Mike Murray essay -- Fraidy-Cat Fools

29 March 2009

Fraidy-Cat Fools

--by Mike Murray

They can be so snide, those celebrity religion-bashers. They smarm, they snark, they insult with impunity – when criticizing, say, Christians. But something happens to them when the topic of Islam comes up.

They clam up. They cower. They run for cover. HBO’s brash Bill Maher wouldn’t dare, for example, use the term “religulous” (his combining of the words religious and ridiculous) while referring to Muslims. Maher and his otherwise smart-mouth consorts don’t want to risk inviting a fatwah, or sparking a retaliatory jihad, it seems. The laughable transformation of blowhards such as Maher – from tough talker to simpering wimp – is as fascinating as it is farcical.

Frankly, I don’t think people should be criticizing anyone’s spirituality, or his or her preferred method of expressing it. Respecting the rights of others to worship (or not) as they see fit is an outgrowth of decency; it is also reflective of the proper observance of one of the bedrock principles upon which our nation was founded.

Someone needs to get the many ignoramuses who inhabit Hollywood, the music industry, television land, etc. copies of the U.S. Constitution and its companion Bill of Rights. Of course, you might have to read those historic documents to them: A remarkable number of celebrities are academic under-achievers. Comedians, especially, tend to be poorly educated. (Performing as Class Clown seldom leads to scholarship.)

The hypocrisy of this crowd is stunning. They giggle and snort as they make fun of many millions of people of faith. They’re tough guys / tough gals at those moments; they don’t care to what extent they offend. They delight in throwing around disrespectful terms such as “Jesusland” while attacking Christians.

But they turn suddenly deferential – reverential, even – when dealing with Islam. They are loath, for example, to make critical (or even merely comical) mention of Muhammad. And most among them don’t dare even breathe the name: Allah. Might offend a Muslim. Might anger a Muslim. Don’t get me wrong: I believe that Muslims should be affronted by derogatory references. But so too should Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, et al. be, when they are targets.

Celebrity insulters just don’t get it. No one thinks them bold in their selective attacks on things religious. Neither are they insulating themselves from potential retaliation. Sparing Muslims overt criticism won’t save celebs from the wrath of the most extreme. Because it is the anything-goes lifestyle, much more than it is the commentary, of countless celebrities (and pseudo-celebrities) that attracts attention, that inflames passions.

What many of the most stringent adherents to Islam find offensive about Western societies, it seems to me, is the perceived lack of discipline. The self-indulgence. Behavior predicated on the “if it feels good, do it” mantra. And very few people are more hedonistic than are members of America’s cultural elite. Their immodest, self-gratifying ways speak much louder than do critical words uttered – or avoided – to many who are devoutly religious.

Bill Maher can cowardly spare Muslims all he wants when he’s hurling theological insults. But he’s foolish to believe that his uninhibited lifestyle will consequently be overlooked. Despite his best efforts to curry favor, fundamentalists will take note of Maher’s many sojourns to the Playboy Mansion. And they will speculate about his behavior while on them.

Many will conclude that he subscribes to the advice offered by Stephen Stills in one of his hit songs: “If you can’t be with the one you love, honey, love the one you’re with.” Even if she’s not your wife. Even if she’s potentially underage. (What, you thought Maher’s been carding the cuties all these years?)

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