Yo, I don’t know. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Anyways . . .
I have written numerous times on this site what I think of the Danish cartoons and the outrage that has been sparked since the cartoons have hit the world stage. I don’t have much else to say over the entire fiasco, but there have been two developments worth mentioning and an opinion piece that sounds like a post I wrote earlier.
What I find most humorous, though sad, is that the reactions to the protests, threats, kidnappings, etc. are not a condmenation of Islam. Those who support the Danish cartoons, such as myself, do not do so because of an alleged attack on Islam. We do so because there is an attack on our freedom of speech and expression. Now if the Muslim reaction is indicative of their faith, future cartoons will be much more hostile towards Islam in the future. To try to justify these acts of violence with 12 stupid cartoons is a society and culture many of us in the West don’t understand. We shouldn’t understand it though. They are just cartoons!
The Danish embassy in Syria was stormed and torched. As to be expected, protestors got caught up in the violence and were injured as well, but lest that not be an example of the irony of those who justify such actions over some stupid cartoons who are ready to act in the exact way the cartoons depicted.
The twelve Danish cartoonists are living in fear of their lives. We all remember what happened to Theo Van Gogh for producing a film which questioned the role of women in Islam. He ended up found on a Dutch street with a knife in his chest. There was a note though. It promised more such killings. The convicted killer of Van Gogh, Mohammed Bouyeri, told a court room he “acted purely in the name of [his] religion.”
Commenters in one of my original threads over the Danish cartoons and a petition started saying the cartoons are not a freedom of speech issue have left many good, reasoned comments. Those though are mixed with threats, calls for violence and something no self-respecting infidel can escape, calls of being Kafirs.
Michelle Malkin put together a short video detailing on some of the rage the Muslim world has taken over what those of us in the West call freedom of speech. In the video Malkin mentions Salmon Rushdie, an Italian author sued for questioning Islam, Van Gogh and of course the Danish riots. She asks “who’s next?” Will it be the Danish cartoonists or the entire Western civilization.
An opinion piece written by Ibn Warraq in Der Spiegel sums up things nicely.
he cartoons in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten raise the most important question of our times: freedom of expression. Are we in the west going to cave into pressure from societies with a medieval mindset, or are we going to defend our most precious freedom — freedom of expression, a freedom for which thousands of people sacrificed their lives?
A democracy cannot survive long without freedom of expression, the freedom to argue, to dissent, even to insult and offend. It is a freedom sorely lacking in the Islamic world, and without it Islam will remain unassailed in its dogmatic, fanatical, medieval fortress; ossified, totalitarian and intolerant. Without this fundamental freedom, Islam will continue to stifle thought, human rights, individuality; originality and truth.
Unless, we show some solidarity, unashamed, noisy, public solidarity with the Danish cartoonists, then the forces that are trying to impose on the Free West a totalitarian ideology will have won; the Islamization of Europe will have begun in earnest. Do not apologize.
Most of the above links came by way of Memeorandum.
Update: It wasn’t just the Denmark embassy in Damascus which was set afire. The Norwegian, Swedish and Chilean embassies were set on fire too. Did Chile do anything? Publius Pundit has the details.
Danish Cartoon Coverage here at ITB:
- Does the media need instruction on how to ‘cover’ Islam?
- Cartoon-Rage Hysteria
- Danish Cartoon Rage Continues; Petition Started [hot topic of discussion]
- Hackers Attack Danish Media Over Muhammed Cartoons
- Don’t Worry Danes . . .
- Iraqi Terrorist Group Threatens Denmark
- Jyllands-Posten Apologizes . . . Sort Of
- France Soir Newspaper Rebublishes Danish Cartoons
- German Journalists’ Federation Speaker Ashamed of German Publication of Muhammed Cartoons
- Middle Eastern Bloggers: Support Denmark
- Danish Cartoon Row is an Attack on Western Civ
- Sign the Petition to Support Denmark and Jyllands-Posten
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Panther6170 - 
Tom Killebrew - 
Emm Bayoumi - 
lyndsey -
I picked this up somewhere.
This is a battle of religions, our religion is Freedom of Speech.
I say to those who have refused to hear so far, Are you listening now?
Comment by Christine — Saturday, February 4, 2006 @ 2:37 pm CST
Ibn Warraq in Der Spiegel is absolutely correct. This freedom of speech is the difference between the free world in the West and the Islamic world. They will never grow industrially, intellectually, politically, or any other way until and unless they see this difference and change.
