Just because they can
The backlash wasn't to be predicted, mainly because of the West's lack of understanding that depicting Mohammad in any form is strictly forbidden by Islam. Embassies around the Muslim world have been torched and in London extremist groups have been calling for the death of anyone who mocks their prophet. If these badly drawn cartoons were deemed to have the potential to incite hatred against Islam, the reaction has been even more in violation of hate speech laws.
If "Life of Brian" had been made in a Muslim country with Muslim actors, you can be sure that Christians living in Muslim countries would not have taken to the streets calling for the heads of the offending Muslims. The freedom to say what you like has desensitised Christians to all forms of mockery of their faith. Western religions are the butt of jokes in many comedy routines on television, in print and in public and nobody bats an eyelid.
In the Guardian on Saturday, Gary Younge argued that not only has the media insulted and offended Muslims, they also want to dictate how Muslims should react to being insulted. Too right. To be outraged is their right, to tell Londoners that their 9/11 is on its way is illegal and deeply threatening. No cartoon, no matter how offensive it is, merits the taking of so much as one life.
The virus-like spread of publication of these images by newspapers across Europe was profoundly wrong however. The race for kudos for printing the cartoons was sickening. Just because you can say something offensive, it doesn't mean you should flex your muscle and do just that. It's pathetic.
Nick Griffin of the BNP called it a multi-culturism mess. It a twisted way I agree with him. Sometimes there is simply no meeting half-way on this one; it's either black or white with no shades of grey compromise. Some serious diplomacy will be needed in the coming few weeks.
Published by Colm.
If "Life of Brian" had been made in a Muslim country with Muslim actors, you can be sure that Christians living in Muslim countries would not have taken to the streets calling for the heads of the offending Muslims. The freedom to say what you like has desensitised Christians to all forms of mockery of their faith. Western religions are the butt of jokes in many comedy routines on television, in print and in public and nobody bats an eyelid.
In the Guardian on Saturday, Gary Younge argued that not only has the media insulted and offended Muslims, they also want to dictate how Muslims should react to being insulted. Too right. To be outraged is their right, to tell Londoners that their 9/11 is on its way is illegal and deeply threatening. No cartoon, no matter how offensive it is, merits the taking of so much as one life.
The virus-like spread of publication of these images by newspapers across Europe was profoundly wrong however. The race for kudos for printing the cartoons was sickening. Just because you can say something offensive, it doesn't mean you should flex your muscle and do just that. It's pathetic.
Nick Griffin of the BNP called it a multi-culturism mess. It a twisted way I agree with him. Sometimes there is simply no meeting half-way on this one; it's either black or white with no shades of grey compromise. Some serious diplomacy will be needed in the coming few weeks.
Published by Colm.
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