The row of Danish cartoons questioning the role of Muhammed in radical Islamic terrorist attacks has seemingly intensified. Yesterday other European newspapers ran at least a portion of the disputed 12 political cartoons including the French newspaper France Soir under the headline of “Yes, we have the right to caricature God†backed by a drawing of other religious figures. As I stated yesterday, I support the newspapers who have supported the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. It is a matter of free speech versus those who wish to impose their will on our society. The comments in this thread decisively show the differences in what some Muslims deem as free speech. To those who declare the cartoons are not free speech, what is free speech to you?Since the republication of the cartoons in France Soir, the editor of the newspaper was fired. The owner of France Soir, Raymond Lakah, said he “decided to remove Lefranc as a sign of respect”. Respect towards those who wish to curb our right in Western societies to say what we wish though has been defeated by this action.
On my initial post on this Danish cartoon row, I made the observation that I thought the cartoons spoke out more regarding how radical Islamists were using Mohammed to justify their savagery. I still stand by that remark despite being called ignorant and “Mohammed (PBUH) was a peace-loving man.” I do not care to get involved in a theocratical discussion with people who are outraged over the caricature of Mohammed in the Jyllands-Posten but have looked the other way as Mohammed has been caricatured many times over in the past. To pretend this is the first time people have drawn Mohammed is ignorant, not my views that this is a freedom of speech versus oppression instance. No Parasan has the cartoon that should be distributed and draw more ire from Muslims accross the globe, but I doubt it will.
Over the furor over the Mohammed cartoons, Palestinians have stormed EU offices (pictured at left), issued fatwas against Danish soldiers, nations have withdrawn ambassadors and closed down embassies, threats of suicide bombings in Denmark and Norway have commenced, etc. Carsten Juste, editor of the Jyllands-Posten, claimed yesterday “the dark dictatorships have won.” Those dark dictatorships, in Juste’s eyes, are those that wish to oppose freedom of speech and impose their will on Danish society. As I said yesterday, I disagree that the “dark dictatorships” have won and that I believe they “have lost because the world has seen what type of archaic savagery the other side will resort to.”
Juste claims the publishing of the cartoons was “worth it.” To that I couldn’t agree more. In the past two weeks we’ve seen Palestinians vote in a terrorist group and many in the Muslim world protest over some stupid cartoons, threatening attacks, storming offices and even taking a German hostage over the cartoons. This German who is now hostage to Palestinian terrorists did nothing wrong other than to be in the wrong hotel at the wrong time. Oh, and his crime, to his captors, is that he is German.
Palestians have again surrounded the EU offices in Gaza. Not content just to protest, Palestinians proclaimed “Any citizens of these countries, who are present in Gaza, will put themselves in danger.” The nations in question are France, Norway, Denmark and Germany. No word yet on Italy. Protestors in Pakistan gathered shouting “Death to France!” and “Death to Denmark!”
This isn’t merely a clash of cultures nor is it evidence of racism in Denmark against Muslims. A religion is not a race nor is questioning ones motives justified by a religion racist.
The contingent of Danish Imams who traveled to Saudi Arabia only did so after their calls to the Jyllands-Posten and the Danish government were larget discarded. It’s not that their complaints were not heard or that they were being ignored, but neither entitiy decided it was in their interest to cower to their demands. These imams took their cause to Saudi Arabia who then issued a boycott of all Danish goods. Instead of using democratic values to protest against an act in the country the act was carried out in, they went to big brother to protest and ask big brother to impose their will on Western democracies.
This issue isn’t just about Denmark, or Norway, or France, or Germany or Italy who have all republished the cartoons and taken a stance for freedom of speech and against archaic beliefs it is perfectly fine to draw cartoons over mass attrocities but not over a religious figure. It is this freedom of speech which those of us who live in Western-sytle democracies love and it is this freedom of speech which allows us to continue to live free. An attack upon the nations above over some stupid cartoons is an attack on every single nation which believes freedom of speech trumps someone’s chosen diety, because we believe it is our freedom to say what we want when we want that embodies our freedoms given to us by God.
