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On 23/02/2008, Andrew Gray wrote:
On 23/02/2008, WJhonson@aol.com wrote:
Our project is not here to support or criticize a religion. We do not remove images based on religious dogma.
I find it surprising that you seem to not notice there are extremist viewpoints demanding the inclusion of these images, as well as extremist viewpoints demanding their removal. We can't just say that one side is evil, so should be ignored, and that the other is justice and light.
If we're going to flaunt the extremist demands, we would be just as justified to remove them now.
But, you know, guess what? We are capable of making decisions not driven by what the extremists *on either side of this debate* are demanding. Your constant, insistent, repetitive statement that everyone should just stop discussing it is not, in any way, helpful.
It has been pointed out above that, for quite some time, the generally accepted approach was to have no illustrations. If we were having this debate *then*, when someone first insisted on their inclusion, would you be loudly arguing for them to be kept out on the grounds that we don't mess around with articles on religion-based grounds?
I don't think the term "extremist" applies to either side with any accuracy, and the use of the term implies impotence of the position without giving any good reasons why. The term just marginalises anything which isn't some form of difficult half-way solution. I'm yet to see a compromise which appeases both sides (i.e. the protestor's notion that no one can see the Prophet's face and Wikipedia community's wish to remain neutral, informative and educational), and I doubt there will be one.
- -- Oldak Quill (oldakquill@gmail.com)