Yesterday I appeared on CNN’s At This Hour discussing the freedom of speech and the crime of drawing cartoons of Muhammad.
Newsbusters has a good piece on this, along with a transcript, here.
Yesterday I appeared on CNN’s At This Hour discussing the freedom of speech and the crime of drawing cartoons of Muhammad.
Newsbusters has a good piece on this, along with a transcript, here.
vlparker says
Wow. You got more support and less criticism from CNN than from FOX. Incredible.
john spielman says
I have lost most of my respect for Bill O’Reilly over free speech. May God, who is above all, set His Holy angels over Robert, Pamela and all who fight the good fight against the Satanic cult of islam
Richie says
Bill O’Reilly has always been a Rino (Republican in name only). He is much further to the left than most people realize
Jack Diamond says
Speaking of Jim, I mean, Bill….I always get Bill O’Reilly mixed up with Jim Bishop. I guess it’s because he rewrote all his books. No surprises here, he is terminally clueless on Islam.
Maybe when his team puts together “Killing Muhammad” for him he’ll get a clue…wait, it would be “unnecessarily provocative” to write a book like that, and not very prophetable. Stick to Killing Jesus.
Norman Moffatt says
O’Reilly totally missed the point, the event was about free speech, nothing to do with IS or Islam, in fact they were never mentioned in any of the promos.
Pork Rind Addict says
I am also hugely disappointed by Fox News’ support for the Shariah on this issue. The fact that CNN is more intelligent on this only highlights Fox News’ moral inversion.
Robert, you came across great on this interview.
Matt says
CNN is not more intelligent on this. Look at the comments of CNN’s Chris Cuomo who talked about “hate speech” not being protected by the first amendment compared to Megyn Kelly’s defense of free speech.
marc says
yes, wow, that came across really well.
Georg says
Yes, I am very heartened by Robert’s unemotional, in the argumentative sense, yet passionate, prose regarding the issue. We simply will not move on this issue– period, end of story. I’m am so proud. And congratulations, Robert, you are such an inspiration!
And credit where credit is due, thank you, CNN.
Sean says
Hi Robert,
I’ve watched all the videos I have been able to on this event and I’ve noticed that CNN keep trying to push the idea that there exists a line between free speech and provocative speech. It would be great if you could shut down this idea from the get go. There exists no line because as Pamela said who decides what provocative speech is. It really would be good if this ‘line’ idea is just thoroughly dismissed as it should be. Keep stressing there is no line. Acts17Aplogetics has just down a video on this very subject.
Best wishes and stay safe
Reply
Jack Diamond says
The First Amendment argument is rock solid, it’s the one Megyn Kelly used. But it still leaves the nuance that the event was a gratuitous slap in the face of all Muslims not to mention Westboro Church keeps getting brought up as a comparison. There are Muhammad cartoons, and need to be Muhammad cartoons, because they are killing people for drawing Muhammad cartoons–they “drew” that line in the sand, what Robert called a flashpoint. But it’s a line that extends to novels (Rushdie) or films (Theo Van Gogh) or TV shows (South Park) that offend them, for the purpose of sending a message to other writers, filmmakers, and cartoonists. Message heard, they are afraid of Muslims and muzzled, “humbled”. All this, In concert with the non-stop efforts by the OIC (57 Muslim member) at the UN to criminalize free speech (by non-Muslims) for “defaming religion”–hardly al Qaeda, ISIS extremists. Just the entire Muslim world. Of course, there will be no end to what offends them because our very kaffir existence offends them.
The issue is forcing shari’a norms upon non-Muslims with threats of murder behind them (when “hurt feelings” don’t work). The problem is that Islam itself and the “vast majority of Muslims” get a pass, as if it goes without saying they have no interest in Allah’s laws and don’t believe insulting their Prophet should be severely punished. As if nothing like this is taught in their mosques and madrassas. As if Muhammad didn’t kill people who mocked him and never said “whoever insults a Prophet, kill him.” As if consulting any orthodox ulema cleric’s verdict on the subject wouldn’t provide the same answer. The core teachings of Islam and the example of Muhammad must never be invoked out of compassion for the sensitive feelings of Muslims who don’t seem to believe in them or follow them and must be on our side. In fact, that hostile narrative of Islam and Muhammad must be false just for that reason (i.e. only a “few” misunderstand Islam that way). Added to that the assumption of our “racist/bigoted/imperialist” heritage, we are the ones hostile and arrogant and eternally guilty. This is aided and abetted by Muslim talking heads lying to their faces (i.e. Muhammad allowed people to insult him and abuse him and never ever was violent in return) –with no one competent to challenge or correct them allowed to do so.
