Google backs fatwa with Cat Stevens?

[Olaf]

See, Cat, that's what you've gotta do: Kill Salman Rushdie now and then write a book about how sorry you are. Boycott lifted! It's bound to be a bestseller, too.

[Olaf]

The Speer book was a repudiation of fanaticism. Self serving, but he said the words.

I'd call it a major war criminal's old-age pension scheme, but whatever. Unless Cat Stevens endorses the fatwa in his songs, its contents are irrelevant to the comparison.

[Flex]

The Speer book was a repudiation of fanaticism. Self serving, but he said the words.

I'd call it a major war criminal's old-age pension scheme, but whatever. Unless Cat Stevens endorses the fatwa in his songs, its contents are irrelevant to the comparison.

Plus, Cat Stevens has denied he supports a fatwa on rushdie anyways, so it seems like if the standard is just repudiate your earlier claims, it would seem Stevens has passed the necessary requirements.

[Wolter]

Wouldn't a better title for this thread be: "I just plain don't like Cat Stevens?"

I would have nothing to dispute, then.

[eumaas]

Let's compare:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_germany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Steven ... an_Rushdie

[darter]

And here is Cat himself from his web page explaining how open he is about free speech:

"To safeguard the peace and security of the multi-religious society, Islam wisely prohibits the vilification of what people hold sacred, in order that people do not vilify or mock God the Almighty in return. There are also many examples in Islamic history where the Prophet of Islam did not respond to insults and mockery, but simply carried on calling people to faith and good deeds. That, I believe, is the right Islamic response in a country where Freedom of Speech is practiced and valued." (emphasis added.) http://www.yusufislam dot com.

I'm not joking. He has a little section attempting to untwist his thinking. He really is hopeless. It's so it's beautifully Orwellian. Getting stoned to death for blasphemy outside of the U.K. is hunky dory. I would consider him a complete irrelevance had his music not recently popped up in commercial settings and - because the music is good - he will now have a platform from which to serenade the gullible.

As for thread titles, I realize now that it should have been "Cat Stevens' Life was Better than Joe Strummer's." Then I could have simply watched as all the arguments challenged here would have been produced to refute such blasphemy, and I'm sure they would have been better arguments than the ones I've made.

[Silent Majority]

As for thread titles, I realize now that it should have been "Cat Stevens' Life was Better than Joe Strummer's." Then I could have simply watched as all the arguments challenged here would have been produced to refute such blasphemy, and I'm sure they would have been better arguments than the ones I've made.

Running down Joe Strummer = Blasphemy for the readers? I'm not sure if you're playing to the right crowd.

[Dr. Medulla]

I would consider him a complete irrelevance had his music not recently popped up in commercial settings and - because the music is good - he will now have a platform from which to serenade the gullible.

You're frothing. "Serenade the gullible"? Some kid hears "Peace Train" in Starbucks and it's just one step to sharia law in America. Becoming more extreme in your position is not an effective means of challenging your critics, guy.

[Olaf]

Wouldn't a better title for this thread be: "I just plain don't like Cat Stevens?"

I would have nothing to dispute, then.

Or "Let's declare a fatwa on Bruce Dickinson." No objections either.

[Olaf]

Let's compare:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_germany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Steven ... an_Rushdie

Cat Stevens, obviously.

[Olaf]

And here is Cat himself from his web page explaining how open he is about free speech:

"To safeguard the peace and security of the multi-religious society, Islam wisely prohibits the vilification of what people hold sacred, in order that people do not vilify or mock God the Almighty in return. There are also many examples in Islamic history where the Prophet of Islam did not respond to insults and mockery, but simply carried on calling people to faith and good deeds. That, I believe, is the right Islamic response in a country where Freedom of Speech is practiced and valued." (emphasis added.) http://www.yusufislam dot com.

I'm not joking. He has a little section attempting to untwist his thinking. He really is hopeless. It's so it's beautifully Orwellian. Getting stoned to death for blasphemy outside of the U.K. is hunky dory.

As far as I can see, he does not make any statements regarding the punishment (unless it is in a passage you aren't quoting). If you're seriously calling for an economic boycott of everyone who might endorse blasphemy laws, good luck.

As for thread titles, I realize now that it should have been "Cat Stevens' Life was Better than Joe Strummer's." Then I could have simply watched as all the arguments challenged here would have been produced to refute such blasphemy

Nah, iconoclasm is generally encouraged round here.

[darter]

Strummer's worldview:

http://www.mp3lyrics.org/j/joe-strummer ... os/techno/

[Dr. Medulla]

Also Strummer's worldview: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/ ... AB0030FECA

[eumaas]

I'm fine with free speech, including the freedom to attack free speech.

[Dr. Medulla]

I'm fine with free speech, including the freedom to attack free speech.

Indeed—if those who support free speech can't come up with an effective counter to those who would censor or otherwise limit expression, then we don't deserve the right.