A French newspaper, France Soir, has reproduced the Danish cartoons of Muhammed “”because no religious dogma can impose itself on a democratic and secular society.”
Under the headline “Yes, we have the right to caricature God”, France Soir ran a front page cartoon of Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim and Christian gods floating on a cloud.
It shows the Christian deity saying: “Don’t complain, Muhammad, we’ve all been caricatured here.”
Outstanding! The French actually have some marbles. Wow! I can’t believe I just said that. The French government responded to the cartoons:
In a statement, the French foreign ministry said the decision to publish the pictures was the sole responsibility of France Soir.
The French authorities supported the principle of press freedom, the statement said, adding that that freedom must be exercised “in a spirit of tolerance and with respect for beliefs and religions”.
That’s great. No more caricatures of the Chicago Cubs not winning the World Series because I still believe they can. I believe!
I still don’t think the cartoons were aimed at Islam but how the Islamic community has reacted to radical Islamic terrorist attacks. Of course the commenters in that thread decrying such a cartoon keep saying “what if it happened to Jesus,” told that it has and then saying “that doesn’t make it right.” Well, it doesn’t make it right, but that’s where freedom of speech comes into play.
Meanwhile the offices of Jyllands-Posten were evacuated yesterday after a bomb threat, the 12 cartoonists still have to travel with bodyguards and there are still riots in Palestine. Why, you ask? All because of some stupid cartoons and people who want you to respect their wishes but not respect theirs.
Update:
German newspaper Die Welt has published the cartoons. Spain has published some of the cartoons. Another German newspaper, Berliner Zeitung, carried two of the images. Italy’s Corriere della Serra and La Stampa carries the cartoons. (roundup here)
Can there be a backbone beginning to arch up over Europe? This proves, once again, you cannot impose a will contrary to the freedom to speak out in societies that love this freedom.
The Wikipedia has been under attack as well. Considering the Wikipedia doesn’t answer to any government, who are those opposed to this speech going to protest against? Hat tip to GOPINION.
Michelle Malkin writes about why this concern all of us and includes this interesting insight.
And on Tuesday afternoon in advance of the State of the Union address, the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued an ultimatum warning President Bush to “avoid the use of hot-button terms such as ‘Islamo-fascism,’ ‘militant jihadism,’ ‘Islamic radicalism’ or ‘totalitarian Islamic empire’” in his speech — in other words, advising Bush not to identify our enemies for the sake of tolerance and diversity.
President Bush adhered to the ultimatum, or it may have already been adhered when the speech was written. Where’s his backbone?
The reaction from the German Journalists’ Federation is one of appeasement not to offend. READ MORE
Hyscience linked with Muslim Cartoon Rage Continues On - Encouraged By Bill Clinton (Updated)
Panther6170 - 
Tom Killebrew - 
Emm Bayoumi - 
lyndsey -
But!…But!…But!…Doesn’t freedom of speech have to respect Muslims’ unchallenged, unique right not to be offended??
Comment by Francis W. Porretto — Wednesday, February 1, 2006 @ 12:20 pm UTC
Where was the muslim outrage when innocent people were beheaded by muslims! People better start to realize that the radical muslims are the next major force since the Axis in WWII to confront the west
Comment by John Ascrog — Thursday, February 2, 2006 @ 9:51 pm UTC
Radical muslims living in non islamic countries should perhaps consider moving to islamic countries countries where they can have what they want and leave the rest of us who do not share their views in peace.I wouldnt presume to go and live in a muslim country and expect muslims to tolerate my non muslim beliefs and behaviours.Why should we give up the right to speak and think freely in european countries??? I have a feeling the Prophet Mahomed would be quite appalled to see the atrocities being carried out in the name of Isalm (which literally means peace)
I have moderate muslim friends who share my views and are also appalled by the reactions of the radical few.
Comment by s.haugaard — Sunday, February 5, 2006 @ 4:22 pm UTC
So why is it OK to make endless jokes about Catholics and the Catholic religion, but not Islam? It wasn’t bad enough to cause riots surely. What an over reaction.
Comment by Ian Zuman — Sunday, February 5, 2006 @ 10:31 pm UTC
back in Montreal I used to here ‘If you dont like it , LEAVE.’ I think that is excellent advice for any newcomer offended by the way we do things here.
The islamo-fascists bite the hand that feeds them.
Comment by erik bostrom — Monday, February 6, 2006 @ 10:53 am UTC
I would like to know where I can see these cartoon and make my own mind up. I have worked in Islamic countries for over 30 years and have many friends all over the Muslim world and I am awaiting their responses!
Comment by george cozens — Tuesday, February 7, 2006 @ 10:46 am UTC
what will happen if this newspapers insulted the jewish creed or writes about the holocost.Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him)is the prophet of mercy.
Comment by bahaa — Thursday, February 9, 2006 @ 6:44 am UTC
First of all , islam is opposite to terrorism , so if anyone has issues against terrorism and want your so called freedom of speech critict them as you want but if you are that blind to not know the difference between muslims and terrorisms and offend us all and then we are right to do what we want to .
Secondly , if offending someone is considered freedom of speech (let’s not forget that defamation or libel or slander are considered private wrongs condemned by the law or did the whole west sudddenly forget THAT),then our so called over reaction is a freedom of speech as well.
THirdly , why is it acceptable to mock jesus then ? Guess what , it’s not acceptable, it was never the muslims who made jokes about JESUS never , it’s forbidden to speak in such form about any Prophet wheteher Jesus or Moses.
