Bobblehead Muhammed?

All contents © 2006 Daily News, L.P. ^ | Originally published on October 1, 2006 | BY TINA MOORE

[Behind Liberal Lines]

A ceramic bobblehead doll of the Prophet Muhammed - created to resemble the infamous caricature published by a Danish newspaper - is being hawked online for $22.99 a pop by an ex-Marine.

The unapologetic creator, Timothy Ames, 28, said the bobblehead is similar to "dashboard Jesus" figurines that can be stuck with adhesive to flat surfaces. "I thought, 'If they flipped out over some cartoons what will they do with a dashboard Muhammed?'" Ames said from his home in Hawaii.

But Islamic experts are not amused, saying the bobbleheads could anger Muslims, whose religion strictly prohibits depictions of the prophet.

"No depiction of the prophet, even if it is positive, should be made ever - and certainly not one as ridiculous as the bobblehead Muhammed," said Zvi Ben-Dor Benite, an assistant professor at New York University. "I don't think it's about freedom of speech. This is the freedom to insult, which he shouldn't be doing."

Ames said several hundred people have purchased the dolls online, and he has paid a Chinese manufacturer to create 1,000 more. "I just think it's funny," he said.

Violent protests erupted last winter across the Muslim world after a Danish newspaper published cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammed as a suicide bomber. Many European papers reprinted the cartoons.

"People who get p----d off about this, they're going to get p----d off regardless," Ames, a baptized Christian, said.

The sophomoric Web site where Ames, using the pen name "Filthy," sells the bobbleheads also features a collection of scattered rants. In one, he writes: "I'm really not into slamming people just for their religion. Most of the stupid people I've met are stupid despite their religion, not because of it."

Frank Peters, a professor in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at NYU, warned that a bobblehead Muhammed was "a really bad idea."

"Jews and Christians have gotten used to this kind of thing, but Muslims haven't," he said. "This may not be his intention, but these things have consequences."

[Dallas59]

LOL! Some smart puppy's bound to alter one for the backseat!

[RichInOC]

Is the head detachable?

[GoLightly]

If you made it detachable...

[Al Simmons]

This is wrong! WRONG!!!!

The genius of Capitalism displayed for all the world to see....I hope this dude sells a million of them!

[Verloona Ti]

As a poster mentioned earlier, the prohibition applies to moslems. They have no right to expect us to obey their religious laws!

[Dallas59]

-----Original Message----- From: Rahman Tahira [mailto:xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx] Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 10:34 AM To: filthy@dashboardmohammed.com Subject: Hello

Hey there, i'm really disappointed at the way you mock our religion, do you not realise that you're hurting millions of people with what you are doing?

I ask Allah to guide you, and show you the staright path... Muhammed may the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him was sent to every one, not just to arabs...Allah the almighty says in the qur'aan "and we sent you to all people", he was sent as mercy from Allah the most merciful.

Muhammed is your prophet too, you can deny it as much as you like.......the prophet says "and previous prophets were sent to just their nation but i was sent to all people"

I honestly hope that you will be guided....and if its islam you disagree with, then atleast state your views in a respectful civil way....indeed everyones entitled to their opinion...but thats all i ask of you.

I know you have heard so much negative stuff about Islam, so i don't blame you entirely...i feel sorry for all those people that the medias played with their minds, but no matter what they say i'm glad cos our faith grows more..and more people find the truth...

however i respect those that actually make an effort to search about Islam before bad mouthing its people and messengers/prophets and Allah our creator...

I hope so much to Allah that he blesses you with his guidance.... I hope one day that we would be referring to one another as brothers in faith...

if you wish to e-mail me about respectful issues concerning Islam, my e-mail address is xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxx

Thank you. * * * * * * * * *

Hello, First, thank you for writing me with your concerns about my site. While I understand that some of the material I post may be offensive to many, not just persons of the Islamic faith, the main theme of my site is that people everywhere should be able to express any view without fear of violent protest or an exchange of angry words.

I respect your disappointment in what you perceive as an attack on your religion specifically; however I target other groups and individuals throughout my site and have never received an email from anyone concerned about that.

