Why can't Muslims take a joke?

That's the question Spengler(obviously not the famous Oswald Spengler) addresses in his latest piece. Although I disagree with some of his jabs at tradition and religion in general, he makes some interesting points. Namely that Muslims, if they seek to get by in the modern world, need to have to develop a real sense of humour.

For those who are unaware, once again angry Muslims are on the rampage all across the world; looting, rioting, and even vandalizing embassies(like in Beirut and Damascus). And what on earth has so infuriated the Muslim world that would cause them to do all this? Believe it or not, this whole issue centers around cartoons printed in a Danish newspaper. Yes, that's right, newspaper cartoons that apparently mock the Prophet Muhammad.

Hence Spengler's argument that Muslims really do need to learn how to take a joke. Christian traditions have been openly mocked for several generations now in society, yet Christians voice their outrage in more effective ways. If a Danish newspaper printed cartoons mocking Jesus Christ, Christians would more likely do several things; usually organize a boycott of that newspaper and send letters of protest to the editors of that newspaper and if possible to the person who drew those cartoons in the first place. Christians would most certainly not be rioting, looting, or vandalizing Danish embassies. Why? Perhaps because Christians usually aim at being constructive members of society.

It's about time that Muslims realize that they have a serious problem among their religious flock; a strong tendency to think that violent and destructive acts is the major way to solving problems. Since September 11th, there has been much debate how much Islam actually is a religion of peace. James A. Beverley (along with others) have tried to argue that Islam does indeed have a peaceful side, and there is struggle today for the soul of Islam. How much of that is true is up for debate, but quite frankly if this is indeed true then the voices calling for a more peaceful Islam need to wake up and start having their voices heard!

Because clearly these continuous incidents of irresponsible and violent behavior on the part of Muslims around the world is damaging the image of their religion to the rest of the world. This blog already commented about the growing hatred of Islam in Europe and this was almost a year before either this incident or the Paris riots! Now Europe has more reason to despise its Muslim populations.

If Muslims are offended by these cartoons, well fine, that's certainly understandable. But that doesn't give them the right to behave like they are. Rather they should pull themselves together and engage in more constructive forms of protest. If Muslims honestly feel they are unwelcome in Europe and their traditions are being trashed by European society, well why not go back home and live among your own religious kin, which ironically is exactly what one Islamic cleric suggested. Have Muslims honestly taken either one of these suggestions into consideration?