Why doesn’t Obama speak to the Muslim world and condemn those who threaten violence to writers and artists for their depictions of Muhammad? Why doesn’t he show that the United States of America won’t cower in fear to threats against free speech? This is something Obama could do that would bring all Americans together in support of him, but instead he remains silent on this issue while Hollywood shrinks in fear of violence from Islam: (H/T WeaselZippers)
Don’t mess with Allah. That’s the new, unwritten code in Hollywood following the one-two punch of Islamic extremists’ threats against the creators of “South Park” and the failed bombing attempt outside the cartoon’s parent company, Viacom, in New York’s Times Square.
In the current, supercharged climate, it just isn’t worth endangering the safety of an entire production staff or network by pursuing a storyline that Muslim extremists might find offensive, media executives and writers tell Fox411.com.
Aasif Mandvi, a self-described “liberal Muslim” and the “senior Islamic correspondent” for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, said on air after the “South Park” threats that it would upset him to see the Prophet Muhammad depicted in a cartoon. But, he added: “Here’s what’s more upsetting. Someone, in the name of a faith that I believe in, threatening another person for doing it.”
But after the failed Times Square terror attack, “The Daily Show” asked Mandvi not to comment further on the matter, according to his spokesman. In fact, reps for the networks and television shows reached for comment on this article, including Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, FOX, NBC, and CBS, either failed to respond or asked to speak on background for fear of retribution.
And it isn’t just comedians on fake newscasts who are being muzzled. One writer for a scripted drama fold Fox411.com that in one of his show’s final episodes, there had been a minor plot point involving a Muslim extremist. Last week it was removed and the script was rewritten, he said.
I understand that many feel the need to protect their employees and those they work with, but if this is our response to fear, then we will always live under it. This country was founded on the idea that free speech would be protected and we must do all that we can to protect it. This is a threat to our way of life and it needs to be dealt with by those in the upper echelons of power who have sworn to uphold our laws and protect them.
As for Hollywood, they should decide not to be held captive by Islam and fight them with more speech en masse. Everyone in Hollywood should depict Muhammad in their stories, shows, and movies as a show of strength against fear. I believe that if that were to happen, this problem would begin to solve itself.