Penn (of Penn and Teller) reacts to cartoonist Molly Norris's fate

[Bragi]

Run time: 08:12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnhLZ5W6PxQ   Posted on YouTube: October 05, 2010 By YouTube Member: pennpoint Views on YouTube: 1524   Posted on DU: October 06, 2010 By DU Member: Bragi Views on DU: 1307

 
This is an emotional and moving statement from Penn on what has happened to Molly Norris (the Seattle cartoonist now in hiding due to death threats from radical Islamists.)

It's clear how difficult it is for him to censor himself because, as he explains, he too feels threatened.

[RandomThoughts]

1. I respect his choice not to drink.

It should be a choice, in the same way that drinking would be a choice. And would have water, juice, tea, or coffee if having a meal with him.


And God Bless, and good luck, and I hope the best for you Penn. I agree with you, those that claim violence as a reaction to someone else action also do not understand that Commandment in my view. Furthermore your love on such a topic is actually fulfillment of the law of loving your neighbor in my view.

:loveya:

And you are not a coward Penn, you have spoken your mind many times.

The Catholic church, did have some issues with violence long ago, so it is possible the fringe Islam groups will grow out of thoughts of violence also. And think more on the teachings of love and peace.

[Deep13]

2. If you don't respect freedom of expression, you don't belong in this country...

...or in any country where people are required to have a modicum of respect for each other. (This rule really applies to everyone and many American Christian extremists ought to keep it in mind.)

The rules of Islam do not apply to me. That's freedom of religion. As long as I don't harass or threaten or hurt people who disagree with me, I can say or draw whatever I want. That includes criticism of Islam. I don't have to pretend a wafer is Jesus or that we were born evil or that anyone who throws a light switch on Saturday should die. And I don't have to pretend that there is anything wrong with depicting a major historical figure, even in sarcasm.

And these are not idle threats that these Islamist enforcers are making. Ayaan Hirsi Ali lives with a death threat on her head every day. Her cameraman on a documentary about Islam was murdered by extremists. Many of these people have state support. Khomeini issued the death sentence pronounced against an Indian writer of a novel because he wrote something heretical. As Jillette noted, even Ratzinger doesn't go that far. The rioting and threatened violence against Denmark for the 2005 Mohammad cartoons was inexcusable. Violence is violence and the fact that it is given a religious justification by some does not make it excusable. If a riot against the Park 51 center (which has not happened, BTW) is wrong (and it is), then riots and threats of violence against cartoonists is wrong.

The fact that anyone has to live with a death threat hanging over her head because of a drawing or a film or a novel or a TV cartoon is outrageous. It is almost as outrageous as the fact that media, academia and political leadership has not rushed to their protection and to the defense of free expression and the First Amendment.

[Bragi]

3. Well said

I too find it outrageous that media, academic and political leaders (including President Obama) have gone silent on Molly's circumstances.

Also horrific for me is that the FBI said they are not paying for her protection, that she's on her own.

Finally, as a progressive lefty, I am embarrassed that, for the most part, the only ones who are championing her case and ringing alarm bells over it are libertarian right wingers and anti-Muslim racists.

[Deep13]

9. The political left is correct about most things, ...

...economics, the environment, civil rights, secularism when it comes to Christian extremists etc. etc. For some reason it has totally missed the bus on this. I wish people would stop equating the recognition of the threat that Islamic medievalism poses to the world on the one hand with hatred of Muslim people on the other. I wonder if Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Christopher Hitchens would have gone over to the right if there hadn't been so much moral relativism on the left.

[Bragi]

11. I also wonder about that

I'm not keen on the phrase "moral relativism" simply because it is so often used as a cudgel, but in this case it fits. I find the Molly Norris story to be the same as the Salman Rushdie story, with the media and political leadership heading for the sidelines with nothing to say.

I also applaud the group of American Muslims I read about a few days ago who have signed a petition speaking out loudly and unequivocally against those who issued or support the fatwa, and strongly supporting protecting the lawful rights of Americans to speak freely, and be critical and even offend others, without having their free speech rights curtailed.

