So did you draw a picture of Muhammad today?
When I first heard there was an “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day” movement afoot, I was amused and secretly jubilant. How dare a radical Muslim blog threaten and intimidate the Comedy Network into changing an episode of “South Park” because it contained a depiction of Muhammad (in a bear suit). But they did. And the network caved. Who do those extremists think they are? Yes, let’s all draw pictures! It’s our right as Americans.
Seattle cartoonist Molly Norris started the whole thing. To protest the censorship-by-threat, she drew a funny (to some) poster with various innocuous depictions of Muhammad as a box of pasta, a domino, etc. and declared May 20 “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day.” It went viral on the Internet, something she says she never anticipated (how naïve), and apparently she was intimidated into taking it down, or had second thoughts, or something. Anyway, Facebook pages went up supporting the day; others denounced it. Entire countries have blocked Facebook today in protest.
The whole flap is ridiculous. Fighting over religion is ridiculous. Religion is ridiculous. But I don’t go around making fun of people’s religious beliefs. It’s not polite and, besides, it can be hazardous to your health.
So I didn’t draw Muhammad today. Even though I wanted to.