Muhammad cartoons in Clemson newspapers

The State ^ | Feb. 25, 2006 | JOHN C. DRAKE

[aomagrat]

Two student newspapers at Clemson University have reprinted the controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, upsetting Muslim students on campus and drawing a rebuke from the school’s president.

The papers, the conservative Tiger Town Observer and the liberal Clemson Forum, are not funded by the school, but the Observer has an on-campus office.

In an open letter e-mailed to Clemson students and staff, president James Barker said he was disappointed that the papers printed the cartoons, which were first published in a Danish newspaper and have sparked deadly riots around the world.

“While I wholeheartedly support freedom of the press and the right of student media to operate independently of administrative oversight and censorship, student journalists must understand that with rights come responsibilities, including the responsibility to be respectful of different faiths and beliefs,” Barker wrote.

The letter said the cartoons were published in both papers Friday.

Mehmet Babacan, a student from Turkey who is president of Clemson’s Muslim Student Association, called the cartoons “disturbing.”

“I just can’t understand, what’s their aim?” he said. “Certainly it’s not going to help our community at all to understand each other.”

He said the group planned to issue a formal statement.

Muslims believe any image of Muhammad is sacrilegious. One of six cartoons published in the Observer depicts the prophet with a bomb in his turban.

Andrew Davis, editor of the Tiger Town Observer, said the staff agreed unanimously to publish the cartoons because the mainstream media’s refusal to print them meant most of the public had not seen the drawings at the center of the controversy.

“We feel it is our duty as journalists to disseminate information to the public,” said Davis, a senior political science major from Surfside Beach.

Davis said both papers publish monthly. “This is our first issue since this whole fiasco has begun,” he said.

Bill Rogers, executive director of the South Carolina Press Association, said he is aware of only one other newspaper in the state that published any of the cartoons: the Columbia City Paper, a seven-month-old, locally owned weekly.

That paper’s publisher, Paul Blake, said he felt the paper had a responsibility to print one of the cartoons to illustrate a column on the topic.

[bayouranger]

“I just can’t understand, what’s their aim?” he said. “Certainly it’s not going to help our community at all to understand each other.”

1st of all, it's about Free Speech. 2ndly, it makes people Q why the cartoons depict such an evil fellow, causing curious Americans to look into islam. 3rd, our community has been duped by the "religion" of peace, and we are now trying to focus on the many heads of this hydra. We are understanding it now. Bravo to Clemson!

[hosepipe]

[ Mehmet Babacan, a student from Turkey who is president of Clemson’s Muslim Student Association, called the cartoons “disturbing.” “I just can’t understand, what’s their aim?” he said. “Certainly it’s not going to help our community at all to understand each other.” ]

Mehmet Islam is beginning to be understood very well.. its YOU that don't understand Islam.. suggest de-progamming..

The Islamic HIVE and the killer bees are not hidden anymore.. be careful though Mehmet.. keep this Surah in mind..

Mohammed said, "Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him." Quran; Surah Vol. 9:57

Islam has a strong murderological base... ACT LIKE YOU BELIEVE IT OR DIE!... Sad but true.. Being a muslim is a life threatening choice.. After being "made" the Muslim mafia frowns on "snitches"... you are not ALLOWED to leave..

[bayouranger]

Mehmet Babacan, a student from Turkey who is president of Clemson’s Muslim Student Association, called the cartoons “disturbing.”

Disturbing, now that's repulsive considering that he's from Turkey..a country that committed GENOCIDE against it dhimmini population of Christian Armenians in the early 1920's.

Disturbing...ok, I get it now. It's "islamospeak" for the "hidden truth". Let me see if I use it in a sentence:

Every verse in the koran should be considered disturbing.

Infidels who understand our intentions have figured out "disturbing" in our conquest of the Western world.

Is that good?

[jennyp]

Many in the communist, eastern-bloc nations 'supported' freedom of the press also... but it's the 'practice' of it that makes it REAL!

Well said!

[Cobra64]

Sure it will help your community understand---The First Amendment.

And the Second Amendment if it gets nasty.

[karnage]

According to "War Footing" by Frank Gaffney, Turkey is rapidly dismantling the secular government first established by Ataturk - and going full-bore Islamist. So this "student" is quite possibly an incipient jihadi.

[old_sage_says]

No muslim cartoons, but here are some Jesus cartoons on the Whim Internet Magazine of Radford University.

Now, will Christians throughout the world demonstrate and destroy?

http://www.radford.edu/~whim/

[freeangel]

A story on FOX news last night briefly showed the toons. I was surprised to say the least.

[bayouranger]

So this "student" is quite possibly an incipient jihadi.

Or, an officer in the recently formed Islamofascit Corps receiving an education in the Dal-el-Harb. Here on a student visa while getting to know his enemy and the ways to deal with them, politically. He's already in the news. Where he'll goto next is the best Q.

Funny thing, my father served with the ASA over in Turkey during the 60's, and he told me about the general resentment people had towards the US then, I can only imagine how it is now.

[bayouranger]

Going out to get that book shortly, thanks!

[EmilyGeiger]

LOL!

[Caipirabob]

Are the muslims going to riot in South Carolina?

I suppose they could. If they get thirsty in the process, perhaps the locals will let them drink some Molotov Cocktails?

[Lancer_N3502A]

"upsetting Muslim students on campus"

Boo Frickin' Hoo

[upchuck]

Thanks to Slings and Arrows for the ping.

South Carolina Ping

Add me to the list. / Remove me from the list.

[SandfleaCSC]

This Tiger alum is proud of his roots. Just wish they weren't so slow on the trigger.

[U S Army EOD]

I bet there are a lot more Clemson cartoons in other newspapers.

[SC33]

It is a very Religous, conservative scool, other than the faculty. The only Democrats at the school are Southern Dems (not really liberal) and alot of the New Englanders who go down. That being said, alot of the Northerners who go to school at Clemson are actually pretty conservative.

[Vigilanteman]

I know. I have relatives in the area. The faculty actually has a fairly even balance of liberals and conservatives, somewhat similar to the split nationwide. The campus is conservative because the liberals are not allowed or not powerful enough to shut out competiting ideas.

It proves the theory that liberalism cannot thrive when it is forced to compete in the marketplace of ideas-- only when it is able to silence competiting ideas.

[gocats]

I just want to know why everyone is so upset over the "insensitivity" of the cartoons but noone could understand why Christians were upset over the book of David