Garland, Texas Shooting: This Is Why ISIS Attacked Muhammad Art Exhibit, To Stop Freedom Of Speech
On Sunday, May 3, 2015, two suspects tried to attack an art show in Garland, Texas, but were taken out by local authorities working as the show’s security for the night. Since then, many news outlets – including the Inquisitr – reported on the situation, since it was first reported as breaking news in the late hours of Sunday night. Later on, a more thorough update was reported, which led to the identification of one of the suspects.
Now, it is believed the shooting was actually an Islamic terrorist attack as the Islamic State (ISIS) claims responsibility for it. The reason is because the art show was a call to artists to depict Muhammad throughout the years, and most of the artistic interpretations are clearly blasphemous to Muslims. Summarized, ISIS was trying to stop the Freedom of Speech being used on their prophet.
According to The Federalist Papers, the $10,000 Muhammad Art Exhibit, in which artists were called to “draw the prophet,” featured artwork from numerous artists in depicting the figure who is very important in Islam. The mediums that could be used were open from paintings, drawings, to cartoons.
The piece that won is a cartoon of Muhammad drawn by Bosch Fawstin. It is probable the reason why it won in the first place is because it depicted what Pamela Geller, the creator of the $10,000 Muhammad Art Exhibit and the American Freedom Defense Initative (AFDI) were trying to express, without having to be vulgar (like some of the other submitted pieces were). Not only that, Bosch Fawstin is a former Muslim.
Whether people like it or not, Bosch Fawstin is exercising his Freedom of Speech through his art piece. Ergo, Fawstin’s piece – along with the $10,000 Muhammad Art Exhibit in general – has sparked a debate over Freedom of Speech, specifically between Liberals and Conservatives. On the Liberal side, many have accused Pamela Geller and her art show of “Muslim-baiting.” What this means is Geller created the art show not for the purpose of expressing Freedom of Speech, but to entice Islamic terrorists to make a move.
To many Liberals, especially on CNN, this “Muslim-baiting” is usually done in the name of one freedom (Freedom of Speech) and the expense of another (Freedom of Religion). Ergo, the $10,000 Muhammad Art Exhibit is considered by them a “religious offense,” as worded by Rukmini Callimachi, a foreign correspondent for the New York Times.
Free speech aside, why would anyone do something as provocative as hosting a “Muhammad drawing contest”?
— Rukmini Callimachi (@rcallimachi) May 4, 2015
However, on the Conservative side, it is argued that Freedom of Speech protects all speech, either anyone agrees with it or not. Also, Conservatives were quick to say how hypocritical the Liberal side is for saying Pamela Geller is “Muslim-baiting” with her $10,000 Muhammad Art Exhibit when Christianity is at time depicted in a derogatory way too in protection of the same freedom they are arguing. IJReview reported such an example when another Twitter user responded to Rukmini Callimachi’s tweet with the following.
@rcallimachi @jbrandstein same reason why people did “Piss Christ” but where was your outrage then? I guess making fun of Jesus is ok
— Lex (@alextaveira) May 4, 2015
Pertaining to the Freedom of Speech argument, it technically evens out. Conservatives get angry when Liberals let Freedom of Speech blaspheme Christianity. Yet Liberals got angry when Conservatives let Freedom of Speech blaspheme Islam. Therefore, the freedom is used fairly.
Probably, the true underlying issue isn’t over Freedom of Speech, but what happens when such a freedom is used, especially towards religion. The said situation is best explained from one of the comments in the aforementioned sources by an atheist. They said that anyone has the freedom to say what they want, but they will be supporting Conservatives on this matter. The continued with an example that they’ve said many derogatory things about Christianity, yet never received life-threatening responses. However, with Islam, they have.
[Images via Pamela Geller and the $10,000 Muhammad Art Exhibit]