Quote Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro View Post
You do have the right to ridicule and it's often good to do so. People often do it in a bad way but that's true for criticism as well. The daily show is dumb but it's not like other news shows aren't.
No, I don't think so. The Daily Show really only holds people up to ridicule, but it is comedy, i.e. funny, and it pitches itself towards the audience, not the object of criticism.

There is a profound difference between showing someone up in their own foolishness, and setting out to provoke a negative reaction.

It is also clearly untrue that we have a "right" to ridicule, if we do it is a severely curtailed right. I can't, for example, ridicule gay marriage by drawing a cartoon of two men, one being escorted down the aisle in a white dress, can I?

Quote Originally Posted by Fragony View Post
Sure, but if satire provokes such a strong reaction cruelty is no more than a blunt instrument. Christians are used to be being treated like that by now, muslims will have to get used to it as well. Oddly enough the same people who are cruel towards christians are sweating pure respect when it comes to islam, not going to go along with that myself. Might look mean but it really isn't imho
Consider, where is the joke in Muhammad with a bomb-shaped Turban if no one reacts? The same with the Muslim kissing another man, it isn't funny. That's an important point - this form of ridicule isn't inherently comedic, it deliberately provokes a negative reaction so we can tutt at the dirty Muslims.

I always say, if you want to make a joke about my religion, fine, provided it is either funny or intelligent, if you just want to insult my beliefs I reserve the right to thump you.