Quite frankly, most other groups and individuals take such "attacks" in stride, while the Islamic faith presents itself as an easy target due to the extreme sensitivity of the majority of its members by the slightest mock or insult.

To be fair, however, I get several thousand visitors a day, and even some Muslims have written me and said they enjoy my site. Go figure.

Think about this: If it weren't for the current atmosphere in the world due to religious fighting and infighting today, primarily Islam waging wars against the West, there wouldn't even be a niche for a website such as mine.

Furthermore, while I'm sure you meant your email to sound civil and outreaching, in truth it's quite patronizing.

Not only do you make the assumption that I've done no research on "Islam before bad mouthing its people and messengers/prophets," you also presume that any negative views people may hold concerning your religion are attributed to the way the "medias played with their minds."

I also find it arrogant that you don't actually cite any specific page or section that hurts anyone; you use an entire email to proselytize/evangelize.

I hope that you actually do return to my site and read it through, if you haven't already. Actually read it through, point out to me what you find offensive to your sensibilities, and I will give you the consideration of reviewing your reply. Again, thank you for your time and your email.

Regards,

-Filthy

[FreeAtlanta]

You may be onto something. Head banging muslims = defective human beings

[Balding_Eagle]

I just sent him an email with a suggestion for a new product. Here's my email:

Yours is a great idea. Here is another toy you may consider if things get off the ground for these; a plastic, hollow, lighted, Mohammed, like the pizza delivery guys use.

WHY? Muslim taxi cab drivers are refusing to pick up passengers who are carrying alcohol. Minneapolis/St. Paul airport is meeting with them now to work out some way for them to alert would-be passengers that if they have alcohol with them the passenger should look elsewhere for a taxi.

The lighted statue that I’m telling you about (with a cigarette lighter cord for power) would be the PERFECT thing. The drivers will drive around with them on top of the cab.

As stupid as it is to accommodate the muslims, this discrimination against normal Americans is going to spread across the USA.

You could sell these by the truckload. Even passengers will buy them, if for no other reason than to give them to the muslim drivers who won’t allow alcohol in the taxi

[weegee]

Everyone quoted in the article warns against it but until there is a global tide of muslims denouncing the violent extremists and the moderates who EMBRACE the violent extremists, it is going to take tactics like this to bring the closet Islamic supremacists out of their closet.

The KKK didn't like movies that had sex/love scenes between black men and white women either.

[Larry Lucido]

LOL!

(BTW, I normally don't make light of folks who were beheaded, but in More's case, well, he dished it out once or twice himself so he should be able to take a joke now).

[The Cuban]

"No depiction of the prophet, even if it is positive, should be made ever - and certainly not one as ridiculous as the bobblehead Muhammed," said Zvi Ben-Dor Benite, an assistant professor at New York University. "I don't think it's about freedom of speech. This is the freedom to insult, which he shouldn't be doing."

What is this man doing teaching at an American University?

[weegee]

Islamic Imperialists and Islamic Supremacists say that your first amendment is trumped by Islamic laws against blasphemy, you dirty kufir. < /sarc >

[RS_Rider]

Bomblehead

[bitt]

PC's debauchery:

[weegee]

Your friend is "lucky" the Saudis permitted him and his wife to enter their supremacist country.

Jews cannot enter Saudi Arabia legally (since 2004, I believe). And you cannot practice a non-muslim faith there.

If Mecca is reflective of the intolerant theocratical poltical system that is Isalm, I am waiting for all good muslims to denounce the segregation of society as the whole world denounced South Africa in the 1980s.

I'm waiting...

[weegee]

...the prohibition applies to moslems. They have no right to expect us to obey their religious laws!

That's why we fight. So that the Islamic Supremacists do not win by force and terrorism and threats of violence.

[sten]

actually, you cannot enter Saudi Arabia if you have an Israel stamp in your passport.

here is an interesting read that is worth passing along. I think it nails the cause of many of the problems in the US today.

link: Superman, Harry Potter and the War Against Jihad

[null and void]

How about a Duane Dibbley?

[kendu]

anyone notice that a mulsim singles page is one of his side links..
that is too funny

[Rastus]

We're losing our minds. How far is it from scarves to burkas?