Yes, Boycott Danish Products *

* After the unfortunate turnout of events, and after endless discussions I had at this blog and elsewhere, I have reshaped my opinion on this issue. Please read my most recent post and my reaction and that of other Syrian bloggers to the violent protests in Damascus.

I am very glad that Syria recalled its ambassador from Denmark to protest the recent publishing in a Danish newspaper of cartoons that insult prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Some people think that the Arab and Muslim reaction to this issue is exaggerated and that we might soon find ourselves getting into a new Salman Rushdie affair. I don't agree. While I strongly condemn any fatwa that calls for violence, and I feel bad that the Danish embassy in Damascus had to evacuate its staff in response to a false bomb threat, I think that a unified strong stance from Arab and Muslim countries, expressed through certain diplomatic measures, is quite appropriate.

 

Nobody should rationalize the insulting behavior of the Danish paper by saying that it is just a demonstration of freedom of speech that distinguishes the advanced world from our backward one. Saying that the non-backward people even dare to make fun of Jesus Christ (PBUH) is just a ridiculous justification.

 

Suppose that during the Israeli invasion of the West Bank and the massacre of Jenin, the same newspaper published a cartoon showing Moses as a sniper, David standing on a checkpoint or Solomon riding a tank... What would have happened? Israel would summon its ambassador. The US and major European countries would follow. Everybody would stand against the newspaper. There would be a thousand lawsuits against the cartoonist and all publishers will boycott him. The hassle wouldn't come to an end before strong and sincere public apologies from the newspaper, the cartoonist and maybe the government. Every other cartoonist in the world would think a hundred times before coming up with a similarly foolish idea.

 

But obviously, things are different when it comes to us, Arabs and Muslims. When we cried against the insult directed at our greatest idol and religious symbol, we were either ignored or accused of not understanding democracy and freedom of speech. We knew that the world couldn't care less about our feelings when newspapers all over Europe published the Danish cartoons again yesterday.

 

Now should we remain silent? No. Absolutely no. I totally support the diplomatic measures that Arab and Muslim countries are taking. I support popular protests as long as they are completely peaceful, and I support the call for boycotting Danish products as long as it is a street reaction that is not endorsed by governments.

 

Whether this should be considered freedom of speech and whether the newspaper should be punished or not is up to the Danish law to decide. Anyway, I will also exercise my right to freedom of speech and express my anger in all ways possible, so that nobody would feel easy about insulting me again.

 

Let's not allow others to underestimate us. Let's prove, at least once, that we can stand for our rights.

Comments

[Gottfried Stutz]

Ayman, I agree with you and I understand the anger. These drawings made me very angry myself, too. Bad taste and barely disguised racism-type feelings.

However, I can't help wondering bitterly where all those boycotters are when Palestinian schoolgirls are being shot dead, when olive trees are being uprooted, Palestinian farmers attacked by colonisers and a wall/fence erected on Palestinian land. Where are the boycotters? Can't they do something simple and efficient to voice their anger? Why is it that when the prophet Muhammad is insulted they react (which I understand and sympathise with fully) but when children are killed they don't?

[ibn yafa]

Beautifully said Ayman...although I have to take issue with your radical stance against violence. A tinge of toublemaking/vandalism can be useful from a practical perspective particularly on the long run. There's an elegant quote in Al-3ikd Al-Fareed by some old wise Arab that goes: "A nation with too few hooligans (sofaha2) is bound to be humiliated".

[Sam Abbar]

Ayman, I believe that the symbolic recalling of our ambassador to Denmark (we don't have a resident ambassador there) was a grave mistake. Syria should avoid such harsh diplomatic gestures when she could least afford it, and by no means should she be taking initiatives in isolation from other Arab countires of which no one except Saudi took the same measures. I am pissed about what the DAnish newspaper did, but I don't think that Syria had to pay from its political capital to make a point when no one else did. A grass roots boycott campaign in Syria would have sufficed.

[The Syrian Brit]

Gottfried, well said.. I totally agree with your point.. While I whole-heartedly condemn the publication of those insulting pictures, I cannot help but wonder what does it say about the Arab and Muslim psyche when we react to something like this (important and legitimate as it is) but remain stone-dead when faced with the autrocities carried out on a daily basis against the very existence of the Nation..

[The Syrian Brit]

Gottfried, well said.. I totally agree with your point.. While I whole-heartedly condemn the publication of those insulting pictures, I cannot help but wonder what does it say about the Arab and Muslim psyche when we react to something like this (important and legitimate as it is) but remain stone-dead when faced with the autrocities carried out on a daily basis against the very existence of the Nation..

[Omar]

I posted about the subject in hopes to outline some inconsistincies in this whole matter. The response that I got stunned me. The comments that I recieved made me realize the ignorance of the west of our culture and beliefs. Taking that into consideration, I can at least pretend that the Danish newspaper didn't know the extent of anger their publications would recieve. But when French, Italian, Spanish, and German newspapers republished the cartoons, I took that as an obvious sign of disrespect. The newspapers knew of the reaction, and they still published the cartoons!

[Yazan]

Ayman,
I agree with some of ur points but I do still feel that these drawings fall into the "Freedom of Speech" category.
Because for a lot of ppl out there Muhammed, Islam IS actually a Bomb. You, Me, 300 million other arabs and muslems know that it's not true. but u can't shut those ppl up... instead u have the duty of informing them.

I think last night's France Soir republishing was fully justified... it's a definite NO to ppl who use death as a weapon against words!!!

Not underestimating the importance of these civil uprisings [not because of the subject] because it gives a charge of long-needed vitality to the ppl. to fight for their rights... for those that really matter now, their right to "live decently" in their own countries!

[remember]

The stupid reaction from moslem countries have given free publicity to this dark danish paper.
we should not forget that the true insult to the prophets and religions is the human rights abuse and injustice an every day life in our land.

[Yasser]

That's not true, there's arabs believe realy that it's a freedom of speech!
people,our religion it's our way of live, accepting pictures like that is admiting that we're realy people who amuse by puting bombs in every part of the world to kill inesants.
That's not right, at least I chalange any one in the world to make the same newpaper publish a picture of Moses in a funny way!
Everybody, our islam won his respect by respecting his messanger, and his message.
That respect it's protected by not even make a picture of Muhammad sala allah 3alyeh wa sallam, so what if it's a sensless and trueless pictures!
Please people let's say a BIG NO to the war against Islam, let's say loud we are muslems and we are proud of that!

[Yazan]

Yasser
check France Soir edition of Feb 1st... they're all there even a Buddhist god..

Well, if Islam prohibits pictures of the Prophet, I doubt that the civil law of Denmark prohibits them, and I think that's what matters the most... ;)

[ibn yafa]

The issue is not really the pictures. The cartoons merely provided an ideal and symbolic event well grasped by people in the Arab World. I'm happy to see things escalating and it's about time this archetypal European loathing of Islam found someone standing up to it.

You don't even need to talk about the holocaust to underline the hypocritical 'freedom of speech' principle in Europe. Had the Danish newspaper run a number of cartoons depicting gays and lesbians as mentally sick or simply evil, the editors would have been summoned to court next day.

[Yaman]

I find it hilarious (in a very very dark way) that Muslim society believes its biggest enemy today to be Denmark. Haha. This reminds me of when President Bush kept insisting that we not forget Poland as part of the "Coalition of the Willing." Please, I'm a Muslim, and I'm pretty sure I have more cousins in Syria than there are even people in Denmark.

When the Muslim world is free of political oppression, corrupt leadership, and a fanatical disdain for knowledge and intelligence, then I will criticize that one Danish individual (no, not the entire country of Denmark--God forbid people have their own minds) for his tastelessness. Then, I will have no qualms about writing a letter to the editor shaming the Danish cartoonist for his insensitivity. But I will never join a group of people asking that the Danish government punish that individual. Nor will I ever align myself with a group of people who can tolerate the trashy, anti-Semitic cartoons and articles in Arab newspapers but continue to expect that they be respected nevertheless.

Until that day, though, which will probably never come in my lifetime, you can be damn sure that I'm going to keep eating my butter cookies.

