I should think it's a very open attack on one particular religion. Since 'tasteless' and 'insulting' are entirely consisent with 'funny', I've no problem as long as the musical turns out to be all three.
If it's half as funny as the Family Guy clip it will be a huge success. The people petitioning the PM are miserable killjoys. They ought to see the musical before condemning it. And even then, who cares what they think.

Islam is probably the most joyless religion ever to have existed, and it shows in the intensity, dourness and fanaticism of so many muslims.

Humour is one of the great enemies of extremism and a friend to balance, perspective and sanity. 'Jihad: The Muscial' is just what the doctor ordered. Unfortunately, the people who will be laughing at it are us infidels; the people most in need of comedic therapy to unwind them from their unnaturally tense and high-strung state are the ones who will never see it, or anything like it.

Bookies should start taking bets on which muslim country will be the first to have screaming demonstrators with their faces contorted with rage and hatred raving that 'Islam has been insulted...etc', and which will be first country to see fatalities all because muslims don't know how to laugh. My money is on Pakistan.

I believe that such plays and musicals are not only entertaining but necessary. People need to realise that extremism is wrong and making light of it, and more importantly fun of it, demonstrates that it is not acceptable and is something that must be ridiculed and mocked.

On another level, there is nothing new about this, programmes such as Father Ted and films like the Life of Brian highlight the way in which comedy and religion can be combined. If anything by allowing the more unsavoury aspects of Islam (e.g.. violence) to be mocked, people will become more accepting of the religion as a whole.

Natasha Akhtar

What? So they should portray terrorists in a positive light? I can't believe people could complain about mocking terrorists unless they support terrorism.

It is dangerous to attack any fundamentalism, because of the mental set of the fundamentalist.

We are most familiar with Abrahamic (Jew, Christian, Muslim) fundamentalists,

but there are also Hindu fundamentalists- and fascists.

Arguably, Marxist-Leninism and Maoism were fundamentalisms

and even Nazism.

Conclusion: by all means mock fundamentalism- but as a way of thought.

Today, you ask a number of questions and i want to answer each of them.

1) Is it invigorating or tasteless to mock fundamentalism?
ANS: No. However, the video seems to mock Jihad and burka which is tasteless.

2) We're asking if its ok to have a laugh at the expense of extremists?
ANS: It is ok and cartoonists, even in Pakistan, have been doing so quite often.

3) Is mockery like 'Jihad: The musical' a tool against extremism and the fear of extremism?
ANS: It is a fuel that would ignite extremism and disturb the moderates.

4) Is it a disguised attack on the religion?
ANS: Yes. It is because, it targets the concept of Jihad and women wearing burka (they may be moderate).

ABOUT JIHAD:
Jihad is the basic element in Islam and the part of faith of every Muslim.
Unfortunately, it has been propagated in the world against its essence.
Jihad is to fight for peace, justice and welfare of human being. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said that the supreme form of Jihad was to fight with self against own evil desires.
The problem is, the west only takes the version of Jihad portrayed by Osama and company. Even most of the Muslims are against this version. Still Muslims and Islam is targeted which is likely to produce anger in Muslim world.

ABOUT BURKA:
This is a traditional and cultural dress, having no links with Islam.
However, those who wear burka must not be targeted as it is their basic human right to wear something of their own choice.

ABOUT COMEDY:
Comedy must not be at the cost of religious beliefs. I myself write comedy occasionally, and if you have enjoyed "The president of the World" sent to you earlier, you can see how i remain careful while writing. The writer/producer must not make wrong use of freedom of speech.

with regards,
Muhammad Asim Munir
Gujranwala, Pakistan

I think it is hilarious. If we can't joke about the things we fear, then we will never get over them. Having a laugh together about these things will help open dialog on these topics and make people comfortable to speak about the things we do not understand.

If it offends you, file a compliant and/or don't watch it. I just hope it won't cause the violence and uproar that the cartoons did. Extremists need to get a sense of humor. None of us who fulfill stereotypes will ever be safe from comedy writers, it just too good of material.

