Religion vs. Art
Or more accurately, Dhimmitude vs. Art.
This is a poster from the play “Our Lady of Flanders” (Onze Lieve Vrouw van Vlaanderen), which “depicts the Virgin Mary with a howling child and a bowl of blood. She is barebreasted and is sitting next to a shield with the arms of Flanders.” Written by Chokri Ben Chikha, a Tunisian from Belgium, the play is said to also have anti-Semitic overtones, which are excused away by Ben Chikha:
Antisemitism is alive amongst North Africans, whether you like it or not. It has to do with the Palestinian question. I am convinced that you have to talk about antisemitism. I am not going to solve it, but I have to show it. Moreover, not only the Arabs dislike Jews. My stepmother, a Polish woman, is very antisemitic as well. I think one should be able to laugh at anything, even at antisemitism.
Now see this:
This, of course, is from Theo Van Gogh’s film “Submission,” which resulted in his death at the hands of an Islamic extremist who pinned a bloody note to his body, addressed to the writer of “Submission,” because of their supposed “blasphemy.”
Note that there is no one, Jew or Christian, calling for the murder of Chokri Ben Chikha, nor should (or will) there ever be. In fact,
On the contrary, his play is being subsidised by the Ministry for Culture. After the performances in Brussels it goes on a six-month tour through Flanders. The government encourages schools to attend.
You can bet, however, that those who merely find the imagery (and alleged anti-Semitism) offensive will be called fascists, fundies, extremists (see also: Andres Serrano, the Crescent of Embrace, etc.)–and assuredly by the same kind of people who called Van Gogh a racist.
At worst, Belgian Christians and/or Jews might object to public funding–but they won’t be issuing death warrants (see also: Salman Rushdie, Burger King, etc.) or slaughtering the artist.
Essential related commentary, from one who knows art: Two Forbidden Images at The Tears of Things (see content under “I Slam Islam” in the sidebar, for more).
Jody says:
Great post Beth… Christians and Jews *are* labeled extremist, bigoted, discriminatory and all sorts of lovely adjectives and these works of …um…art are still allowed to continue.
I love the line: “death warrants won’t be issued ” Which is absolutely true but doesn’t that make that 700 club guy’s hugo chavez comments look even more insane — hello??! We’re not the extremist terrorists who want to kill people! We’re the good guys!
Every group seems to have their freaks, but Islam just seems to be a group for freaks… :)
sigmund, carl and alfred says:
Hypocrisy live on.
So its about the Palestinians? Funny thing- have you ever heard a Muslim cleric scream ‘Slaughter the Zionists!’?
No- they fixate on the word Jew, for some reason.
laughingalltheway says:
I really would like to know why American Jews would even consider voting Democrat. Democrats from Hillary Clinton to Ed Kennedy, to Harry Reid as well as the DNC chairman Howard Dean have made numerous positive remarks about Palestinians and criticizing the President for his policy towards Israel. This President has done more to stick up for Jewish diaspora than any previous politician. Yet Jews vote overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates.
Can someone explain?
Fred says:
Kind of reminds me of when the christain fundies tried to kill Larry Flint.
Beth says:
So, Fred, do you always just mindlessly spew DU agitprop, or is there ANY occasion when you actually have a clue what you’re talking about?
FYI, the guy who shot FLYNT (not “Flint”) was a RACIST neo-Nazi AND was convicted for serial killing (although Flynt never pressed charges). Look it up, dumbass. It wasn’t about Christianity, it was about RACE.
But I suppose in your little Reality Impaired Community, outright lies [i.e. "christain (sic) fundies"] are just preferred methods of propaganda.
MacStansbury says:
I’m just jealous. I AM one of them Christain Fundies, and he never seems to bother me…
never gonna get anything for that Moonbat Masquerade….
The Anchoress » says:
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J Rob says:
I will resist the temptation for the all too easy Polish joke that could be aimed at the stupidity of the “playwright’s” defense of this tripe. I do so because when it comes to defense of anti-Semitism the American Left has a corner on the market of stupidity AND hypocricy. “Yeah, let’s yuk it up with the Joos and Christians” then turn around and say, “How dare you defame such a peace-loving people as the Muslims” (ask Michael Graham about that one)