[Allan]

There is a severe double standard in the Islamic world in it's dealings with the Western world.

To wit:

A Western newspaper publishs a cartoon that expresses an opinion. Muslims see this as morally reprehensible to the point that violence is seen as a reasonable way to deal with this. Flags are burned, riots and death threats ensue etc.... and this is seen as a reasonable reaction.

Now turn that backwards.

Violence is seen as a reasonble way to deal to deal with an expression of an opinion via a cartoon. A CARTOON! Let's give that a morality rating shall we? Is this Islam's great religion, the great moral teachings of the prophet?

The Western world looks on at this bemused, looking at your despotic, brainwashed, incredulous behavior and thinks... Good Lord these people are without doubt "out of their mind."

Europe and America had to defeat this type of thinking from Christians to allow progress to ensue. Muslims will have to do the same to ever change their situation. and that's more serious than a cartoon.

Fine. Be mad. Feel offended. Other religions, political groups etc... feel this way always in a civil, free society.

[Amr A.]

These cartoons are nothing new. They might be very crude and direct but we hear and see all day in newspapers, films.. remarks and sences insulting Arabs/Muslims or at best showing utter ignorance to their culture. I personally think they are repeated over and over because our lack of inaction and also some bias in the Western media. I very happy with the unified Muslin/Arab public/official protest.

Have anybody heard of defamation lawsuits against the newspapers??? the boycott won't last forever but winning such a legal case will set a benchmark so,as Ayman said, nobody would feel easy about insulting us again.

Because, as Yazan, said the most important thing here is the Danish and European law. Is it legal for the newspapers to publish those pictures. YES. Is it morally right. ABSOLUTELY NO. Is it disrespectful and disgusting. ABSOLUTELY YES especially in the case of the French and other European
newspapers who republished the cartoons.

Many European officials and editors are trying to duck behind the cover of defending the basic right of freedom of expression. Sorry Yazan but I think the Soir editor's arguement is invalid because everybody could see the cartoons on the net. republishing them again didn't add any new contribution their readers knowledge.

The newspapers might have made their point in ascerting their freedom of expression but there is a point they missed, which is especially true for the republishers. They convinced the average Arab/Muslim, that the entire Danish, French, Norweigian.. populations don't give a dam about Arab/Muslim feelings. People like to generalise and those newspapers just make an extra justification for Arabs/Muslimls to believe that Europeans are anti-
Muslim/Arab.

In Syria the Danish did a great job of restoring a famous traditional house in the old city of Damascus. I think now very few Syrians will remember that fantastic job. Most will look on Denmark as the country that allowed its newspapers to insult prophets.

[Ihsan]

I haven't been through all the comments but I agree with Ayman's post!

Boycotting Danish goods seems to be useless! However, the approach at the diplomatic level was good and for once, seemed a good reaction to be taken by the Arabs!

Having said so, I was just going through some news where I saw some demonstrations in the Arab worlds (Syria to be among them soon) where Danish flags have been burned! Well, that is what I call stupidity! For once let's take respond with the approprate manner! No need to prove what we are as some try to show our picture as.

As usual, beautifully composed post, that precisely defines the issue. You make me proud to be a Syrian and a Muslim. Salam

[Yasser]

Dear Yazan, what can I do with a buddihist picture god, I think it's a very weak argument. you try to forget all the writers that are in the germany and Frensh prisons because of anti-simist thing!
Tell me about one single book talk about the creation of Israel in english or Frensh, a book that tell the truth, In the land of the freedom of speech: Israel is out of touch , Judaisme it's out of touch, and islam is a victim of everyday joke!
Tell me if I ask any newspaper to put a picture telling that Moses orders his israeli people to kill every palistanian child to bild Israel, could it accept to publish it?
I don't want to boycot any products, I didn't did before (USA for me it's my worst enamy, and now I'm using an American computer, Amercina softwear, and an American language), and I won't do it now, I don't want to change the point of view of anybody, I just want to say at least it's not right to mock at our Islam ,and all others religions, and the freedom of speech that the Europeen union talk about doesn't exicte that's all!
For me once we're all equal in front of the law. and once the truth is known by everybody, I'll accept to publish anything by the name of freedom of speech!

[Alif]

I agree with you that for our governments to just take a stand and beg firm in it is appreciated in these days we are living, but what bothers me is that we only take these stands in reaction to religious offences, which I find very emotional!

Had it been the norm for our governments to take this sort of action in response to any of the other few dozen just-causes it wouldn't have bothered me at all.

On the other hand I still don't believe it is the government's role to act on matters related to religion. A government has no religion, and is not responsible for the defence, support, or supression of any faith, unless all of our governments have turned into vaticans!

I wouldn't object on people boycotting, or NGOs protesting and demanding apologies and taking the publisher to court, but not the government. I can't help but think of this as a bribe from governments that deprived their nations from everything and love to pretend to be the keepers of faith, when we all know how they suppress religious movements with political aspirations. And don't tell me its because this comes from the others and not between us.

Another thing which gives me the itch is how Arabs always look to Israel as if it's the other-wife; always comparing what happens to themselves with what would Israel have done, and while doing so they are in fact giving Israel the upper hand in setting the rules in global policy: what's worth making a fuss about at and what's not, and asserting the synthesised history Israel strives hard to instate in the collective mind. This is exactly what happened when the war in Palestine drifted from being a peoples' defence of their land to a holy war between Yahwe and Allah.

I despise the taboos, legal and unwritten, on the holocaust in Europe, because the holocaust is nothing but an exaggerated, blackmailing plot, but I don't agree on measuring everything to it and by doing so instate it. I assure you that had the cartoons been about Moses or David no one would have noticed, even in Israel, as they revert the Holocaust more than they do their prophets; which again shows you that it's not religion, but politics. Religion, as in this case, is the mob's mover, sometimes governments use it as a pretence, and in the case of our governments, a facelift-aid.

The other mistake we do is take whole nations by the actions of one of their citizens or organisations; something we keep blaming The West for when they say we are all terrorists.

The reason behind this mentality, in my opinion, is that conformity is the only thing we know: "99,99%" elections' results. We can't understand what it means for a newspaper to be independent from the government, or how a person can have an opinion which he doesn't share with the rest of the herd. Or we don't want to know this at times like this.

By this reasoning, Europe should boycott Egyptian and Saudi products and withdraw their ambassadors because of Ayman and Osama.

Lastly I want to say that I believe it is our right, in fact obligation, to do what all we can to change what we don't like, but why we do it is part of goal. The justifications we make for ourselves are as important as the result.

(too long; sorry)

[Gottfried Stutz]

I would like to add a few ideas here: I don't think that by calling for a boycott, people are trying to muzzle the Danish newspaper in question, or any other newspaper for that matter. The damage was done anyway.

However, as much as I believe that the newspapers have the right to publish anything, including those clearly Islamophobic and damaging drawings, people who find them offensive (Muslims and non-Muslims alike) have the right to voice their anger. A boycott of all things Danish is may be unfair, and probably embeds a show of muscles on behalf of some Islamist parties, but it also sends three messages!

- Think of the consequences of what you publish.

- Bear the consequences of what you publish.

- If media knows no national boundaries, neither do the effects of what the media publishes anymore.

I read several opinion editorials likening the calls for boycott to Khomeini's fatwa concerning Salman Rushdie. I disagree with that analogy profoundly. There is no fatwa here, no killing, no attempt to muzzle a book or a newspaper. There are only the three messages above.

[The Syrian Brit]

Gottfried.. While I fully agree that the analogy proposed is a nonsense..True, there has not been a fatwa and (so far, at least) no killings.. but sadly, there has been attempts to round up European (and particularly Scandenavian) tourists in some parts of the Islamic World, and hotel owners in some places have been warned against taking in tourists from such nationalities, or face despicable consequences..
It all brings us back to what a number of comments above have said.. We, as Muslims, have every right to be offended, and every right to express our sentiments IN A CIVILIZED MANNER... That way, all the decent people in the World (Muslims, Christians, Jews, atheists, or followers of any religion you care to name..) will have no option but to respect our views. Flag-burning and threats of violence will only confirm to the West the worst image possible of Islam and Muslims.. it will show us in exactly the image our worst enemies want to display.. a bunch of mindless thugs and brain-washed fanatics..