I think this development of humor is healthy. Satire is a wonderful way to deal with very incendiary political issues. We have to all be able to laugh at ourselves. Life is far too serious. I'm so glad that someone has finally broken the taboo and started to laugh at some of the ridiculous aspects of the jihadists. It helps us to manage our fear as well and to reduce the threats in order to carry on with daily life in this life we lead under the ominous threat of the 'war on terror' where politicians daily try to scare us silly in order to rob us of our civil liberties.

I agree whole-heartedly with VictorK's comments above. Muslims are some of the most serious people in the world---at least on the surface. I have met wonderful Muslims who know how to laugh and to have fun, but don't know how to laugh at the idiosyncracies of their own religion. Religion is funny, whatever the religion. God is funny. Why not have a laugh? I really loved the movies like God and Evan Almighty (can't remember the exact title) that have a laugh about God. More laughs with James Earl Jones' voice as God please!!!!

I would love to see a comic act that pokes fun at eco-fundamentalists as well. Humor is a sign of keen intelligence and openness. It can also be prophetic---think of political satire. To be able to laugh and not take things too literally shows a flexibility, adaptability and maturity in one's outlook and world view. There is not enough of it in my humble opinion.

Hello all: may I point out that more interesting to me than what Westerners mock in Islamic cultures, are the jokes that a culture tells about itself.

During the cold war, I had the opportunity to spend a summer with Russian exchange students (1963), complete with their KGB minders. A friend and I coaxed them into telling jokes about the USSR and Communism.
Very enlightening.

A challenge: tell a joke or jokes or point fun at your own culture.
Come on Ali in Kuwait....

Virginia

Muslim extremists and hardliners are going to have to get used to expecting the unexpected from us westerners.

Though I haven't seen it, "Jihad: The Musical" doesn't seem like a veiled (no pun intended) attack on religion. I think the title says it all. The producers of the musical aren't pulling any punches, and why should they? Real jihadists want people dead, this musical obviously want to make people laugh about something that is pretty scary.

This topic reminds me of an interview I heard on NPR with a middle eastern comedian (I don't remember his name but he was on the Axis of Evil tour). He said he was selling a comedy CD titled "Safe for Children and Muslims"

People of all religions need to step back and look at themselves... And most importantly, stop taking themselves so seriously.

KinC

Here is a perfect experiment of how "peaceful" Islam is in it's current state. I wish they could re-release "Jesus Christ Superstar" or "dogma", or something like it at the same time. Then we cold watch the results of the two movies. We could see how Christians react. To a comedy about their religion. Then watch how Muslim react to the same. If the Danish cartoons are any indications, I fear a less then "peaceful".

Humor finds magnitude in truth. Those who are often offended by humor about themselves are often offended by the truth about themselves.

There is a Moroccan proverb which says, “Too much worries makes one laugh “. Laughter is a defensive means to face up a stressful situation or to make the best of a worst one. Political crises or government failing are portrayed in cartoons and jokes.

Terrorism or jihad has become a source of worries around the world, particularly in areas hit by attacks or still threatened by them. One way to keep normal and not to keep as seeing the world as a hell is to squeeze laughter out of what can come. Jihadists in this sense will become just like a scarecrow that no longer frightens as it has just the appearance without substance.

But there is the risk if threats from terrorists become just a source of laughter without being coupled with vigilance. It is the duty of everyone to know how to counterattack it with iron fist but without losing smiling teeth. Teeth should be used to show a smile as well as a good bite.

Joking about Jihadists can get out of control if it becomes an attack on the religion they belong to. It’s interesting to see that this kind of jokes about Bin Laden and the rest didn’t stir any ferocious feeling among the Muslims contrary to the cartoons about Prophet Mohammed. This shows that Muslims don’t care about which joke is made about Islamists. Even in Muslim societies, there are jokes about the Jihadists. In Morocco, many jokes were made about the May 16th terrorist attacks which killed 44 people and injured many more. There are countless jokes about the Islamists like this one, “An Islamist discovered that he was gay. He put on a veil”.

If some Jihadists are driven by despair or illusion to carry their acts in what form it takes, ordinary people should carry their lives booing and jeering at them instead of taking to their heels and bury themselves in fear. It’s better they become a joke than they turn in monsters populating every part of the earth.

THIS ARE THE THINGS WE DO THAT CAUSES A LOT OF WAR AND ENEMIES AMONGST US.will that solve the problem.thats what we should ask ourselves.We must live to accept religious diffrences and diversityu in society and thats the only way we can promote peace and unity for better living in this world.

