"Rotten Judgment In The State Of Denmark"
Selected quotes from this Salon article.
I avoided commenting on this situation earlier mostly because I needed some time to formulate my thoughts on a difficult subject.
In my opinion, the publication of the Mohammed caricatures shows a huge lack of sensitivity, especially as they were initially re-published in right wing European newspapers. "The debate now raging over the caricatures has tilted on the defense of free speech but a deep and unflinching commitment to free speech is not really the mission of the paper at the center of the maelstrom, nor of the present Danish government. This all would have been very well if the paper had a long tradition of standing up for fearless artistic expression. But it so happens that three years ago, Jyllands-Posten refused to publish cartoons portraying Jesus, on the grounds that they would offend readers." So, you can offend Muslim readers but not Christian readers?
This situation smacks of something from the 19th Century, when blacks, Jews, Irish, Chinese etc. were routinely caricatured in newspapers, and no one gave it a second thought. The political climate of the Middle East is already at the boiling point thus; it doesn't take much these days too incite anger and violence, especially amongst people who already have a tenuous relationship with the West. Do I believe in their right to protest, yes. Do I believe in violent demonstrations, absolutely not. Unfortunately, the fanatical element of Islam has latched onto this and has intentionally fanned the flames of anger. The point is that these radical groups promoting violence are succeeding because the papers won't acknowledge the sensitivity of the issue and egging these groups on, all the while hiding behind a veil of "Free speech".
So, where are all the moderate muslims? Why aren't their voices being heard? Why haven't Muslims in Canada taken to the streets in large numbers to protest against the caricatures? There's a good article here in yesterday's Globe and Mail, which tries to address some of these questions.
I avoided commenting on this situation earlier mostly because I needed some time to formulate my thoughts on a difficult subject.
In my opinion, the publication of the Mohammed caricatures shows a huge lack of sensitivity, especially as they were initially re-published in right wing European newspapers. "The debate now raging over the caricatures has tilted on the defense of free speech but a deep and unflinching commitment to free speech is not really the mission of the paper at the center of the maelstrom, nor of the present Danish government. This all would have been very well if the paper had a long tradition of standing up for fearless artistic expression. But it so happens that three years ago, Jyllands-Posten refused to publish cartoons portraying Jesus, on the grounds that they would offend readers." So, you can offend Muslim readers but not Christian readers? This situation smacks of something from the 19th Century, when blacks, Jews, Irish, Chinese etc. were routinely caricatured in newspapers, and no one gave it a second thought. The political climate of the Middle East is already at the boiling point thus; it doesn't take much these days too incite anger and violence, especially amongst people who already have a tenuous relationship with the West. Do I believe in their right to protest, yes. Do I believe in violent demonstrations, absolutely not. Unfortunately, the fanatical element of Islam has latched onto this and has intentionally fanned the flames of anger. The point is that these radical groups promoting violence are succeeding because the papers won't acknowledge the sensitivity of the issue and egging these groups on, all the while hiding behind a veil of "Free speech".
So, where are all the moderate muslims? Why aren't their voices being heard? Why haven't Muslims in Canada taken to the streets in large numbers to protest against the caricatures? There's a good article here in yesterday's Globe and Mail, which tries to address some of these questions.