[Ayman]

Gottfried and Syrian Brit, I can't agree with you more. It's a pity that we don't see the Arab and Muslim street acting so fast and so angrily when it comes to big issues that are actually more worthy of likewise public and governmental action. Unfortunately, religious sentiments remain more able to move the Arab street than patriotic or nationalistic sentiments. This is obvious in Arab reactions to matters that should not be considered religious (like the occupation of Palestine which some understand simply as an aggression on Muslim holy land, and the invasion of Iraq which some considered a crusade against Islam). Reasons for this are very complicated and would need a whole different discussion. Anyway, the fact that we could undertake an effective reaction on other similarly serious or more serious matters does not mean that we should be ineffective again and remain silent about this matter, right? I would say that it is good to say the Arab street reacting against the cartoons strongly full-heartedly but I hope to see the same reaction on other not-necessarily religious issues.

Ibn Yafa, I still don't agree with any form of violence. We can express our anger in a very civilized way and still get what we want. I think what Palestinian gunmen did at the EU offices in Gaza is shameful, as well as the Kuwaiti fatwa that calls for the killing of people behind the cartoons. Like Ihsan, I despise the habit of burning flags at demonstrations, because it usually gives the impression that there is a potential for violence among protestors. We need people who really believe in a cause and know what they are protesting and how to protest. We definitely don't need hooligans.

Sam, I don't know how harmful was the ambassador's recalling to Syria's position on the international arena and its relations with EU countries. I am realistic and I do believe that we don't need more tension in our international relations. However, I personally do not think that this move will do us any harm.

Yazan, you think this is freedom of speech? There are laws in any European countries that criminalize inciters of hate, racism and anti-Semitism. Don't you think that the cartoons fall under any of these categories? Although usually ignored and not implemented, there are laws against the defamation of Jesus in many European countries. There are laws designed to fight anti-Semitism and they are always used to trim the "freedom of speech" in journalism and academia. The fact that Europeans make fun of Jesus, Buddha or whomever does not change the picture. Each religious group has its own sensitivities. We expect from other religious groups to respect ours like we respect theirs. Simple and plain. Anyway, again, it's the Danish law that decides whether this is freedom of speech or not. Muslim protests are freedom of speech too. They should be strong and steadfast!

And one more thing Yazan, the cartoons drew all that anger not only because they were "pictures" of the prophet, considered blasphemous in Islam, but because they defamed the prophet and insulted him. One cartoon describes him as "dumb" and the other shows him as a terrorist.

Yaman, if we are not free of political oppression, corrupt leadership and fanatical disdain, that does not mean we should accept insults to our beliefs and culture and remain silent! It's like saying "shut up about Abu Ghraib, you have worse prisons in Syria" and "don't talk about Palestine, there is more freedom there than in Saudi Arabia." I actually find this argument lacking any convincing logic.

You mentioned anti-Semitism in Arab media. I would like to remind you about how the US reacts against "anti-Semitic" cartoons in Egyptian newspapers, and how several Arab countries were "forced" (by an unknown party!) to stop broadcasting a TV series that some thought was anti-Semitic.

Allan, nobody called for violence as a response to the cartoons. Violence is totally rejected. I think everybody who left comments here agrees with this. In "civil free societies", people protest peacefully when they feel offended. That's what I am calling for.

Alif, I also agree that we need likewise firm reactions on issues that are shaping our future and effecting our very lives. Again, this should not change the fact that the anger we are expressing now is a healthy phenomenon.

I do not agree that governments should not get involved in this matter. While I firmly believe in separation of state and religion, I think that any government has the obligation and responsibility to defend the feelings and rights of its citizens. In a democratic free world, governments should listen to the public opinion and represent the will of the people. The Arab streets is boiling with anger and governments should not distance themselves from the issue. I am not saying that governments should boycott Denmark and severe diplomatic relations or something. Recalling ambassadors is a perfect way to express the anger of the people that governments represent.

We cannot but always compare ourselves to Israel. We suffer from double standards, there is no doubt about that. You cannot see the whole world appeasing Israel (or any other powerful country) while giving you one blow of humiliation after another just because you are weak!

You may be right that a cartoon of Moses would have gone unnoticed. But, like I discussed above, what we are dealing with now is not just a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad, but insults motivated by racism. Can you tell me if a cartoon of Moses standing over a pile of skulls and bones can go unnoticed?!

I agree that we should not take whole nations by the actions of one of their citizens or organizations. Denmark is definitely should not be considered an enemy. However, I agree with the boycott as a civilized way to protest. While I was writing this, I got the last comment by Gottfried about the boycott and I agree with him a hundred percent. I also agree with the Syrian Brit that any protest should be peaceful and civilized.

In summary (and sorry if you had to read all this!): Peacefully protest, boycott and explain to others why we are angry. The ultimate goal is simply to teach everybody to respect us and to make everybody think of the consequences before offending us.

Can any of you truly stand up and say that threats of death towards ANYONE is a justified reaction to even the most insulting of cartoons??

It has been metioned that no one would run such obviously hateful anti-israeli cartoons. But I am afraid that is wrong, as grossly anti-israeli cartoons even went so far as to win a *prize* in Brittain: http://www.againstnazi.com/british_cartoons.htm

No, ignorance, hatred, intolerance and pointed disrespect are *not* leveled solely at Muslims or the Arab world. Christians, Jews, Budhists and yes, Muslims, are all the targeted in the West along with everything else.

But the real hypocracy is that Muslims and Arabs are just as guilty of using cartoons to insult who they view as their enemies. Can any one of you pretend to deny that Arab and Muslims newspapers do not regularly print insulting cartoons about Israel, the United States and basically anyone that they consider worthy to be insulted?
http://www.adl.org/egyptian_media/media_2001/jews_as_nazis.asp

Back to the 12 cartoons. One cartoon depicted Mohammed with a bomb for a turban and another was him weilding a sword... and Muslim's outrage of these caricatures was to turn to violence and death threats to prove that Islam is not really a relition of the bomb and the sword.

And how spectacularly that failed. All that has been done is to thoroughly prove to the world that Islam *is* a religion of violence, blood, death and hatred, NOT peace.

You say that the West should respect your religion, yet I do not see that same respect reciprocated towards other relgions by you. You say the West should not paint Muslims as being all terrorists, and yet at the first oportunity to prove you are peaceful, threats that any Danish citizen might be taken hostage and killed in the most brutal ways are what make their way into the eyes and ears of the West.

You want us to take you seriously, you want us to respect you, you want us to understand - we understand your actions. We understand that you are outraged over the hypocracy of having your religion belittled like you belittle others' in your own countries newspapers. We understand that when you feel insulted by beign portrayed as terrorists, you react with threats of terrorism. We understand perfectly.

When the United States is insulted in cartoons, whether by European nations, Arab nations, Asian nations, or even our *own* nation, the reaction HAS NEVER BEEN massive demonstrations calling for the death of the artist and pulling our diplomats out of those countries. When Christians are insulted and offended, they write letters and might call for boycotts, but they don't blow themselves up in protest, or burn flags, or call for the death of whoever offended them. And when have Jews *not* been insulted by media from all over the world? And yet we don't find Jewish boys in those nations storming embassies and threatening to take hostages... and to be honest the idea of such a thing is too rediculous to even imagine!

Is there outrage? Yes, of course, there is always outrage when a group feels insulted. But it seems that it is a particular quirk of Muslim outrage to turn to disproportional acts of violence when they feel insulted.

Perhaps you might need to take a reality check. You believe in your religion very strongly and that I both admire and support. But you MUST allow others to NOT believe in your religion. Someone who is not of your religion will not have any reason to respect Muhammad, just as many many people throughout the world do not respect Jesus, or Buddha or Moses... and no one can be forced to respect another.