Instead of "I'd rather be fishing" or "I'd rather be bowling," the license plate frame of my car says, "I'd rather be mocking Jehovah." It's critical that we be able to mock *anything* religious because that's the only way we can point out the irrationality, cruelty and other problems with religion -- and, man, there are plenty! So, someone please let the Muslims know it's not just them. And in the meantime, maybe the "moderate" Islamic community can lean more heavily on the extremists to knock off the behavior that's so horrific and mockable?

The laws concerning Blasphemous Libel are probably still in force and could be applied to all religions, although they originally specified only the Christian Religion.

The grounds for application have changed from heresy, to treason, to breach of the peace.

If the comment is made is a reasoned and non-emotive fashion, there is now no offense.

If the Iranian's can have a holocaust denial exhibition with a prize for the best anti-semitic cartoon - the Hammas can employ a Mickey Mouse to star in their children's programs teaching children that they should grow up to be suicide bombers - and that is their idea of fun - then surely there is nothing wrong with the show at the fringe.

the problem is that these fundamentalists are Pediphants - pedantic that we show the greatest possible respect for their feelings and elephants with our feelings.

Mohammad Asim Munir, they aren't mocking religion, they are mocking terrorists. Or are you suggesting the two are intertwined? If so, then that's a problem with your religion, and and not the comedians. Targetting burkas? It's humor, women still can wear burkas before and after the comedy. It seems you want to supress any percieved criticism of your religion. Looks like nothing but insecurity on your part.

Looks like we're going to see pictures of Muslim Rage Boy in the news again. Wonder if his hair is long again.

Well joking about fundamentalism sounds fine, but lets remember that it is posing a great threat to the free world.Let's joke about everything besides looking at any islamic fundamentalism as a joke.it's real and it's seriously on our backs.

I looked up the definition of "mock" to be sure I could respond in a meaningful way. It means to treat with contempt or to ridicule or to deride. Here's what I think: While the world has no business mocking a religion, it has every right to mock that religion's followers' CHOSEN ways of expressing that religion's values. Any jihadist who wants to kill infidels and backsliding muslims should be mocked. They should be laughed right out of existence. The problem isn't unique with muslims, however. It seems lots of religious people often can't see the humor that another person's viewpoint affords. Another point: humor seems a fairly harmless way of fighting. Let's have a televised world-wide attack-religious-extremists humor fest. If everybody is laughing, maybe they'll stop fighting. Maybe it's an idea whose time has come? I take issue with muslims objecting so strongly to cartoons making fun of Mohammed, blessed be his name. Mohammed is no more "holy" than was Moses, Jesus Christ, Mary Baker Eddy, or the Mormon guy, Joseph Smith, to whom God gave the Golden Tablets. He was a human being and should not receive the kind of reverence which should be reserved for the Great Mystery, the Great Spirit, God, Allah, Jehovah, the Alpha and the Omega, the "I am becoming what I am becoming." Human beings are fallible, right? Mohammed was a human being, right? Does it not follow, then, that Mohammed was fallible? I'll leave with a joke I always enjoyed about one fundamentalist Christian sect: Why don't Baptists practice sex standing up? Answer: Because it might lead to dancing.

The notion of free speach should allow for the mocking of anything. Good taste, decorum, and consideration for others should keep us from alienating anyone different than ourselves.

Adam in Portland,OR,USA

To those worried about offending Jihadis, why don't you kill yourselves now to make the jihadis' job a little easier since you care so much about them? I mean, think of the environment, if they don't have to fly here to kill you, think about all of the all the greenhouse gasses that won't be emitted into the environment.

Is it acceptable to mock Islamic fundamentalism? No more or less so than Jewish fundamentalism.

There is a quote attributed to Mark Twain, "Sacred cows make the best hamburger." Nothing is above satire. The true strength of anything is its ability to withstand satire. Or mockery.

Remember folks, the strength of a democracy is the freedom to state ideas that other people might not like. Having a discussion is the best way to deal with it. Removing it from view doesn't get rid of it. It just goes underground. The free flow of ideas is the best way to insure open lines of communication. And a better understanding for everyone.