That’s their story and they are sticking to it..at least until they themselves get mugged by reality.
spot on says
Beyond free speech, Robert and Pamela’s efforts are a form of “Passive Resistance” to Islamic oppression. Liberal and even some Rino reporters have made all sorts of accusations. Greta Van Sustrand went out of her way to condemn Pamela for endangering the lives of our good policemen at the Garland event. Apparently Greta would give in to Islamic and ISIS demands. One commentator compared this event to the preacher that burned Koran’s in protest against Islamic burning of the Bible.
Some people like O’Reilly and Van Sustrand, I believe, are just trying to please the liberal wing of their audience to help keep their ratings up.
Robert and Pamela are the greatest for all they are doing for everyone.
LSWCHP says
“We owe him a grest debt of gratitude!” You got that right. In Paris two fools with assault rifles killed a dozen people. If not for that courageous police officer the same thing could have happened in Garland. That cop ddeserves a medal. His gallantry under fire was truly remarkable and I hope that one day we can know his name, hear his story and honour him appropriately. At the moment I believe he wants his identity kept secret to preserve himself and his family from threats by other ISIS monsters, which is a truly sad thing.
sheik yer'mami says
He might not like the attention since that would make him a target.
Chris Evans says
Mr. Spencer,
I have said this before and I will keep saying it, while I believe that you are absolutely correct in everything you are saying about free speech and the need to take a stand against anyone who wants to limit that free speech, the major PURPOSE of holding events like the “Draw Mohammad Day” is to publicize and criticize a doctrine that contains dozens of tenets that are evil and wrong.
Critics of evil doctrine have for centuries used various media to make their points: words, pictures, plays, songs, poems, jungle drums, etc.. Because Muslims take SO much offense at pictures of their prophet wanna-be, to the point of making fanatical attempts to massacre as many of the critics as they can, any criticism that involves the use of such pictures becomes a much more efficient way of bringing to light the evils that NEED to be brought to light.
When you are being interviewed by major news organizations like CNN and you discuss mainly the need to take a stand on free speech, I think you are missing a golden opportunity to point out exactly what that free speech and those drawings are trying to say about Islam, and why it is so important that more freedom loving people become aware of those things.
As you well know, not all Muslims believe that violence is an appropriate response to Islam’s critics, but millions of other Muslims around the world do, and they have hundreds of passages within Islam’s own holy texts to prove that their use of violence to silence critics and to advance their unprovable version of God’s will is sanctioned by their God.
When you are asked publically if you are intentionally provoking Muslims to commit violence in the hopes that they do so, I wish you would respond with a question back to the interviewer:… “Do you believe that it is intentionally provocative to make a claim that any religion that tells people that God approves of grown men having sex with children is evil and wrong? I would also encourage you to ask them, “Are you aware that Mohammad did this and said in the Quran that it was allowed and that because he is considered by most Muslims to be the perfect example for ALL people and ALL time, this practice continues to this day in many majority Islamic countries around the world? Does CNN (or whatever group conducting the interview) contend that using ANY means to point out this evil, be it words or drawings is provocative and shouldn’t be done? Should we just ignore this sickness because to mention it might offend Muslims?
You might also point out to those interviewers that you and others were on Muslim hit lists long before you advocated using drawings to publicize what is wrong about Islam, that ANY criticism whatever the form, is considered blasphemous and punishable by death. Mohammad himself ordered the murders of several poets for using their verse to lampoon his claims. Islamic fanatics base their reaction today on that example.
I would love to hear CNN’s, Fox’s and any one of the interviewers you have recently encountered recently comment on these questions.
Mr. Spencer, I hope you will take this as well meaning constructive criticism. I have the absolutely utmost regard for what you do. I know I couldn’t do it. You, Pamela Geller, Geert Wilders and others are a beacon of hope against this perversion called Islam.
Thank you,
Chris Evans
Proud Pork Fan says
I think you make some good points but I think you underestimate the difficulty of delivering points in such a context. You are given very limited time much of which is taken up by the “interviewer” which can be substantial depending on his/her ego and brashness. Plus they are usually intent on steering the conversation in one direction or another. On top of that you don’t want to come across like a jerk either.
CE says
You may very well be right. It is a lot easier for me sitting on the sidelines to criticize when I’m not the one being grilled. Nevertheless, I see the criticism of the entire “Draw Mohammad Day” due mainly to the fact that those people claiming that it was just done in order to incite and provoke say so because they do not see the core evil nature of Islam. The only way to defeat this evil is to get as many people to see that evil as we can. Robert Spencer and TFDI are doing a wonderful job, but the opportunity was there to make that point in front of a large TV audience and it wasn’t taken. People just don’t know about these aspects of Islam, and they need to know.
Thanks for your comment.
Don McKellar says
I wonder when you’ll appear on MSNBC?
spot on says
That is too much to ask of Robert. He would need a helmet and body armor.
jihad3tracker says
* * * * * * IMPORTANT REMINDER * * * * * * PLEASE READ * * * * * *
Today and tomorrow are likely for those old fashioned antiques called newspapers to contain editorials, letters, and columnists all tossing their 5 cents worth of commentary into the “irresponsible free speech” circus tent.