Should we respect one another? Yes, because that is what is right. But we can not force people to respect us, and you lose all respect when you respond with violence against the depiction that you are violent. You have only proved those cartoons *right*.

What some cartoonist in Denmark thinks of Mohammad should not have any consequences on *your* faith or your relationship with your G-d. Don't you understand that? Yes, I can understand feeling upset or hurt, but to the point that you want to murder someone?? Where is the peace and tolerance in your religion now? You claim to respect all prophets and yet do you not remember that Jesus said that even being angry can put you in danger of hellfire? Why be angry? The people who do not believe in G-d must answer to G-d, not me, and not you. If you think insulting Mohammad is such a horrible offense, then let G-d meet out the punishment, not you. You just worry about what you will tell G-d when He asks you to justify your life and what you have done. Live your life and follow whatever faith you think is right and let G-d, the perfect and only judge, be the one who worries about another's life.

[Robert]

Although I agree with some of the ideals for boycotts and such I do not agree with the political stances and the violence that has ensued after the cartoon was published. The muslim world is not wracking up any "good" and peaceful points by yelling Jihad, kill all the westerners, blah blah blah.
I truely believe that both religions can live in peace and harmony if both its peoples just drop all the BS poltical rhetoric that encompasses each and every level. Everyone needs to understand just because one cartoonist posted something on the net doesnt mean that everyone from thier countries are like that. I am married to an albanian woman who is muslim and I am christian. I love her very much, allow her to practice her religion freely, and we are the epitome of the 2 religions living together in harmony. You know the famous motto,... "Why cant we all just get along"

[The Syrian Brit]

I would happily stand up and say that these infamous cartoons DO NOT, in any shape, form or fashion, justify death threats against anyone.. (in fact, very few things do!..)..
That view is repeatedly voiced in most of the comments above.. whether we feel insulted, angered, or aggrieved by such images is entirely up to us. That does not give us the justification to use violence in our protests.
I, and most of the comments made here, agree broadly with what you said (sorry, I do not have your name, because you seem to have left it out.. deliberately or otherwise..).. I personally believe that it is simply a matter of common decency that each of us should respect what the others hold dear and sacred.. That would be the recipe for 'getting along together' as Robert suggests.

[Ayman]

Anonymous @ 2:18 AM,

Everybody here is stressing that no one should ever resort to violence. Please read my post and all the comments above.

I have no problem with cartoons that criticize Islam, its teachings and beliefs. Western media is full of these and I DO call this freedom of speech. However, the Danish cartoons were an unexplainable attack on the personality of the Prophet and are motivated by overt racism and hate. The insistence of European newspapers to republish the cartoons, even after the display of rage and anger all over the Muslim World, confirms this fact.

Please don't compare cartoons that mock Muhammad (PBUH) to those that mock Sharon and the Israeli army! I did not say don't mock Osama Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein; I said don't insult my PROPHET and the symbol I consider most sacred and holy! If you want to make a fair comparison, just tell me what would be the world's reaction if 10 European newspapers came out one morning with a cartoon of Moses holding the ten commandments and standing on a pile of bones and skulls. Please answer this question for the sake of a focused and logical discussion.

[Chet]

You have every right to be angry. As an American and a Christian I feel that attack on the Prophet Muhammad is also an attack on God period. My heart is saddened that any God loving person cannot stand up say that is making a mockery of my God. After all the God of Abraham is also are God and anybody that makes a mockery ought to be held accountable. I have seen a lot in my life time but never have I felt the shame that I have in the past few years. Even in America we are feeling the pain from anti-religion people. If anything good comes out of it here it is because for the first time I am seeing Muslims,Jews and Christians starting to stand together. My heart is saddened. I hope it is alright to post here.

[Elena]

Publishing those cartoons is certainly a deep offence of religious feelings, and I do not tolerate such publications.
However, I have just been reading the news (published by the German newspaper "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" www.faz.net) that demonstrators have set on fire the embassies of Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Chili in Damascus, and were prevented from doing the same to the French embassy. This is equally unacceptable, and I feel lucky at present that I am only German, and not a national from one of the abovementioned countries. Syrian people have been exceedingly friendly and welcoming to me here in Damascus, but news of arson against embassies is frightening.

[Gottfried Stutz]

To the anonymous writer above, your call for "any of us" to stand up and oppose threats had already been answered before you launch it. Almost everyone here stressed the uselessness and the harm of threats.

Now, allow me to address what I see as a couple of flaws in the logic of your post.

- To compare the prize-winning drawing depicting Sharon as a monster and drawings of Mohamed as a terrorist is, I'm afraid, adding insult to injury. Not only is Arik the Bulldozer not a prophet, even in the eyes of his staunchest supporters, but you are comparing criticism of a state policy on on hand and the bashing of a religion on the other. I fail to see the relevance of such an analogy.
(Having said that, the Egyptian drawings to which you gave us a link are mostly of bad taste, and one at least is racist and anti-semitic indeed, but I would like to add that they are not all anti-semitic, for depicting an Israeli soldier as a hateful figure is not like depicing a Jew or a Jewish prophet as one. The Israeli military do not represent all Jews, thand Goodness).

- You said "You say that the West should respect your religion". Well, no, we said that the West should respect Islam, NOT our religion. Some of us contributing here are non-Muslims: Christians, Jews, atheist, you name it. I, for one, do not consider myself religious, and I am not going to digress about my family's religion, but I feel offended by the drawings (just as I feel offended by the forgery called "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion", describing a so-called Jewish conspiracy to rule the world). I know Islam enough not to see it as a violent religion and not to see Muslims as invaders/terrorists/violent people, and most of all enough to react angrily to the Danish cartoons in question.

Finally, it wasn't all flaws. You said "What some cartoonist in Denmark thinks of Mohammad should not have any consequences on *your* faith or your relationship with your G-d. ". Amen to that! I think that we all agree with this.

By the way, Anonymous, Robert Fisk just published an article which could shed some light on the reasons for the anger. You may wish to take a look at it. If you do not have a login allowing you to read the whole Fisk article, just send me an e-mail to "gottfried_stutz@yahoo.com". I would be more than happy to send the full article to you:

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk/article343111.ece

Yours.
Gottfried Stutz

[Gottfried Stutz]

Elena, yes, the attacks against the embassies are unacceptable, and I think that their perpetrators should be brought to justice in Syria. I wonder who was behind the attacks, and what the riot police was doing. Too early to know.

[Ghalia]

I hate what happened today! They mess it all up! I was even scared while watching the news. It would be better if they hadn’t demonstrate their rage at all in the first place! Sham on us.
Like it happened once before, they will make Syria pay for it, more security will be placed near their embassy...etc.

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/wl/020106danishcartoons/im:/060203/481/llp12602031854

:( Is this the beginning of World War III?

[Jan]

SorRy to say this. But they don't have a clue what is the real facts. They have been mislead. Sorry for any mispelling - I am From Denmark and the world need to know what is happening. The self proclaimed Iman Abu Laban has beeing telling liess for severeral Y in Denamrk. His sonn has been dismissed from school. Laban has beein caught severval times in lying on Danish TV. This Man has started all this this against denmark 2 month ago showing pictures and telling stories that has never been in the Danish media. The muslims thrust him :-( This is a shame and he supported Osama Bin Laden. Sorryt to tell some is thrue - Most of it is lies.Islam doesnt seems ready to the West/europewith these kinds of Imams like Laban (check Google

[Jan]

To deail with the next / upcomming comment. Yes JP (jyllans posten) did show some Cartoons about Ali/ Mohammed/ John or what ever. Is was up to the the (can´t spell that - so I have to go another around) the person itself /induvidual that C's the drawing. It could be a picture of me or U - just saying Mohammed. Then someone (LABAN) would be offended in DENMARK !! NOT The rest of the world. Cartoons has always and will alwaus be made. U can still buy pictures of Allahs og Mohammed in the Arab countries. If they the Islamic world needs to say goodbye to one of the most betrusted countries in the world, it is OK with me. Seems that the we have put billions of dollárs in some of the Arab Coyntries it has been waist of monye and time. We drop any payment to the muslim world from now on.