I think it's acceptable to mock any belief system: communism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Muslim, whatever....if for nothing else to show how their very limited view of the world needs to expand so their belief system can be more inclusive.

Criticism is how we learn, and without it our belief systems exhaust themselves and become irrelevant.

Humour is how we break our limited mind sets, and I think that leaders of all belief systems should be inviting mockery and humour as way stay relevant.

Paul Rousseau
Windsor, Ontario Canada

It is OK to make fun of politicians and personalities in music, theater, even the news. It is in bad taste to make fun of someone because of their religion, place of birth, ethnicity, social status, or race. These sort of things are the equilvalent of throwing gasoline at a burning house.

Joking about Islamist extremists is no more acceptable than making fun of others who are mentally ill.

I think fundementalism of any kind is wide-open for ridicule. Good on the theater company for taking on a serious subject.

Gentle persons,

Yes! I think all magical beings, all invisible powerhouses, superheroes are open to ridicule.

It is time for the world to grow UP!

M Jackson

Hi WHYS!

Today, you ask a number of questions and i want to answer each of them.

1) Is it invigorating or tasteless to mock fundamentalism?
ANS: No. However, the video seems to mock Jihad and burka which is tasteless.

2) We're asking if its ok to have a laugh at the expense of extremists?
ANS: It is ok and cartoonists, even in Pakistan, have been doing so quite often.

3) Is mockery like 'Jihad: The musical' a tool against extremism and the fear of extremism?
ANS: It is a fuel that would ignite extremism and disturb the moderates.

4) Is it a disguised attack on the religion?
ANS: Yes. It is because, it targets the concept of Jihad and women wearing burka (they may be moderate).

ABOUT JIHAD:
Jihad is the basic element in Islam and the part of faith of every Muslim.
Unfortunately, it has been propagated in the world against its essence.
Jihad is to fight for peace, justice and welfare of human being. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) said that the supreme form of Jihad was to fight with self against own evil desires.
The problem is, the west only takes the version of Jihad portrayed by Osama and company. Even most of the Muslims are against this version. Still Muslims and Islam is targeted which is likely to produce anger in Muslim world.

ABOUT BURKA:
This is a traditional and cultural dress, having no links with Islam.
However, those who wear burka must not be targeted as it is their basic human right to wear something of their own choice.

ABOUT COMEDY:
Comedy must not be at the cost of religious beliefs. I myself write comedy occasionally, and if you have enjoyed "The president of the World" sent to you earlier, you can see how i remain careful while writing. The writer/producer must not make wrong use of freedom of speech.

with regards,
Muhammad

I think it's acceptable to mock any belief system: communism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Muslim, whatever....if for nothing else to show how their very limited view of the world needs to expand so their belief system can be more inclusive.

Criticism is how we learn, and without it our belief systems exhaust themselves and become irrelevant.

Humour is how we break our limited mind sets, and I think that leaders of all belief systems should be inviting mockery and humour as way stay relevant.

--

Paul

The notion of free speach should allow for the mocking of anything. Good taste, decorum, and consideration for others should keep us from alienating anyone different than ourselves.

Adam in Portland,OR,USA

Would Americans call it a harmless joke if someone made parody of the firemen who died on September 11th? Certainly not; such would be cause for outrage.

Yet these same Americans think it is cute to make fun of other cultures plagued by war, tyranny, and religious compulsion.

I'm glad we have our freedoms in the west, but I can't say we deserve them.

Hello. I don't think this Islamic humour is brave - the same people don't make similar humour about, say, blacks! Tony, London.

Anything that points out foolishness is good.

Naturally, those individuals who are offended by these comedic responses to religious inspired violence and close-mindedness will be the ones who are most likely to take the trouble to post and/or call in.

For the record, count me amoung the legions of atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists who abhore religious fundamentalism, and who welcome all commentary for or against its impact on our lives.

indeed i find it all very funny,no matter what religion happens to be the subject of the joke.The notion that we could all start worrying about religion too much attaches too much importance to it.(religion)

The notion of free speach should allow for the mocking of anything. Good taste, decorum, and consideration for others should keep us from alienating anyone different than ourselves.

Adam in Portland,OR,USA

I think things like this need to be thought about, created, produced and shown to the world MORE often. It is the conservative, shielded viewpoints of ANY religious zealot (islamic, christian, jewish) which is harmful and offensive.