[radiclib]

4. I was with him til he blamed Obama for apologizing

I know Penn has no love for Dems, but he seems to buy into the Romney 'no apologies' meme. Obama has never apologized for free speech or excused insane fatwahs.

[Bragi]

5. I'm also angry at Obama for not speaking out or protecting Molly

The right wing are all over Obama for having gone to great lengths to talk Pastor terry out of burning the Koran, but has remained silent on the Molly Norris case.

I am uncomfortable with the company I'm keeping on this, but I also think Obama has not shown leadership on this matter.

I am also angry that Obama has not ordered the FBI to extend protection to Molly of a similar sort to the protection given to people who go into the witness protection program.

[way_brilliant]

8. What would you have him do specifically?

Last time I checked he is the President of the whole country. Does he have to drop, everything and run to a microphone, when one citizen is forced to face the consequences of exercising the rights protected by the 1st amendment? Why should he "show leadership" on this.

Everyday, citizens say things or express themselves in such a manner, that it offends someone else and all too many times violence or threats of it occur. Should Obama order the FBI to protect everyone with witness protection?

Rights have obligations. Exercising them has consequences, some unfortunate.

The joys of living in free society, I guess.

[Bragi]

15. You ask: "What would you have him do specifically?"

I think the President should make a statement underscoring his commitment to the first amendment right of Americans, and announcing that he has instructed the FBI to provide protective services to Molly Norris and to anyone else who is threatened with harm and subjected to death threats because they lawfully and freely expressed their opinions.

[civilisation]

6. I think penn is a (large) sack of sht,.

Nothing he specifically said here would lead me to this, however I have had the misfortune of hearing him speak on a number of issues and my impression is that he is a right-wing libertarian who spews pro-war anti-muslim keep-the-fear-alive crap when ever possible. So some extremist muslims wrote an email or posted on a blog,. the right wing extremist christens in the US and elsewhere do it all the time,. with treats of every kind. And more than that, the US is currently invading, occupying, and indiscriminately killing people with robot drone air vehicles, and gunships half a mile away from the victims. These are not threats of violence, these are real tangible acts of violence that are being done every fcking day, payed for, and supported by, a nation of dim wits. penn is high on that list of dim wits. Ten minuets about a possible threat to a cartoonist?,. what about all those killed today, by this right wing death machine that you support?!?

[nonoxy9]

10. So true. He hates alcohol sooooo much

that he's spent the last 25 years in Vegas doing 2 shows a day!

[20score]

7. I'm with him on this. And many more people should be supporting Molly Norris.

Including the president.
And I'm with him on religion as a whole.

Although on a lot of things he's a hypocrite with a sad grasp of logic. The way he makes a group of people look ridiculous by editing film clips is what he accuses Michael Moore of doing. But he does it too a far worse degree, making average people look bad and thus is actually lying when all is said and done. Penn's main points are disgusting propaganda that make people who are right about the major issues look like they are wrong.
(How did that Iraq War work out for you, Penn? Great fucking vision you have.)

Moore does it to a far less degree and his points always valid and true.

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. Is this LibertarianUnderground?

No. No it is not.

No offence - I agree with them on some levels, but come on.

[Bragi]

14. I condemn what's happened to Molly Norris and so should the left

I can't stop libertarians and the right from supporting her, nor would I try.

What I want is for the left to also stand up for her, rather than remain pathetically silent in response to a terrifying case of an American citizen and journalist being threatened with death and forced into hiding because they exercised their right of free speech.

[watajob]

13. He's an idiot.

Why listen to anything he has to say?

[L Cutter]

16. Too much vanilla extract?

This is the first time I've seen Penn outside of his act. He prattled on about so much that I am at a loss to pick one out for pro or con. He really summed it up well, however, when he said that he had nothing to say and there where a zillion spiders in his head. The main thing I got out of the vid is that Penn is either on some heavy drugs, or that he needs to be. Lay off the vanilla extract, dude, while you still have one brain cell left.