[Jan]

Sorry. I have always been on the left wing in Denmnark Supporting muslims, chrisians, small people, etc, . I am in deep shiit right now. I have always been told that islam was a peace seeking religion. I have just found this on Google" The apostle said, 'Kill any Jew that falls into your power'".
Siratu'l Rasul, vs. 552-554
- I am not jew but some of my friends did tell mee that it also says to kill all not islamic belevears. Sorry Muslim friends. It was nice to know U.

[Chet]

My friend you are being dubbed. What you just quoted has been in my opinion taken out of text. Let me ask you to read this from the Holy Bible that my religion believes in. Read Joshua Chapter-8 verses 23-26. Do not read anything before or after and then tell me if my religion sounds very peace loving. Any time you take something out of context it changes the meaning. Secondly what you read on the internet is mostly someone else's point of view. I am one who believes that very little of what I find is the truth. Their are many more examples in the Holy Bible if taken out of text makes my religion look bad. Don't be so quick to judge.

[/N]

"Same newspaper published a cartoon showing Moses as a sniper, David standing on a checkpoint or Solomon riding a tank... What would have happened? Israel would summon its ambassador. The US and major European countries would follow. Everybody would stand against the newspaper."
Do you really think that the US, UK and the rest of the west would attack/demonstrate against palestinians because of a newspaper cartoon? There's only two differences between the west and muslim countries: In the west the 1/ government is separated from religion and 2/ the press is not governed by the government.
So... what the deal here? It was a legal publish of cartoon pictures. It is, however, immoral. The danish government can't do shit about the situation without changing the constitution. So what happens? nothing. On the other hand, I don't think that muslim countries would change their constitutions based on protests/demonstrations/burning of embassies in the west.
And, because of the governments separation from religion and state controlled press the western world woulnd't care what palestinian newspapers publish. You can mock us how much you want in your newspapers. We might not like it, but we will fight for your right to publish it.

In countries that hold freedom of speech so dear, it is precisely *because* of freedom of religion. It is because we never want to be told our religion can not be practiced that we must ensure no one is ruled by religious laws from the government instead of their own conscience.

You ask what we would do if Jesus was insulted? He is, and often. There was a movie called the Last Temptation of Christ which depicted him as a homosexual. There was an 'artist' who covered a cross with feces. Christians around the world didn't threatened them with death, no one burned embassies even though there was anger, there was not violence.

It is ok to be angry, what is not ok is to take anger and make it indescriminate violence and lashing out at everything because you are angry at one person.

You say they should have known that it would offend Muslims to have Muhammad drawn that way (or at all). Well guess what, it offends me to have Muslims say Jesus was only a man and treat him as not even as important as Muhammad, but we don't have Christians around the world rallying and calling for the death of all Muslims or burning the Qur'an or Arab embassies because we *believe in your right to hold a belief that is offensive to another*.

Don't you see, we do not have a right to not be offended because someone else's freedom to believe *can in itself* be an offense to another.

But we can not give up the right to allow other people to believe differently.

You call it blasphemy. But people have the right to commit blasphemy in the West soely because who has the right to determine *blasphemy according to who??*

You call yours the right religion. I call mine the right religion too. That alone can be considered blasphemy on our parts according to the other, but we have to be free to be allowed to do that.

Fine, you're angry at a person who drew a picture. How does that turn into burning embassies and calling for a halocaust against Europe and asking Bin Laden to carry out 9/11 style attacks against an entire population because a person drew a picture?!?

[Thor]

I didn't think the Danish caricatures were particularly funny, but I don't think their primary intent was to insult Muslims. I think their primary intent was to lampoon the link between Muslim diehards (of which there seem to be many) and violence. Looking at the current events in Damaskus and Beirut, I tend to think that they were spot on.
I mean really, talk about living the stereotype. Unfortunately, this is what the West will remember from this entire incident: You have to be really careful when around Muslims, because of their stupid inferiority complex. The whole thing will certainly not increase the respect for Islam around the world. "Religion of peace" my foot.

[Amit]

Salaam to all. If you are not careful, however, the well-stated and thoughtful comments here are going to give Arab people a good reputation. I'd like to add a story to the discussion as follows:

"Once upon a time all the animals in the zoo decided that they would disarm, and they arranged to have a conference to arrange the matter. So the Rhinoceros said when he opened the proceedings that the use of teeth was barbarous and horrible and ought to be strictly prohibited by general consent. Horns, which were mainly defensive weapons, would, of course, have to be allowed.

The Buffalo, the Stag, the Porcupine, and even the little Hedgehog all said they would vote with the Rhino, but the Lion and the Tiger took a different view. They defended teeth and even claws, which they described as honourable weapons of immemorial antiquity. The Panther, the Leopard, the Puma, and the whole tribe of small cats all supported the Lion and the Tiger.

Then the Bear spoke. He proposed that both teeth and horns should be banned and never used again for fighting by any animal. It would be quite enough if animals were allowed to give each other a good hug when they quarreled. No one could object to that. It was so fraternal, and that would be a great step towards peace. However, all the other animals were very offended with the Bear, and the Turkey fell into a perfect panic.

Amidst this furor, the Rabbit asked for the floor and suggested that perhaps they should refrain from using the tongue, since things that come out of the mouth come from the heart and out of the heart come evil thoughts, like murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. This, of course, made the Snake go into a hissing fit exclaiming that if the tongue could no longer be used, he would not be able to eat. The Mice immediately fled the room. The Elephant, the Rooster, and the Eagle all supported the Snake on the grounds that disarming the tongue would undermine Freedom of Speech.

The discussion got so hot and angry, and all those animals began thinking so much about horns and teeth and hugging and hissing when they argued about the peaceful intentions that had brought them together that they began to look at one another in a very nasty way. Luckily, the keepers were able to calm them down and persuade them to go back quietly to their cages, where they began to feel quite friendly with one another again. -- Adapted from "A Disarmament Fable" by Winston Churchill."

It's difficult to get people to agree when futility permeates their daily lives. Where there is a persistent sense of futility, there is violence; and that is perhaps what we are seeing today. Unfortunately, those who throw cartoons around like gasoline on a political fire are not accepting the extent of their responsibility.

[August]

I would like to point out to the last anonymous poster that there was indeed violence from fundamentalist christians when "The Last Temptation of The Christ" was released. There is a fine movie, "Heart of the Beholder", which tells the true story of a family who owned a video rental chain in St Louis. They were harassed, their stores were vandalised, and yes they even recieved death threats for merely keeping the movie in stock.
Otherwise I would agree no one has a right to not be offended. While I would say that the publishing of the cartoons was ill advised due the volatile tensions currently between the west and middle east, secular and muslim, etc... I support anyones right to publish them, just as I support anyones right to boycott danish products and to peacefully protest. Speaking from an atheist perspective I won't necessarily respect your religion or beliefs, but I will respect your right to believe and express those beliefs in a positive/peaceful manner.
Unfortunately for muslims, usually the only images westerners see are the ones of irrational violence. I only hope that moderate islam can temper the actions of the fundamentalists.

[sjraza]

BOYCOTT BARCODE BIGINING WITH 57 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN DENMARK

Each product has a barcode either EAN or UPS. All products that are manufactured and processed in Denmark will have 57 as the first two digits of their barcodes and the next five digits are to identify the manufacturers.

Boycotting the 57 barcode has a greater impact on the Danish economy and not just the manufacturers as it hits exports and trade relations with nations that process their goods and not just the manufacturers.