One giant shrug from me. I understand that religion is important in everyday life for millions of individuals around the world but why is everyone so serious about EVERYTHING! I understand being offended if you say something or joke about something incredibly serious (such as making a joke directly about Jesus' death or something along those lines), but such little things like the Family Guy clip really isn't offensive. Of course, that's my personal opinion. But I just wish that some people didn't take such religious jokes so seriously...

Christian B.
Portland, Oregon

IN A NUT SHELL - EVERYONE JUST LIGHTEN UP!

I currently live in Corvallis Oregon and want to say, as an atheist and recovering Catholic, I completely support humor that pokes at ALL religions. Fundamentalists of all religions seem to be the biggest thorn in the side of peace worldwide and humor is a way of shining a spotlight on the ludicrisnous of fundamentalists and their extreme and conflicting views. Which, by the way, helped to speed me down the road to atheisism.

Thank you for your great show!!

Every dictator, religious fascist and bigot fears laughter, all the clips were hilarious. If you can t laugh at yourself what kind of God are worshipping . Personally, more please.

We live in a democracy, we should be able to talk (and laugh) about everything. If you don't like it, just turn it off.

In its highest form, humor and satire are a highly regarded (if sometimes obscure) vehicle for social comment. They allow an exploration of our greatest fears. In its lowest form, it can indeed be a jagged barb fuelled by ignorence.

Every comment on islam can not be taken literally. While much of islam clearly takes it self very seriosly, it too must adapt to living in the world, a world where humor finds few bounds.

I am a jew who grew up knowing all the best jewish jokes and i have never heard a joke, (told with humor not hate,) that insulted me.

If it is not true it is a lie, if it is true how can it be an insult because it is the truth.

We are in many segments of life, taking ourselves way too seriously. Everyone needs to get over them selves.

It's imperative to mock and satirize fundamentalists of all stripes. Humor is an important tool in exposing their ridiculous twisting of beliefs.

Though I do feel I know sacrilege when I hear it, I think this stuff is tremendously funny and the creators are incredibly clever. However, I'm not either Christian, Muslim, or Jewish.

I would welcome them turning their wit to the pagans and druids, so I could make a better judgement.

Comically mocking only one religion, ideology, or race smacks of bigotry. But equally skewering all the various combatants, as does Marcus Brigstocke, we can laugh at fundamentalism everywhere.

I don't think this Islamic humour is brave - the same people don't make similar humour about, say, blacks!

Thank you, I think we really give these people too much press. Feeding their clear need for attention.

They get upset when someone offends them, usually accidentally; But, they have no problem offending everyone else.

We all need to step back, have a good laugh and realize the ones killing innocent people need to be put in jail.

Oh my god thank that man for bringing that up. Please reiterate: You
have absolutely no Right to not be offended. Period.

In its highest form, humor and satire are a highly regarded (if sometimes obscure) vehicle for social comment. They allow an exploration of our greatest fears. In its lowest form, it can indeed be a jagged barb fuelled by ignorence.

Every comment on islam can not be taken literally. While much of islam clearly takes it self very seriosly, it too must adapt to living in the world, a world where humor finds few bounds.

I am a jew who grew up knowing all the best jewish jokes and i have never heard a joke, (told with humor not hate,) that insulted me.

If it is not true it is a lie, if it is true how can it be an insult because it is the truth.

We are in many segments of life, taking ourselves way too seriously. Everyone needs to get over them selves.

I think that the comedians are great, keep up the great funny work, and yes I would attend the play in New York, hopefully it comes to Portland OR.

Muslims seem to me to be like 12 year old school girls; whiny.

Gary D,

Portland OR

Nothing will ever be safe from humor, may it be god, satan, paradise, hell, the queen, 9/11, christians, jews , you name it. and there will be always people that get outraged about this. Think about christians in the late middle ages, india, central africa, irak, a never ending list.
Humor helps the nonradical majority to bear the unthinkable and horror of the times they are living in.

