Published in The Argus 26 May, 2010
Jonathan Shapiro, aka: Zapiro, is back in his comfort zone. His cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammed reclining anxiously and lamenting his followers’ lack of a funny bone to a psychologist is mild by his standards. He draws the president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, with a shower on his head. He showed Lady Justice about to be raped. In one cartoon he refers to the SA Catholic bishops as a bunch of “pricks”. This latest work seems toned down by comparison.
The cartoon, to be honest, isn’t all that funny. But I think Zapiro knows the brilliance in it is not the cartoon itself but what it will reveal. If you think about it, this is not an attack on the Prophet himself but rather a commentary on those who threaten or perpetrate acts of violence in his name; so is all the fuss really about the egos of those followers being called humourless or is it because Zapiro dared depict the Prophet? This looks like a convenient excuse for bruised pride.
If the Prophet were alive today would he be so sensitive about caricature or his picture being displayed? Would he get bodyguards to smash paparazzi’s cameras like so many celebrities? Or would he, in his magnanimous wisdom, let it slide?
Many Muslims and non-Muslims are of the opinion that the cartoon is insensitive and disrespectful. Insensitive, maybe. But disrespectful? Frankly, pointing out that a certain demographic get more than a mite tense about something is an observation that has nothing to do with respect for other people’s beliefs or lack thereof. Beliefs mean nothing, it is your actions that define you. And since when have Muslim countries shown respect for others’ beliefs? If the Muslim religion has a reputation for violent intolerance it has only itself to blame.
The fact is that people secure in the righteousness of their beliefs will take criticism in their stride. The legitimacy of these beliefs will not be strengthened by intimidation or censorship.
Just ask the Apartheid regime; they didn’t like Zapiro either.
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