A lot of products in our UK Supermarket are from Denmark here are some examples – Apparently, all milk is Danish. Even Channel Islands milk. As are eggs. And potatoes (but only if they come in 2kg bags)

White Clover Dairy owned by Arla
Anchor Butter (Arla)
Milex brand.
Three Cows Brand (Feta Cheese)
Lurpak Butter
Buko Brand Cream cheese
Bang & Olufsen music equipment and headphones
Carlsberg Beer
Lego Toys
Alfi Danish Designers
Toms candy
Milk NIDO
Danfoss
VELUX
Toms Holly Bar
Sun Top orange juice
Express Cream (Arla)
Tulip Comuters
Scandavian airlines
Havarti cheeseArla milk, cheese etc.
Danish crown (meat)
Lurmaerket Butter
Danish Bacon
Thor Fish
Danisco FoodMature Cheddar Cheese 250g
Mild Cheddar Cheese 250g
Country Life Butter 250g
Country Life Spreadable Butter 250g
Express Double Cream 142ml
Express Double Cream 284ml
Express Single Cream 284ml
Express Whipping Cream 284ml
Stripes Flavoured Milk - Banana 500ml
Stripes Flavoured Milk - Chocolate 500ml
Stripes Flavoured Milk - Strawberry 500ml
Ubley Fruit Yogurt 4 pack
Yakult 7 pac
Mineral Water
Abbey Well Sparkling Fruits - Black Cherry 1L
Abbey Well Sparkling Fruits - Mandarin 1L
Abbey Well Sparkling Fruits - Peach 1L
Abbey Well Sparkling Fruits - Pear 1L
Abbey Well Sparkling Fruits - Strawberry 1L
Abbey Well Still Fruits - Citrus 1L
Abbey Well Still Fruits - Forest Fruits 1L
Abbey Well Still Fruits - Peach and Apricot 1L
Highland Spring Sparkling Mineral Water 1.5L
Highland Spring Still Mineral Water 1.5L
Highland Spring Still Mineral Water - 6 pack 1.5L
Highland Spring Still Mineral Water - 6 pack 500ml
Fruit Juices
Express Bottled Orange Juice 1pint
Express UHT Apple Juice 1L
Express UHT Grapefruit Juice 1L
Express UHT Orange Juice 1L
Express UHT Orange Juice - 4 pack 1L
Express UHT Pineapple Juice 1L
Ocean Spray Cranberry & Raspberry Juice Drink 1L
Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Drink 1L
Soft Drinks
Silver Spring - Cherryade 1L
Silver Spring - Cola 1L
Silver Spring - Cream Soda 1L
Silver Spring - Dandelion & Burdock 1L
Silver Spring - Diet Cola 1L
Silver Spring - Diet Lemonade 1L
Silver Spring - Ginger Beer 1L
Silver Spring - Lemonade 1L
Silver Spring - Limeade 1L
Silver Spring - Orangeade 1L
Essential Groceries
Express Lockable Milkminder
Free Range Eggs, Medium x 6
Large Eggs x 6
Medium Eggs x 6
Potatoes 2kg
Premium Brown Bread (thick slice) 800g
Premium Gold Round Teabags 80s
Premium White Bread (medium slice) 800g
Premium White Bread (thick slice) 800g
Premium Wholemeal Bread (medium slice) 800g
Small Premium White Bread ( medium slice ) 400g
Candy:
Toms (chocolate)
LAgermann
Galle & Jessen
Beverages:

Tuborg Beer
Carlsberg Beer
Aalborg Aquavit (snaps)
Medicine:
Novo
Clothings:
H2O
Hummel
Per Reumert
Shoes:
Ecco
Jaco
Danish Design:
Royal Copenhagen
Georg Jensen
Stelton
PH-lamps
Lego (toys)
Brio (toys)
Raadvad (knives etc.)
Trip Trap
HTH- kitchen
Morsoe (Fireplaces)
Royal Danish Porcelain
B & G Porcelain
Vesta (Windmills)
Bang & Oulfsen Headsets radio/televisions etc.

[American Liberal]

I'm an outsider. A US Citizen. A leftist in the US. Never voted for Bush. Saw the lies. However, Muslims lost me sometime after 9/11 and they are losing Europe now...and with good reason. You guys make Bush look good.

There's are real flaw here. A contradiction. A piece of piercing truth that the Middle East is either too blind, too immoral, or most likely most likely too uneducated to grasp.

Religion is opinion. Deal with it. Hindus have an opinion, Christians have an opinion, Jews have an opinion.... Remember the crusades? Well, we Christians in the West look back and that and cringe at our ancestors...we can't believe they were such uneducated apes to believe one god was better than another. We can't believe they were willing to spark violence on that opinion. Now we respect other opinions...we respect Muslims but I guess that's a one way street.

Some incredibly intelligent British founded our country and did an amazing thing...they protected religion AND government by REMOVING it from the government and vice versa. We are so tolerant we have Muslims protesting in our streets calling for our own death. Can you see the difference in our societies? It's not hard to spot.

Enough! Your god is not better then our god, you people no more holy than Jews, Hindus, Buddists, Christians, Atheists...

You are arrogant. Sinfully arrogant.

When I see Muslims burning a Danish flag with a Christian cross on it to make the philosophical argument that "free speech" should stop at the point that it harms a religiuos symbol I can only wonder if there is a word for IRONY in Arabic. IRONY!!! Can you not see it?

Must we bring the mirror to Mohameed?!

I live in America, I work with Hindus, Buddists, Christians, and Muslims etc...and we are all in agreement. Islam needs a serious makeover. It's stuck in the 1500's. and that's a shame for it's people.

[Chet]

American Liberal, I cannot agree with anything you have said.I am not going to mention everything here but will take a few of your so called remarks.
1. You say that they say their God is better than others. How wrong you are. We believe in the same God, The God Of Abraham. I have never had any Muslim tell me that that there way was the only way. The ones I know I respect and they respect me.
2. You say they are arrogant, the only arrogant one I see is you.
3. You want to know if there is a word in Arabic for Irony because they burned a Danish flag with a Christian Cross. What does that make Americans who have desacrated and burned the American Flag in protest Or do you think that is different. I don't believe in violence. It does happen because of radicals, not because of your faith.
4. Last of all I too worked for a Hindu and lived in an all Jewish neighborhood. Have met several Muslims as there is a fairly large popluation of them in my state. The problem we all agreed on had nothing to do with Islam. We did agree that the goverments including the U.S. needed some serious overhaul. What I see as a shame is that you are arrogant and ignorant.

[Thor]

I think burning the Danish flag should be legal. It's a form of free expression. So is burning the Syrian flag, of course. Or the flag of Saudi Arabia.

[mike]

Tens of thousands of blogs have seized upon the Muslim reaction to cartoons while the whole of Islam remaned silent when terrorists beheaded non-believers. Here is an apolgy from a Muslim at http://plancksconstant.blogspot.com/2006/01/as-muslim-i-apologize.html

It no longer looks like a few Islamic radicals are the cause of terrorism. The world now sees tens of thousands of Muslims, in every country as the problem.

[Gottfried Stutz]

Mike,

First, you cannot apologise for something which you haven't done, just as you cannot be proud of something that someone else has achieved. Based on that, Plancksconstant's apology is, in my opinion, useless despite the good intentions. Of course, by the same measure, while I think that the Danish newspapers should have apologised, I don't think that the Danish government should.

Second, it is a pity that you don't seem to read Arabic newspapers. This would have informed you that your assumption that "whole of Islam remaned silent when terrorists beheaded non-believers" is baseless. On one hand, Muslim editorialists such as Jihad Al-Khazen of Al-Hayat, denounced the killing of innocents in Iraq and elsewhere and described the 9/11 attacks as crimes against humanity. On another hand, even within the Iraqi insurgency - to pick up an example - there is an ongoing rift, reported in many Arabic newspapers but never on CNN and Fox News, between Al-Qaeda and other insurgents, precisely on the issue of killing civilians. Finally, you are oversimplifying by talking about "non-believers". Nobody asked the victims what their faith is, and attacks in Iraq killed many more Iraqi Muslims than foreigners of all kinds of faiths.

- You said "It no longer looks like a few Islamic radicals are the cause of terrorism". Well, it never looked like that unless you choose to see only terrorist acts by Muslims and discard those by others. The use of terror as a tool to achieve a political goal is as old as humanity itself. In modern times, organisations dubbed "terrorist" include the IRA, the ETA, the Jewish Defense League and many others who, to my knowledge, are not Muslim. Add to that state terrorism please: Ariel Sharon's life is full of it from Qibya to Sabra and Shatila.