So I urge Jihad Watch readers here to do as I will, and see what your local newspapers AND the major national ones have to say. If there are some comments published of a courageous kind, take a few minutes to let the author know of your appreciation.
If there are surrender-to-intimidation cowards, and “provoke” or a synonym is part of that person’s remarks, point out to them (as Robert did in another post up this morning) that if the cartoons had not “provoked” those worshippers of Allah, something else would have sooner or later.
You could also mention that every day somewhere around the world, Christians, Jews, gays, and an assortment of other persons “provoke” Muslims into murder — just because they are who they are.
The best catalog of 24/7 atrocities for the clueless people you read in the ink of those newspapers is http://www.thereligionofpeace.com. Include that link in your response, please.
These are superb educational resources for our zillions of Americans mired in Western privilege guilt.: http://www.citizenwarrior.com / http://www.inquiryintoislam.com / http://www.answeringmuslims.com / http://www.politicalislam.com.
Perhaps you can devise a polite tactful way of steering whomever you contact in the newspapers to those FACTUAL NOT WISHFUL FANTASY repositories of information. We all owe Pam Geller and Robert Spencer some effort today and tomorrow to pushback against caving in — in tribute to their courage.
Gary says
Dear Robert & Pamela,
Thank you for having the courage to stand for freedom of believe, speech, and our American way of life.
May the Western World follow your example of how to live life….. Free of fear and free of intimidation.
Sincerely,
Gary
Judi says
GARY, I’LL SECOND THAT!
Beagle says
The line between free speech and provocative speech has nothing to do with speech and everything to do with the psychosis and pathologies of the listener.
The default mainstream media position is to reward the most unreasonable and touchy people with a hair trigger towards violence.
As I said before, the next time a journalist is kidnapped and beheaded I will know the journalist incited and deserved it because that is what the other journalists taught me.
Beagle says
In fairness to CNN, this interview was better than FNC, Newsmax, and of course anything by GE-NBC-DNC.
I was speaking generally about the media’s blame the victim narrative.
jihad3tracker says
Hello again Beagle —
I am putting a stone carver’s chisel and hammer into my backpack, thenceforth to travel to that magnificent edifice which our Supreme Court calls “The Office”.
There I will sneakily engrave the first sentence of your post above directly under their motto : Equal Justice Under Law.
BTW, didn’t Justice Antonin Scalia get his adult life started under the stage name of Danny DeVito and appearing in “Taxi” ?
I seem to recall a priceless episode where he and Latka Gravas discuss whether settled case law or groundbreaking decisions would have been more impressive to Oliver Wendell Holmes, and whether there will ever be a 4 foot tall Jewish female munchkin appointed to that august bench..
Anyway, the point of my post is to say that Pam has Rush Limbaugh’s commentary on media idiocy about Garland — up now at her website. Check it out — he makes obvious and excellent points.
Holy Prophet APF says
Whatever else, it sure is nice to see Spencer on major TV programs. That in itself is a good and important thing. Not that he wants the job, just that he ain’t afraid to do it.
If Islam stopped doing what it’s doing, which is bringing savagery to the center of the world stage, my bet is that Spencer would start an orchid nursery and retire to a house on a lake, with a nice boat to ride around in, free, and satisfied that such freedom is secure.
But that ain’t gonna happen, so let’s have monthly or even weekly Prophet Mohammed cartoon contests.
Btw, what was it again that the Holy Prophet prophesized? Important question now that everybody in the world is calling him the Prophet Mohammed.
David says
who did I forget?
je sui Charlie
I am Geller
I am Spencer
I am WIlders
I am Fawstin
I am Boston Strong
I am Fort Hood
I am 9.11.01
I am Rushdie
I am van Gogh
I am Fortuyn
I am Hirisi Ali
I am Vestergaard
I am Vilks
I am Norris
I am Nakoula
Bezelel says
o’reilly said it risks angering an entire religion with over a billion members and that we have islamic allies that will be offended.
His statement means that he feels we should abandon the Constitution when it is inconvenient and ignores the possibility of how many of those billion would leave islam if they could. They can’t even organize a resistance without talking about it.( death penalty) and or leave islam.(death penalty).
el Sisi risked his life to speak out about the need for islam to reform ( an ally)
o’reilly presented a very shallow opinion.
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
O’Reilly is a disgrace to the Irish race. He’s a self-satisfied pomp who when he’s not “helping take care of the folks” spends his air time self-deprecating as a simple man and then mentioning that he went to Harvard. Well, to his credit, he went to that horrible place only to get a vanity degree from the Kennedy School of Government, whatever that is. He combines the flair of correctitude with the malady of frequent mistakedness.