Muslims protesting, in contrast, do not believe cartoons or any drawings of Mohammed are covered under freedom of speech laws. According to them, cartoons can be about anything but Mohammed or Allah. Blasphemous drawings have no part in Western society, they claim, but most of those protesting do not live in Western society.
Much like we saw in the riots in France that spread into other European nations and the start of the riots in Australia, combined with the growing number of Muslim clerics throughout the world decrying Western civilization and preaching for in an Islamic state in countries which founded secular democracy, this is a battle between those who wish to change our entire civilization into a government dictated by a prophet which many of us do not believe in and those of us who don’t care what diety someone believes if they do at all. In reverse, it would be the same as Israel deciding to complain, boycott and want to push Jewish law upon the entire Middle East. Those who are complaining about the depictions of Mohammed in the Jyllands-Posten would probably have a hard time dealing with that. I too would for that matter.
A Jordanian newspaper reprinted a couple of the Danish cartoons with the following question:
“What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony in Amman?â€
That’s precisely right. The cartoons published in the Jyllands-Posten haven’t enraged the majority of the world that isn’t Muslim, but the murders in the name of Allah cloaked into the same religion which the cartoons question spur outrage and prejudice in every country those attacks occur in. It is that question which seemingly isn’t in the vernacular of the people who are protesting the Danish cartoons. The Jordanian newspaper’s editor did not last long though. He was fired, the copies of the newspaper were rounded up and the Jordanian government is promising a lawsuit.
Meanwhile the Islamic Society of Denmark, which brought the case to Saudi Arabia in the first place, used two cartoons that never appeared in the Jyllands-Posten to try to paint that newspaper and the whole of Denmark as prejudiced against all Muslims. One of those cartoons depicts a Muslim as a pig and the other shows a dog bending over a Muslim. Both are offensive even to non-Muslims like myself, but neither were printed in major publications. Neither were even in Danish society until presented to Saudi Arabia by the Islamic Society of Denmark.
The row over the cartoons seems to be more about what is perceived to have taken place rather than what has taken place. Perhaps the most interesting cartoon of Muhammed that appeared in the Jyllands-Posten is the one seen at right. This cartoon has been described by Muslims who are upset at the cartoons as depicting Mohammed as a “knife wielding terrorist.” A further introspection of the cartoon though would show the eyes of Mohammed are covered. To me this cartoon illustrates how terrorists using the cloak of working under Allah’s will are in fact blinding Mohammed from their tactics while other Muslims look on and assume Mohammed can see everything. Like the cartoon of the bomb on Mohammed’s turban, this cartoon questions the role of Islam in radical Islamic terrorist attacks. This questioning is what those of us in Western Civilization do. It keeps us free and opens up lines of debate.
Some bloggers in the Middle East support the cartoons. They don’t necessarily agree with them, but they understand what freedom of speech is. I don’t agree with many of the political cartoons I see, but I would never think of becoming a suicide bomber to take out the publisher or kill the cartoonists.
While some may claim the West has lost this battle of freedom of speech versus oppression, I couldn’t disagree more. The true battle just got interesting as at least one more European nation now understands what is at stake. This isn’t about such a small cause as so-called hate speech, but it’s about our freedoms that we cherish even more than those who wish to impose their oppressive will upon us that will be our call to arms. We just choose to wage this battle on paper instead of acting out as suicidal maniacs intent on killing innocents in the name of our diety. For most of us, we believe doing so would earn a ticket to Hell, and with global warming and all Hell keeps getting hotter.
Interested-Participant linked with Muslims Call for Punishment of Newspaper...
Blue Star Chonicles linked with There's a Storm Coming...
Panther6170 - 
Tom Killebrew - 
Emm Bayoumi - 
lyndsey -
The true battle just got interesting as at least one more European nation now understands what is at stake. This isn’t about such a small cause as so-called hate speech, but it’s about our freedoms that we cherish even more than those who wish to impose their oppressive will upon us that will be our call to arms. We just choose to wage this battle on paper instead of acting out as suicidal maniacs intent on killing innocents in the name of our diety. For most of us, we believe doing so would earn a ticket to Hell, and with global warming and all Hell keeps getting hotter.