We must show solidarity with the Danes and not show weakness. I was very disappointed with Condi Rice’s comments. The European nations are standing firm in support of free speech and Condi Rice was waffeling. Surely the United States will be behind free speech and the Danes.
Comment by Debbie — Saturday, February 4, 2006 @ 4:04 pm CST
I actually wrote a very similar post months ago that many are seeing what we are facing now. I can’t help but feel good that more people are finally seeing the light.
The Enemy We Face
Comment by Chad Evans — Saturday, February 4, 2006 @ 4:05 pm CST
Just like many other issues and problems with this world, it can take something major; a disaster for instance to wake people up. Here in the US, it took 9/11 but, as we who are enlightened realize their are those that are hardheaded. For them, it takes an even bigger or multiple disasters to get it. Just think how many lives would be saved in this world if it didn’t require this?
Comment by Christine — Saturday, February 4, 2006 @ 4:14 pm CST
Christine, exactly. This is why I believe this entire cartoon row will work against groups like Al Qaida and those similarly aligned. People have woken up. I am hoping they don’t go back under the shed like many in the American Left.
Comment by Chad Evans — Saturday, February 4, 2006 @ 4:19 pm CST
Up until now I haven’t really given much credence to those who say that Islam is not a religion of peace; I would much rather believe that a violent few have hijacked the religion of a generally peaceful and moderate many. And overall that probably is close to the truth. But as you say, no leaders have come forward to deal with this cartoon jihad. Maybe there aren’t any. Maybe there is no religious argument of peace and love, and despite all the talk, of moderation inherent to Islam that any leader can put forth against this violence. I am really starting to have my doubts about Islam’s inherent peacefulness and willingness to coexist with other religions, unless they are put under dhimmitude. There are millions of good people who are Muslim, and I don’t wish to wrong them or offend them, but unless they do something about all this, their religion is really going to continue dropping in my estimation. I’m only one person but hey, that’s how you really make friends and converts: one person at a time. If you want to, that is.
Comment by Barb — Saturday, February 4, 2006 @ 8:02 pm CST
I posted this elsewhere, but I think this would be a good place for it. I am simply trying to make a point with this statement.
Imagine if you will, the good that could come about, if those who are Muslim and their supporters were to stand up, make as much noise, get as much publicity, in as many places in the world as today but, their message was peace.
You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you’ll join us,
And the world will live as one.
Comment by Christine — Saturday, February 4, 2006 @ 8:10 pm CST
All religions promote peace. To fuel the muslims anger by insulting the beliefs is the way to promote freedom of speech? Please think again.
Comment by Remmy — Sunday, February 5, 2006 @ 8:16 am CST
i really think this whole website is based on critcicing muslims. i am not muslim but i live in the uk and see how horrible ppl are to muslims and how children get so badly bullied at schools and this kind of website doesnt help at all. The cartoons are understandably offending to muslims as the muslim faith says you u cannot make any deciptions of the prophet and the pictures make out that he is a terrorist himself.
Comment by anonymous — Sunday, February 5, 2006 @ 10:18 am CST
Well I remember a few years ago when all the born agains when APE poop over the “Piss Christ” which was a cross in a vial of urine. Personally I thought it repugnant, but I didn’t go burning down any embassys or call for the death of a country.
Comment by DAVE — Sunday, February 5, 2006 @ 12:23 pm CST
Remmy and anonymous:
Who gives a crap? Its just a cartoon! Get over it!
Comment by Crusader — Sunday, February 5, 2006 @ 1:39 pm CST
Is the real issue about free speech or negative western attitudes towards Islam as most comments would indicate? Although these are interesting subjects on their own, I think that what we see happening now is more fundamental. The real issue is about stupid choices and living with the consequences of making them.
I am reminded of an interesting quote by Robert H. Jackson :“The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish.” The Danish cartoons are a case in point. They are, quite simply, rubbish. They aren’t very good cartoons and certainly not funny. There are much less incendiary angles a good cartoonist with a bit of imagination could have taken to make the same political comment without the provocative inclusion of an image of the Prophet - assuming, of course, that the purpose was actually to make some interesting political point.
For every action there is a reaction. Most of us wouldn’t walk up to a bear and poke it in the eye. You certainly have the right to do so, but there is no doubt that the bear has the right to have you for lunch in response.
Comment by FilmFan — Tuesday, February 7, 2006 @ 5:43 pm CST
FilmFan:
Were you pointing out that the reaction from the Islamic street has been the equivalent of that of a angry and blood-thirsty bear? Sounds about right.
Comment by Crusader — Tuesday, February 7, 2006 @ 5:48 pm CST