Bezelel says
Alarmed Pig Farmer, So I think you would not be offended to see a cartoon of o’reilly planting a liplock on mohamed’s ( fill in the blank).
kevin says
Hi Robert i uploaded this video onto youtube that supports your position 100%…
somehistory says
If devout muslims everywhere allowed non-muslims to eat pork without trying to get it taken out of schools, prisons, etc.; if they left women alone to walk where they wished without a male escort and wearing whatever clothes they wished without raping them; if they allowed little girls to go to school without fear of being kidnapped and raped repeatedly; if they allowed the law enforcement and other authorities to do their job of protecting citizens from terror and violence without claiming bigotry and discrimination and racism; if they allowed others to have churches and worship apart from islam;…then it would be easier to understand if they made a fuss when cartoons are drawn of their so-called prophet. But they don’t allow any of that and they make more than a fuss over the drawings and the truth being told.
Just telling the truth about islam, or living as a Jewish person or a Christian or a person who eats pork or one who watches television or drinks wine or makes jokes is a *provocation* to followers of the beast of islam. Those devout followers of satan would kill us all…whether we draw anything or not.
Bezelel says
Totally agree
Donovan Nuera says
If Muslims consider the depiction of mohammad as a potential way to “idolize” him; why then do they act as though they are commanded by a deity that demands that they kill to “protect” him….that has never made sense. I think they are more offended when mohammad gets depicted than allah, the actual deity that they believe in. Sorta like they keep saying that allah is “most merciful”…to whom???? The big solution here is just like it is hard to fight a bully if you are doing it by yourself and your “friends” are too afraid to assist you when you fight back and you get beat up; why are there thousands of “Draw mohammad” contests all across this country? You cannot attack all of us if we all unite. It might just crack the menacing façade propped up by evil imams who whip their congregations into zealous frenzies.
Jack Diamond says
Pope Benedict already addressed the absence of reason in this religion. The Qur’an teaches that Muhammad was but a man, a mortal and fallible being “I am only a mortal like you” (Q 18:110) who even confused Satan with Allah; yet over and over Muhammad is Allah’s partner! Shirk you could even say. “It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision, and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger he has indeed strayed in a plain error” (Q 33:36). Bukhari v2 bk24 n533 even says “Muhammad will intercede with Allah to judge amongst the people.” Q 4:64 suggests wrongdoers ask forgiveness of Allah and forgiveness of the Messenger. Yet, Qur’an 3:135 says “who can forgive sins except God/Allah?”
The Sunnah is the example of the Prophet and what he said, did, and consented to are every Muslim’s model for conduct. “He who obeys the Apostle has already obeyed Allah.” Q 4:80. “Take what the Apostle assigns you and abstain from what he prohibits you.” Q 59:7 and “those who harm Allah and His Messenger, Allah has cursed them in this world and in the next and has prepared for them a humiliating punishment.” Q 33:57 with finally, “whoever insults a prophet, kill him” Muhammad, in the
hadith.
Here is a Mufti’s fatwa on the matter– “Ruling on One Who Insults the Prophet”:
“The scholars are unanimously agreed that a Muslim who insults the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) becomes a kaafir and an apostate who is to be executed. This consensus was narrated by more than one of the scholars, such as Imaam Ishaaq ibn Raahawayh, Ibn al-Mundhir, al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad, al-Khattaabi and others. Al-Saarim al-Maslool, 2/13-16
“Abu Dawood (4362) narrated from ‘Ali that a Jewish woman used to insult the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and say bad things about him, so a man strangled her until she died, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ruled that no blood money was due in this case. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said in al-Saarim al-Maslool (1/162): This hadeeth is jayyid, and there is a corroborating report in the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas which we will quote below. This hadeeth clearly indicates that it was permissible to kill that woman because she used to insult the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
“The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sometimes chose to forgive those who had insulted him, and sometimes he ordered that they should be executed, if that served a greater purpose. But now his forgiveness is impossible because he is dead, so the execution of the one who insults him remains the right of Allaah, His Messenger and the believers, and the one who deserves to be executed cannot be let off, so the punishment must be carried out. ”
{so this business of Muhammad ever forgiving an insult is besides the point}
“Insulting the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is one of the worst of forbidden actions, and it constitutes kufr and apostasy from Islam, according to scholarly consensus, whether done seriously or in jest. The one who does that is to be executed even if he repents and whether he is a Muslim or a kaafir. If he repents sincerely and regrets what he has done, this repentance will benefit him on the Day of Resurrection and Allaah will forgive him. ”
http://www.muftisays.com/blog/Seifeddine-M/3016_17-09-2012/ruling-on-one-who-insults-the-prophet-peace-and-blessings-be-upon-him.html
Whether he is a Muslim OR A KAAFIR. Anyone taking the position that Muslims believe something different than this have the burden of proof.