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Thursday, February 02, 2006

From Cartoons to Bullets, Fire, Threats, and Raids

In solidarity with the Danish people, the New York Sun, France Soir, Al-Shihan, Die Welt, Magazinet, Le Temps, Magyar Hirlap, La Stampa, Il Corriere della Sera, El Periodico & Volkskrant, Berliner Zeitung and many other American and international newspapers have reprinted the now-infamous cartoons of Muhammad originally published by Danish daily Jyllands-Posten..

Why have they taken this stand? Because there exists a natural freedom of speech. Because ‘offense’ does not excuse violence, and the potentiality of offense cannot dictate what the press may print, what writers may write, or what artists may draw. Because dhimmitude has run its course. Because for years the likeness of the prophet was accepted, and religious beliefs should not be abused by extremists. Because when reasonable people see a cartoon they dislike, they write a letter to the editor, as the United States Joint Chiefs did [PDF] when the Washington Post published a cartoon [GIF] making political hay of a quadriplegic veteran.

Why? Because when the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon bemoans that, if only the execution order on Salmon Rushdie had been successful seven years ago, “this rabble… would not have dared,” the veil is lifted and Western nations must admit that they face terrorism rather than innocent piety.

Why? Because this and this and these did not incite nor did they offer umbrage for those who would fire automatic weapons into the air in outrage, conduct an armed raid of an E.U. office, organize international economic boycotts against the entire state of Denmark, threaten mass murder of all who disagree, threaten to kidnap all foreigners, or conduct massive flag burnings or bomb threats.

(Thanks to several readers for links.)

MORE: So far, the poll at the appropriate Wikipedia page is running 83 in favor of keeping the images, 8 against, and 4 for linking them on a seperate page.

Posted on February 2, 2006 08:44 PM. Permalink