Amen! Great points, I couldn’t agree more.
I heard an interview with a leader of the Islamic Society of Denmark today and he made the statement that they are demanding that Denmark change their society to accommodate the Muslim religious paradigm.
Comment by beth — Thursday, February 2, 2006 @ 8:11 pm UTC
Any follower of a religion or faith that deals in literal absolutes, no questions asked (nor can be asked), is in its eyes absolutely the only one right.
This right extends to terminating with extreme prejudice others who are wrong (read disagree/differing view or may have some questions)and this would be still be al-right, as no one has a right to disagree with them who are already absolutely right (ala judge, jury and executioner)and hence can do no wrong.
There is no room for humanity, understanding and compassion for such vile people who disagree with a god who loves the world so much and whose only desire is to bring peace and love to mankind.
Can’t be simpler?
Comment by SL — Thursday, February 2, 2006 @ 9:41 pm UTC
Keep sleeping, keep beleiving you need to have respect for the so called muslims who have “kidnapped” Islam, keep listening to the idiots who think that appeasing the radical islamists is the way to go, keep waiting for the so called “moderate muslims” to step up to do something about the radical jihadists, keep listening to the polititians who want to tie the hands of governments who are looking for the radicals, keep asking newspapers to apologize for living in a democracy, KEEP PLAYING INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR STUPID HEADS ON A STICK.
BTW here are the images the muslims want to cut all of our heads off for… http://blog.newspaperindex.com/2005/12/10/un-to-investigate-jyllands-posten-racism/
Every free , democratic newspaper in the world should print these images every day to show the radicals that we got balls and that if it´s a holy war they want…we are ready to defend our democracies.
Comment by Therese Webb — Sunday, February 5, 2006 @ 6:37 am UTC
This is undisplined and mean. Gesture of western world which shows how mentally sick cartonists and people live in west. It does reflect conservative approach of western world.It did not only bring anger in muslim world but also hate for western world. there may be no sympathy for such countries who involve in publicaton of cartoons in future.
Comment by Nadeem — Wednesday, February 15, 2006 @ 12:08 pm UTC
Muslim world has shown itself (again) fast to anger and violence and slow on forgiveness. So many weeks already muslims are still rioting, people are still getting killed. Note also the last paragraph of comment by Nadeem, with its ominious threat-don’t expect any sympathy from him as muslims slice off the head of a man bound and blinfolded; and video taping it for posterity as their love and good deed for their god.
The “second last messenger” from god said ” if a man slaps you on one cheek,turn the other cheek. If a man steals your slippers give him your shoes also. If a man steals your shirt give your coat as well… and no greater love has a man that he is willing to lay his life for another……and the greatest of gods commandments is to love one another”
The “last messenger from god” surely should have “improved” on this, thus the name of the religion itself is the religion of peace and its massage is compassion, mercy and forgiveness.
Surely god meant your fellow men. Not just those who totally agree with and submit to a particular point of view, all else is fair game”…..if man slaps you on one cheek slice off his head or blow oneself up in a crowd of innocent man, woman and children…”
Could not followers of the religion of peace use peaceful means, use their intellect and forebearance and by their actions (peaceful ones)bring their point across as the pen and not the sword. It is so much easier (and the hooligan way) to just use the sword and much harder to just use the pen.
I still remember the words from a movie I saw as a child, said to a young newly enthroned king when he in anger wanted to strike somebody with his sword: “..anybody can kill, but only a true king can give life.”
As in the words of Jonathan Swift:”We have enough religion to hate but not enough to love.”
Comment by SL — Wednesday, February 15, 2006 @ 8:49 pm UTC
Muslim world has shown itself (again) fast to anger and violence and slow on forgiveness. So many weeks already muslims are still rioting, people are still getting killed. Note also the last paragraph of comment by Nadeem, with its ominious threat-don’t expect any sympathy from him as muslims slice off the head of a man bound and blinfolded; and video taping it for posterity as their love and good deed for their god.