Now, back to the subject, yes, a huge part of the world sees Muslims as a problem, but, funny enough, many non-Muslims who live in countries where the majority is Muslim would disagree. Syria is one of the shiniest examples of which I can think. Christians there enjoy complete religious freedom (and equally share with other Syrian the lack of civil freedoms, unfortunately! but I digress). I recommend reading the chapter about Syria in William Dalrymple's "From the Holy Mountain". I can also confirm that from what I have seen myself in Syria.

[Chet]

There is a forum here in America that I post on a lot. When one woman brought up the subject of the embassies being burned. She made it sound as if Muslims were all radical and hatefull. After responding to it I was surprised to see that about half stood with me in defending Islam. Even tho we were all christians I was amazed at the positive responses. I figured I would be critized hard for taking what I thought was an unpopular stand. I pray that more people will stand up for what is right and not be so niave about the true religion of Islam. Just wanted you to know that few we might be right now we support you.

[Gottfried Stutz]

Chet, it's very courageous of you to take such a stand in these hard times. Thank you.

[Deborah]

Regarding this:

"Suppose that during the Israeli invasion of the West Bank and the massacre of Jenin, the same newspaper published a cartoon showing Moses as a sniper, David standing on a checkpoint or Solomon riding a tank... What would have happened? Israel would summon its ambassador...Everybody would stand against the newspaper. There would be a thousand lawsuits against...all publishers will boycott him...strong and sincere public apologies from the newspaper, the cartoonist and maybe the government."

It's a good point that it would be a diplomatic incident. But would it be an excuse to commit violence and call for assassintations and kidnappings?

No.

That's the point.

[Deborah]

Regarding this:

"Suppose that during the Israeli invasion of the West Bank and the massacre of Jenin, the same newspaper published a cartoon showing Moses as a sniper, David standing on a checkpoint or Solomon riding a tank... What would have happened? Israel would summon its ambassador...Everybody would stand against the newspaper. There would be a thousand lawsuits against...all publishers will boycott him...strong and sincere public apologies from the newspaper, the cartoonist and maybe the government."

It's a good point that it would be a diplomatic incident. But would it be an excuse to commit violence and call for assassinations and kidnappings of innocents?

No.

That's the point.

[Chet]

Gottfried I don't consider what I said as being courageous, I feel that it is just time that people quit the bullshit and start looking at the truth. My faith is in God. The ones who refuse to see the truth will have to answer to God and I don't think they are going to like the answer they will receive. I am disappointed in Americans that profess there faith in God and then ridicule those who believes the same.

Still touting the tired old lie of a massacre in Jenin I see? Sandmonkey is right, you do all live in an Arab Parallel Universe.

http://www.usefulwork.com/shark/archives/000141.html
Even the Palestinian's own evidence points to less than 50 total dead. choke on that for a while.

[Cubes]

Do the same in muslim/arab newspapers...
Who cares.. Freedom of speach. If you don't like it don't look or read it.

Its the way of the western world, if you don't like it, live in a non-westernised world and or simply turn a blind eye and regard the authors as uneducated fools.
Don't lower your selves to the level of the authors of these silly cartoons.

I am not anti this anti that.. But I do tell you; with the issues and violence religion has caused in the past and recent I am soon becoming anti-religious.
Violence proves nothing, its discraceful.

Sit back relax and enjoy your life, concentrate on yourself and family not others that mean nothing to you.

I repeat, don't lower yourselves to their level.

[Foozinator]

> Can you tell me if a cartoon of Moses standing over a pile of skulls and bones can go unnoticed?!

You can keep changing the image all you like. Study a western culture for a year and come up with the most offensive, hatefull image you can think of based on your studies. Come up with a dozen. Show people in the West your image and ask them what they think. Your most typical response will be, "I've seen worse..." Some people here make a career out of offensive material (look up anything done by Howard Stern or Marlynn Manson). From my western point of view, the idea that there is a double-standard is ridiculous. If there ever was a double-standard, it was the self-censorship the Danish so rudely decided to exploit. The reaction in the Middle East proves the reasons why such self-censorship exists.

> You say that they say their God is better than others.

My understanding of her statements is quite different. I think she means that NO God is any better than any other. You undoubtedly disagree in your personal opinion, and Islam gets quite a large vote on the global polls, but it is still a personal opinion. There are others who believe differently. They think their god is right and Islam is not. When the whole point is personal guidance and quality of life, does it really matter that differing opinions are out there? There is no right answer any more than there is only one correct favorite color.

Sorry, missed one...

> Had the Danish newspaper run a number of cartoons depicting gays and lesbians as mentally sick or simply evil, the editors would have been summoned to court next day.

Two important points here.

1. "summoned to court" is a very different response from "burning several embassies".

2. From a western perspective, I'm not convinced that there would be court action. Most likely, there would be a few statements condemning the cartoon, and that would be it. Cartoons, essays, radio shows, TV shows, magazines, etc. have already done what you described.

I cannot emphasize this point enough. It is not a problem that you are angered by what is obviously an offensive cartoon. It is the ubsurd overreaction that some groups have made.

Most people on this blog seem to agree that the cartoon was rude and the response of some was an overreaction. Some claim that the reaction had some justification. I have yet to hear any reason that holds its own weight, let alone justifies the violence and destruction that has happened.

How many embassies (internationally recognized as foreign soil) were damaged?

What did they have to do with the actions of some privately owned and operated newspaper companies?

Boycott Egypt!!!

http://egyptiansandmonkey.blogspot.com/2006/02/boycott-egypt.html

[mike]

many non-Muslims who live in countries where the majority is Muslim would disagree. Syria is one of the shiniest examples of which I can think. Christians there enjoy complete religious freedom (and equally share with other Syrian the lack of civil freedoms, Posted by: Gottfried Stutz | February 06, 2006 at 02:06 PM

Sunni Muslims make up approximately 74% of the population while other Muslim sects, such as Shi'as, Druze, Alawites, Ismailis and Yazidis, make up 16% of the population. About 10% of the population is Christian, with most of these being Orthodox and Uniate churches of different confessions. Small numbers of Protestants and Jews also reside in the country.

However, sermons must be approved by the government. Although Christan missionery work is not illegal it is highly discouraged. Religious groups and sects must register with the government. All fundraising activities are monitored. A group must obtain a permit to hold any meeting other than its regular worship service

SO your notion of complete religious freedom is nowhere close to what Western civilization considers it.

You are wrong despite your experience in Syria.

You need to read more - but NOT Arabic papers.

[Kelly]

Ayman,
I wish to congratulate you on your post, and peaceful yet determined resistance to this expression of freedom of speech. With
the freedom to print these cartoons comes the responsibility to be fair and honorable to those who will see them. The paper may have had the right to do so, but it was a poor decision and irresponsible of them. The hurt caused by such an expression far outweighed the benefit (if there is any benefit) of doing so. It is as if I were to stand on a street corner and call each person who passed a very bad name. I have the right to do so, but it serves only to cause more hatred, and so would be irresponsible.
Your voice is one that is based on reason and intelligent discourse, and that is rare in any part of the world today... we need more of it.
Thank you

[Masri]

While the reaction in some Muslim countries, such as burning the Danish flag, were in my opinion wrong, the whole western world was very quick to seize the opportunity to condem it, even though they still not fully condemn the cartoons. This means that to them, burning the Danish flag is a more reprehensive act that publishing caricatures of our prophet. Using the same logic, one could argue that burning the Danish flag was a way of expression of anger, it's all about freedom of expression, isn't it? Just as burning the flag could be perceived as an act of lawlessness and anarchy, so one might argue that the paper that published the cartoons, thus provoking this furor, is also responsible for the violence. Today that same newspaper refused to publish caricatures on the holocaust. Jylland Posten's editor in chief was sent on "vacation" when he said he would publish them. What a blatent violation of this sacrosanct freedom of speech principle that supposedly takes precedence over anything else.

Having said that, we as muslims should learn not to be so easy to manipulate and to tackle matters calmly and take serious action in an orderly fashion. No fatwas, no beheadings, no barbary.