Last but not least , we ourselves aren’t allowed to portray our prophet nor make a movie with an actor playing him , i mean we don’t do it ourselves then why let others? if a muslim himself draws the prophet Mohammed (pbuh)in a good way , he’ll be punished , it’s our rule , you don’t have to understand it nor it nor praying 5 times nor fasting nor anything else just respect it we don’t have to justify what we do , the west is not the judge of how the world should behave court , we do what we want , you do your stuff ,fine critic me and vice versa but come on there’s a line to be drawn here ,i mean if someone calls your mom bad names you know you won’t shut up or maybe you should as in freedom of speech yo,so imagine offending prophet MOHAMMED
P.S : if you don’t get it by now , you never will cuz I HAD ENOUGH OF EXPLAINING EVERYTHING TO EVERY NON MUSLIMS PEOPLE STOP THE PREJUDICE THING, oh yeah if it makes me a more reliable source to you (THOUGH IT DOESN”T MEAN ANYTHING ,IT JUST FULLFILLS YOUR STEREOTYPING NEED)I’m half czech , my mom has no religion i’m one of you as wel
Comment by lamia — Friday, February 10, 2006 @ 8:03 am UTC
Lamia:
No.
Is that clear enough for you? Let me say it again: “No.”
The West will not be bullied into showing “respect” for a mere human being. We don’t care who Muhammad was to Muslims–most of us aren’t Muslims. Further, we have free speech in our countries. The laws allow us to make critical remarks with regard to religions and religious icons.
If Muslims wish to abstain from drawing Muhammad, that’s their right, but they will NOT bully the rest of us into giving away our rights.
Comment by Crusader — Friday, February 10, 2006 @ 10:12 am UTC
Crudaser:
Alright then let me repeat . . .
It’s not bullying we didn’t come up and say respect us , you provoqed us , if your law makes its fine then your law applies on you , in our territory it’s not, mock your own religion but don’t touch ours that’s the rule we play by whether it’s accepted by others or not , see if you let others ruin or mock your belief then you really are worthless or how can you hold on to your believes if you let it be mocked in such way , in what kind of freedom is that ? to use such a cheap way to say what you feel , say whatever you want about us DON”T COME NEAR THE PROPHET MOHAMMED (PBUH) it’s simple maybe like that we can respect you but if you believe that your freedom is being the reason to mock others then that’s a shallow freedom , maybe saying something that may get to the roots of the problem between us may be more helpful unless you’re not looking for a solution and you’re not brave nor intellectual enough to think in a broader dimension then nothing would be clear enough if we don’t believe in the same ways of debate so let’s start a whole new generation of wars and victims and further more no solution at the end but at least we can keep our dignity that’s more valuable to us arabs and muslims then life itself .Don’t reply if you feel so or ignore me but just take this in my mind try to think like a muslim maybe you’ll get it one day.
Comment by lamia — Friday, February 10, 2006 @ 6:36 pm UTC
Lamia:
You still don’t get it. Muhammad was a HISTORICAL figure–Muslims do NOT get to dictate what is said about him, period. Further, that you believe “generations of wars” could come from a simple cartoon is proof that Islam is not compatible with the 21st century. Further still, if your “dignity” depends upon whether someone draws a simple cartoon, then you HAVE NO DIGNITY to begin with.
Comment by Crusader — Friday, February 10, 2006 @ 7:05 pm UTC
Crusader:
The whole war thing isn’t about the cartoons of course , i meant the continuous misunderstanding , my fault i didn’t explain that correctly ,i admit it , but it’s not just the cartoons ,how can you judge that he is a historical figure for us ? That’s the whole poimt , he’s not sallah el din , he’s not history for us ,we’re not dictating what to say about him for centuries other faiths have told us they don’t believe what he said , he was false whatever the sentence we didn’t argue , you got your view and that’s none of my business but the cartoons went too far , that’s crossing the line , there’s nothing meaningfull to be portrayed it was simply a message of hate , i dunno what is respect from your point of view if mockery and such images for you are freedom , so i’m free i go on insulting people and their religions ?????????????
Again , the war thing is about the continous harrasement, ever going to stop?No .Then may be one day force might be the answer because it will go miles after simple harrasements , the west won’t stop there and to keep my dignity then i’ll do whatever it takes to stop you.
The west goes on asking us why we do so ignoring the continious interference in our faith , why the voil? why fasting? Come on we never asked why church ? why bat-mitzvah?+false accusations + trying to get our oil (u know it’s true)+changing our political system (talkin about egypt and iran though i don’t like the irani system i don’t think that gives the U.S right to interfer)+Insults+Prejudice about how we live +telling us we’re psychos+KILLING US+TAKING A WHOLE COUNTRY AND ERASIMG IT (take an old map and look were the heck is israel ,it’s not there , the west erased palestine and put israel)+NOW MOCKING OUR RELIGION , what next??
These are all reasons for outrage from the muslim world that somehow is losing dignity so don’t tell i don’t have dignity for not accepting these facts, the cartoons were a something extra over a lot of piled stuff so the explosion is normal .Islam is compatible with the 21st century , you didn’t read our religion of course nor do you understand it so don’t tell me whether it’s compatible or not while you’re ignorant about it , simple fact of life know something before you judge if you don’t know then say you DON”T KNOW period .
Comment by lamia — Saturday, February 11, 2006 @ 4:18 pm UTC
Comment by sherine — Sunday, February 12, 2006 @ 3:42 pm UTC