Musings et. all
My buddy Dan at Musings et. all speaks my thoughts. My favourite part is "Super Fun-Time Jihad Block Party Extravaganza."
My buddy Dan at Musings et. all speaks my thoughts. My favourite part is "Super Fun-Time Jihad Block Party Extravaganza."
For those of you who know me, you're aware that New York is not my cup of tea. The city's corporate and formal attitude is completely different from the laid back, casual appeal of Boston. Money is always tight, and the aesthetic demands of my job keep me thinking I need to spend money on clothes. This once leisurely activity is now conspicuously job-related. Every major corporation has offices in New York, and the streets are dominated by heels clicking on the pavement and voices chattering away on cell phones.
The director of the Berlin Opera recently cancelled a producion of Mozart's "Idomeneo" (article here). The reason given by Kristen Harms, the director, is that the depiction of Mohammad's severed head might offend Muslims, and she fears for the safety of the audience and of the staff at the opera. Also depicted in the opera are the severed heads of Poseidon, Jesus, and the Buddha, but apparently Harms is not afraid of offending neopagans, Christians and Buddhists.
Last month Madonna sparked criticism from some Roman Catholics in Germany for a show that staged a mock crucifixion. Mel Gibson's 2004 movie, "The Passion of Christ" met with disapproval from some Catholics and some Jews. In 2004, a Birmingham, England, theater canceled its run of "Behzti" after a violent protest by members of the Sikh community.The difference amongst all of these? The only one that sparked "violent protest" was the one that offended Muslims.