Iran's Holocaust Cartoon Contest
Hamshahri, an Iranian newspaper, is attempting to question the legitimacy of offensive political speech by sponsoring a nationwide contest over who can create the most offensive holocaust cartoon.
I think this is pretty awesome. It's like the cast of The Aristocrats staged a coup in Iran and elected Abbie Hoffman president. This has the potential to be deeply, gut-wrenchingly, soul-shatteringly hilarious. I realize that Iran isn't joking about its antisemitism, which is appallingly sincere. But the best jokes rarely start out as jokes, and if there's any country that needs help in its sense-of-humor department it's Iran.
This is also an almost best-case response. Iran isn't responding with fatwas or state-sponsored terrorism, they're responding with their own political speech. Like flag-burning, offensive political speech affirms our and their most basic and essential rights in an outrageous public display. If I can burn a flag in America then I'm also free to do almost anything else. Of course one is free speech against the government that sanctions it whereas the other is free speech in support of a state-sanctioned position but we're talking baby steps. Iranian papers have begun publicly committing to the principles of a free press - even if they haven't fully thought through the full consequences of their decision. Let's applaud this decision and hold them to their word.
I'd like to see their newspaper flooded with entries from the outside world, especially from the parts of the world that their contest is intended to offend.
Message-ID: <4e826dc40602071812w5a8f3f89vd648b3e433e537a8@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 18:12:07 -0800
From: tongodeon
To: Managing-dir@hamshahri.org
Subject: cartoon contest
I am a Danish-descended American and I would like to applaud your cartoon contest. I love the Jewish people but I also love free speech - even free speech that I do not agree with. It is encouraging that your newspaper is making a public commitment to open political discussion. I hope your contest is a big success and that it paves the way for a free press in Iran where everyone is allowed to write whatever they believe no matter what they are for or against without worry of being silenced.
As a gesture of my support I would like to enter your newspaper's holocaust cartoon contest. It is the least I can do. To which address should I send my entry? If I do not get a response I will assume that this address is valid:
Hamshahri Holocaust Cartoon Contest
No.91, Motahhari & Sohrevardi Junction,
Tehran, IRAN
I'm having a very hard time even getting started with an idea, but I figure if we're expecting Iran to be mentally comfortable with people making statements offensive to their religion then I ought to at least give this one a go.
My cartoon can't incite violence against civilian populations which is off limits, and I'd be hesitant to deny the existence of the holocaust or diminish that event's horror. It can't equate the morality of genocide with making fun of a religious icon, although maybe that could be the point of the comic. Beyond the humor political cartoons need a point, after all.
Hey doohickey, you're a cartoonist - want to help me draw this one? In conclusion, go jews.
I think this is pretty awesome. It's like the cast of The Aristocrats staged a coup in Iran and elected Abbie Hoffman president. This has the potential to be deeply, gut-wrenchingly, soul-shatteringly hilarious. I realize that Iran isn't joking about its antisemitism, which is appallingly sincere. But the best jokes rarely start out as jokes, and if there's any country that needs help in its sense-of-humor department it's Iran.
This is also an almost best-case response. Iran isn't responding with fatwas or state-sponsored terrorism, they're responding with their own political speech. Like flag-burning, offensive political speech affirms our and their most basic and essential rights in an outrageous public display. If I can burn a flag in America then I'm also free to do almost anything else. Of course one is free speech against the government that sanctions it whereas the other is free speech in support of a state-sanctioned position but we're talking baby steps. Iranian papers have begun publicly committing to the principles of a free press - even if they haven't fully thought through the full consequences of their decision. Let's applaud this decision and hold them to their word.
I'd like to see their newspaper flooded with entries from the outside world, especially from the parts of the world that their contest is intended to offend.
Message-ID: <4e826dc40602071812w5a8f3f89vd648b3e433e537a8@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 18:12:07 -0800
From: tongodeon
To: Managing-dir@hamshahri.org
Subject: cartoon contest
I am a Danish-descended American and I would like to applaud your cartoon contest. I love the Jewish people but I also love free speech - even free speech that I do not agree with. It is encouraging that your newspaper is making a public commitment to open political discussion. I hope your contest is a big success and that it paves the way for a free press in Iran where everyone is allowed to write whatever they believe no matter what they are for or against without worry of being silenced.
As a gesture of my support I would like to enter your newspaper's holocaust cartoon contest. It is the least I can do. To which address should I send my entry? If I do not get a response I will assume that this address is valid:
Hamshahri Holocaust Cartoon Contest
No.91, Motahhari & Sohrevardi Junction,
Tehran, IRAN
I'm having a very hard time even getting started with an idea, but I figure if we're expecting Iran to be mentally comfortable with people making statements offensive to their religion then I ought to at least give this one a go.
My cartoon can't incite violence against civilian populations which is off limits, and I'd be hesitant to deny the existence of the holocaust or diminish that event's horror. It can't equate the morality of genocide with making fun of a religious icon, although maybe that could be the point of the comic. Beyond the humor political cartoons need a point, after all.
Hey doohickey, you're a cartoonist - want to help me draw this one? In conclusion, go jews.
