry).

The ironic thing is that as the Pope is "giving offense," the Muhjaheddin Shura Council in Iraq declares that it will "break up the cross, spill the liquor, and impose the 'jizya' tax (head tax) because the only thing acceptable is conversion or the sword." Of course, this is to protest the claim that Islam might be spread by violence (huh?).

Perhaps they have more of a sense of humor than I thought.