The “second last messenger” from god said ” if a man slaps you on one cheek,turn the other cheek. If a man steals your slippers give him your shoes also. If a man steals your shirt give your coat as well… and no greater love has a man that he is willing to lay his life for another……and the greatest of gods commandments is to love one another”
The “last messenger from god” surely should have “improved” on this, thus the name of the religion itself is the religion of peace and its massage is compassion, mercy and forgiveness.
Surely god meant your fellow men. Not just those who totally agree with and submit to a particular point of view, all else is fair game”…..if man slaps you on one cheek slice off his head or blow oneself up in a crowd of innocent man, woman and children…”
Could not followers of the religion of peace use peaceful means, use their intellect and forebearance and by their actions (peaceful ones)bring their point across as the pen and not the sword. It is so much easier (and the hooligan way) to just use the sword and much harder to just use the pen.
I still remember the words from a movie I saw as a child, said to a young newly enthroned king when he in anger wanted to strike somebody with his sword: “..anybody can kill, but only a true king can give life.”
I also remember the words of Jonathan Swift: “We have enough religion to hate but not enough to love.”
Comment by SL — Wednesday, February 15, 2006 @ 8:51 pm UTC
Mark Twain:
Man is the religious animal. He is the only religious animal. He is the only animal that has the True Religion –- several of them. He is the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his throat, if his theology isn’t straight. He has made a graveyard of the globe in trying his honest best to smooth his brother’s path to happiness and heaven.
Comment by SL — Wednesday, February 15, 2006 @ 9:04 pm UTC
Muslim world has shown itself (again) fast to anger and violence and slow on forgiveness. So many weeks already muslims are still rioting, people are still getting killed. Note also the last paragraph of comment by Nadeem, with its ominious threat-don’t expect any sympathy from him as muslims slice off the head of a man bound and blinfolded; and video taping it for posterity as their love and good deed for their god.
The “second last messenger” from god said ” if a man slaps you on one cheek,turn the other cheek. If a man steals your slippers give him your shoes also. If a man steals your shirt give your coat as well… and no greater love has a man that he is willing to lay his life for another……and the greatest of gods commandments is to love one another”
The “last messenger from god” surely should have “improved” on this, thus the name of the religion itself is the religion of peace and its massage is compassion, mercy and forgiveness.
Surely god meant your fellow men. Not just those who totally agree with and submit to a particular point of view, all else is fair game”…..if man slaps you on one cheek slice off his head or blow oneself up in a crowd of innocent man, woman and children…”
Could not followers of the religion of peace use peaceful means, use their intellect and forebearance and by their actions (peaceful ones)bring their point across as the pen and not the sword. It is so much easier (and the hooligan way) to just use the sword and much harder to just use the pen.
I still remember the words from a movie I saw as a child, said to a young newly enthroned king when he in anger wanted to strike somebody with his sword: “..anybody can kill, but only a true king can give life.”
I also remember the words of Jonathan Swift: “We have enough religion to hate but not enough to love.”
Comment by slow — Thursday, February 16, 2006 @ 12:25 am UTC
i’m sure who made this cartooon is ill person and we haope for him to find the good remedy to return to his right, and he need some body who show him what is it mean to be respected, as we are a muslim we never dont respect any religion cause every body has the freedom to choose what he woulid like, and i’m sure that if you he will think with his mind he will find that what he did is huge unrespection for a human like him who is muslim, i advise him that he doesnt be bilnd and he should read what is it mean “ISLAM” and what is it mean religion cause i’m sure he doesnt know nothing about the religions, maybe alot of muslim are angry of the country which this cartoonist from but for me i feel that inside this country alot of person who doesnt accept this not cause they are muslim but cause they are a human, cause alot of person dont deserve that you say about them human, at last hope the best for everybody and thanks for the reading and hope for the cartoonist and everybody who follow him to find their right way and change themselves that they be respected human.
Comment by Muslim — Tuesday, March 4, 2008 @ 1:07 am UTC