However, I must also stress the fact that such mob behaviour is not exclusive to us, remember the backlash after 9/11, nothing civilized about that.

Last week someone circulated this e.mail about burning the Koran in Copenhagen and it turned up being a falsehood, no Koran was burnt. This is a blatent example of the extremist forces in our midst trying to use the masses to further some nefarious agenda.

The boycott: yes it took us a long time to react to all that is happening around the Islamic world, but better late than never. maybe now the Muslims, Sunni or Shia, will begin to understand that at the end of the day, they have no other friends than other muslims. maybe something good will come out of all this and we will find ourselves uniting around our own identity again. So let's keep the boycott going and buy your local product.

[Bob Waters]

I'm puzzled.

Why be angry at Denmark because of what a Danish publisher and some Danish cartoonists did? Why hold a whole country responsible for the actions of a handful of individuals? How is that even remotely rational?

I happen to agree, by the way, that the publication of those cartoons was an intolerant and childish prank- and an intentional provocation. I do not see how any person of good will can possibly defend it. But at the same time, I fail to see how any person of either good will or sanity can fail to see that the literally murderous, over-the-top Muslim response is even more worthy of condemnation.

I don't blame the Muslim world for objecting to these cartoons. I do blame it for targeting and in some cases killing innocent people over them.

[Ramling]

Hi, First of all, I write from Denmark. and apart from some political discussions. The Cartoon drawing hype is more or less over here. The discussion contioues in the world media or the net. The newspaper issued at statement that it was sorry some weeks ago, about the all the fuss and thats all anyone is going to get. No danes are feeling the boycut since the rest of the western world started at "Shop Danish" campaign, actuely I belive that we, all in all, increased our eksports. The one place the boycut is hitting is ARLA, the Dairy producer. But since a lot of danish people were already boycutting them, you just helped those consumers. Now, I do NOT agree how the Danish goverment has handled this, nor do I think that I was a smart move from the newspaper. Bu as I see it, all that has come out of this is that we, the people of the earth are being divided into 2 groups instead of uniting. And that is not good. I do not want to raise my child up in a world of "Us" and "Them".....

[Ramling]

Hi, First of all, I write from Denmark. and apart from some political discussions. The Cartoon drawing hype is more or less over here. The discussion contioues in the world media or the net. The newspaper issued at statement that it was sorry some weeks ago, about the all the fuss and thats all anyone is going to get. No danes are feeling the boycut since the rest of the western world started at "Shop Danish" campaign, actuely I belive that we, all in all, increased our eksports. The one place the boycut is hitting is ARLA, the Dairy producer. But since a lot of danish people were already boycutting them, you just helped those consumers. Now, I do NOT agree how the Danish goverment has handled this, nor do I think that I was a smart move from the newspaper. Bu as I see it, all that has come out of this is that we, the people of the earth are being divided into 2 groups instead of uniting. And that is not good. I do not want to raise my child up in a world of "Us" and "Them".....

[bienaimé]

Dear Ramling,
I am writing for Luxembourg which is country very close(culturaly,politicaly...)to Denmark.
I think like you, I don't want to raise my child up in a word of "us" and "them"!!! But please don't forget something : Some danish,luxemburgish, french... think on this way, not only small minority...So they consider you and me like "Them"
Knowing European countries very well, i confirm all of them have many faces.
Unfortunatly today and tomorrow for our child we have to denounce and reject these faces who hate Arabs/Muslims.
I am happy about the publication ONLY FOR ONE POINT : for a long times, a huge majority of Arabs/Muslims european's citizens was expressing and explaining about this visious Official doubble speach :
-Internal: discrimaniting Arabs/Muslims
-External: Best Human right country and democracy in the world which respect Arabs/Muslims...

Unfortunatly,in the future coming, who want live without racist institutions (west), without dictatorial regime (est), Arabs/Muslims have to help more each other.
A Massive Boycott could be organised against all european companies who participated to this doubble speach.
To Resume, Its our right to refuse to gve money for the ennemy.

Hi bienaimé
Well, here in Denmark, at least some good has come out of all this, Our moderate muslims (about 90%) of all muslims in Dk, has begun to organise themselfs. They where tired of being caught between ekstreem muslims and Danish right wing. So now they have made an organisation wich is truly speaking for the muslem majority in DK, It is allready recognised by our guverment and it totally different tones we hear now, they tell both the right wing and the fanatic imams what they belive about this and in doing so, remove a lot of the fuel for the bickering between the 2 sides.

[bienaimé]

WAOOOW!! You are very optimistic??
If yes, its great because its strong quality in the live of human being.
I think its fantastic for the 90% of Muslims to be united in Denmark but its not enough in this globalised countries where we live... its not enough to push the extremists in very inexistant force for being able to unjured Arabs/Muslims...
Continue to build a peaceful society in Denmark but without to be naïve regarding this global issues....
The syrian brothers need peace as well and real freedom, So it is important to build network between Arabs/Muslims from all over the world!! But without the Imperialism Americano-Zionnist behind such kind of project

I totaly agree with you bienaimé, but as you know, every journy begins with a sigle step. By the way, i did not mention any global opinions in my entry, so where did you get that from ?????

[bienaimé]

You didn't mentioned any global opinions in your entry, thats exacly the point:
Today for tomorrow, we have to discuss, share and work as well between us in this Global issues.
The lack of global network for Arabs/Muslims makes a huge prejudices for us regarding our understanding all over the world and our power to be respect, not for war but for justice, peace and freedom outside the Imperialist-Zionnist framework...
Not easy at all but its time to share love!

[Marc]

I think the whole issue is blown out of proportion. It was mentioned that if there were cartoons of Jesus or Solomon there would be an outcry in the west and in Israel. I seriously doubt that, I don't know if anyone is familiar with South Park but it is a cartoon that has made fun of just about any religious group or personality. The cartoon is usually quite vulgar and there is some sexuality involved. It borders on good taste but no one has to watch it if they choose not to. I don't know what the newspapers in middle east publish but I'm guessing they are not printing love poems to Jesus or Salomon either. The cartoon in Danish newspaper was meant to be funny rather than spread hate, if it was meant to spread hate it would have been illegal. There are anti hate laws in western countries, and there are religious freedoms.
In any case it seems that Islam and Mohammed are synonymous with violence these days, and if I was muslim I'd be angry at all those that advance this notion while killing and bombing. All arab world seems to be angry at Denmark and boycotting their products because of expression of one individual, expression not shared by the rest of the nation. It's just like hate toward all muslims after 9/11 because of few madmen that wanted to kill. Either way is not right!

[Marc]

I think the whole issue is blown out of proportion. It was mentioned that if there were cartoons of Jesus or Solomon there would be an outcry in the west and in Israel. I seriously doubt that, I don't know if anyone is familiar with South Park but it is a cartoon that has made fun of just about any religious group or personality. The cartoon is usually quite vulgar and there is some sexuality involved. It borders on good taste but no one has to watch it if they choose not to. I don't know what the newspapers in middle east publish but I'm guessing they are not printing love poems to Jesus or Salomon either. The cartoon in Danish newspaper was meant to be funny rather than spread hate, if it was meant to spread hate it would have been illegal. There are anti hate laws in western countries, and there are religious freedoms.
In any case it seems that Islam and Mohammed are synonymous with violence these days, and if I was muslim I'd be angry at all those that advance this notion while killing and bombing. All arab world seems to be angry at Denmark and boycotting their products because of expression of one individual, expression not shared by the rest of the nation. It's just like hate toward all muslims after 9/11 because of few madmen that wanted to kill. Either way is not right!

will not post personal info, however i am aware that it can be found. my response, and with do respect to all those who hold high their Lords, that they are the force to reckon with, we all have our views and hold high our ascents, but to kill in any form, in any religion is wrong. if we disagree, we say so, we do not hurt, the Higher authority is that source of punishment? But i believe that their anger is towards those who judge, hang, and disregard.throwing stones is a sign of ignorance, and there is plenty of that to go around all over this sad little place we call earth. peace, love, and not withstanding, understanding. as one said, "nothing to understand, pay attention". bystander