What I find most hypocritical is that the western media always links the term "terrorism" to Islam, but does not associate many similar acts committed by Christians and based on their own interpretation of Christian ideology as "Christian Terrorism"

Timothy Mc Veigh was closely aligned to the "Christian Identity" movement, as was Eric Rudolph in the United States.The "Lords Resistance Army" in East Africa, as well as the
"National Liberation Front of Tripura" a fundamentalist Christian organization in Northern India, have all comitted terrorists acts, yet the term "Christian Terrorism is not applied to this worldwide rash of terrorism comitted in the name of Christianity.

There have been hundreds of bombings of abortion clinics in the United States committed in the name of various Christian organizations, yet the idea of calling this "Christian terrorism" is carefully avoided.

Inevitably British wit emergesto say what many have been thinking, "get over yourselves and join the rest of himanity". Particularly the very democratic satirizing of all religions. To me this is not a criticism of any INSTITUTION but poking some deflating fun at an ATTITUDE.

I'm sorry but i found family guy very funny! Actually i'm not sorry it was humorous! Laughter is a way of bringing people together

In what way does this kind of mockery promotes inter religious understanding? It will certainly encourage more misunderstandings and will lead to more hatred from all sides.

Why put the creator of "rage boy" back on the air> Do you really think giving a platform for bigots will better you conversation?

The sooner the REST of the world learns 2 laugh @ itself the world will B a far better, safer & happier place.

Does English Law really state you can not provoke violence? It should be rewritten to state you can not encourage violence.

while a musical might provoke an angry response. it would take a leader of the offended to encourage violence.

It is hard to walk the fine line between having fun and being cruel. I really don't like people to be made fun of, except of course politicians who deserve the worst or best we can deliver. I would not make fun of fundamental Islam or fundamental Christians or any other religeous belief.

Radical terrorists, however, have asked for it and should expect anything they get.

Humor could be the beginning of the end of terrorism. Humor is the only weapon we have at these madmen, no matter their religion. This is the ONE thing they cannot survive.

The stronger the fabric of your religion, the more impervious it will be to mocking and derision.

I'm for anything that mocks religion, politics, and anything or anyone that takes themselves to seriously. But, I realize I do so at my own peril!

Who was the guy who said faith had nothing to do with terrorism?
I suppose he did not hear about the red mosque siege where they were stockpiling guns and RPG's. The killing of korean hostages by the taleban, the latest batch of moslem lunatics in Scotland and England. I would say the moslem faith has everything to do with terrorism. 7/7, 911, madrid etc. etc. Yes, the islamic death cult marches on. Keep going comedians, these guys need their noses tweaked.
john.

Fundamentalists of all religions need to get over themselves. They are so self righteous and pious and feel above everybody else that they blaspheme God. Isn't Pride not one of the seven deadly sins in Christianity? I believe there is something similar in Islam as well. Islamists as a whole are the worst. They constantly cry that the rest of the world is picking on their religion but they have no qualms in disrespecting everyone else.

Often, humour is the best and only way to address delicate subjects. And religion is the most delicate of all subjects today.

Fundamentalist religious attacks are not funny. But I think it's important to make fun of those that perpetrate these horrible acts in the name of faith. These people take themselves and their faiths very seriously. Too seriously.
By ridiculing their extreme views, we have a chance to show them up for what they are - crackpots.

In my view, religion is a transmittable mental disease. In most people, this disease remains relatively benign, with symptoms limited to intolerance and a desire to control the behavior of others. But in some, especially those pre-disposed to violence, religion can become malignant and metastize into fundamentalism. Sadly, this applies to all religions - Christian, Judaism, Islam and others. Whether it's the inquisition and the crusades, or today's islamic fundamentalism, religion has proven time and time again to be a fuel to focus human hatred.

Steve

I don t think the smartest thing to do is to make fun of someone who is prepared to blow up himself and others.

Yes, it is a duty to joke not only the islamist fundamentalists but any fundamentalists. Being the pope or M. Bush promoting abstinence, or islamists preaching the hate, or Jews to call French extremists when enforcing secularism, it is a must to joke them.

The problem with the three monoteisms is that they are revealed faith, which means that, when challenging them even a bit, they believe that you challenge their rights to believe.

I think that laughing at most of them is already a great honour that we give. Are they worth it?

By the way, I found the extracts very funny.

Continue the good work guys: BBC and the humorists.

Your guest stated that the violence being mocked is fundamentally tied to religion. I suspect it isn't as simple as that. For example, in the US the KKK perpetuated violence against African Americans and groups who supported civil rights. The French and Russian revolutions provide other examples. It doesn't appear too difficult to incite members of a group to lash out against people who are perceived to threaten their group.

If a Muslim’s faith is by no means predicated on the beliefs of others, than they should have absolutely no reason to be offended about what non-Muslims write or laugh about. This is a question of the basic human right of Freedom of Speech and that freedom is far more important than hurting the feelings of a religious group. As a Roman Catholic I hear countless jokes and disrespectful comments about recent, unfortunate events surrounding Catholic priests and the Catholic Establishment. I choose to take those jokes with a grain of salt knowing that they came as a result of unjustifiable, reproachable actions. I feel as though many Muslims have unknowingly expected the world to place their religious sensibilities above all others. In reality, how can you escape what is going on in the world right now? How can you escape Jihad? Without this word there is a better world. Without this excuse of a god’s justification for war, we live in a more peaceful world. How can you escape this reality? How can you ask that all times the whole world must be reverent towards it? We must beg this question!

Today on World Have Your Say we're asking... Is it invigorating or tasteless to mock fundamentalism?
-------------------------------

My answer is simple:

If one considers it invigorating, enjoy it as long as the show is legally allowed in this country; If one regards it tastless, use your remote, change channel.

The third reaction might feel offended, then call the TV station to complain or get a lawyer to start a legal inquiry.

If anyone feels it is right to take the law to themselves to hurt anyone physically, hold 10 seconds and think the legal consequences in this country. Or consider doing it legally in another country.

I agree with the Sheikh from the Muslim Action Council: It's fine to mock terrorists, not people of good will who hold a faith. That said, perhaps the discomfort created by some of the humor will get the Mulsim world off its collective butt: Where is the outrage in the Islamic world about these almost daily acts of barbarism? Where are the protests in the street? Hundreds of thousands of Muslims marched in the streets of Turkey for example, in protest against the U.S. invasion of Iraq ( a great crime by the way, of having deposed a man who had murdered hundreds of thousands of Muslims)- where - anywhere???- has there been a comparable protest in the Muslim world against the acts of terrorism we see not only in the Middle East, but in Europe, Asia, etc. The Sheikh sounds reasonable, but the silence of his community speaks louder still.

It is unfortunate that people who make fun of Islam will most likely now receive countless death threats, be the subject of protests, and probably burned in effigy while screaming crowds burn US and UK flags. Religions fundamentalists of all religions deserve to be poked fun at because of their utter stupidity and ridiculousness and intolerance, just like politics and Paris Hilton.

I would like to make a few points:

1. Religion played a fundamental role in the European conquest of the Americas, and it is widely known that the Conquistadores and other settlers committed extremely violent, heinous crimes against indigenous people.

2. Religion played a fundamental role in the African slave trade.

3. Religion also played a fundamental role in the British colonization of India.

Manifest Destiny, with its inherent religious superiority, was the rationale for these, and many other, violent political and economic movements.

4. I am convinced that the U.S. and British governments are quite aware of how they benefit from the peoples' fear of terrorism, and I know for certain that the U.S. government has encouraged this fear for its own political gains. Even though U.S. leaders pander to religious fundamentalists (mostly Christian and Jewish), their motives are purely political and financial. They do not adhere to, or operate from, any moral base, religious or otherwise. I am sure that they believe their wealth and power put them above these concerns.

5. Throughout history, political and religious leaders have forbid the populace from making fun of their leaders whenever they sought to control peoples' freedom of expression, and freedom of choice.

Kary Aloveah
Portland, Oregon

The beauty of comedy is that nothing is sacred. Everything is fair game. This is the way things should be. Comedy is the great equalizer. It presents to those too insufferably pleased wtih themselves a desparately needed cold slap in the face of reality.

What we should fear most are people and cultures who lack a sense of humor and the essential ability to laugh at themselves. They are inherently dangerous.

Righteous peoples use their gods and their belief systems as entitlement to commit horrendous acts of atrocity and opression with casual disregard for their fellow species. History is rife with the pursuit of such sacred fascist agendas and painted vividly with he blood of their victims.

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If extremists can kill people then we can definitely have a right to make fun of them.It can be a civilised way of reply.