Tuesday, January 31, 2006

At What Price?


When the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad - including one in which he is shown wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse - it expected a strong reaction in this country of 5.4 million people.

But the paper was unprepared for the global furor inspired by the cartoons, which provoked demonstrations in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, death threats against the artists, condemnation from 11 Muslim countries and a rebuke from the United Nations...(Herald Tribune Europe, 01 January 2006)

"It's appalling!..before it was anti-semitic prejudice..now it's anti-islamic prejudice!" said Bill Clinton, the former President of USA.
"It's prostitution of journalism!" Strong words from the leader of more than 200,000 strong Muslims community in Denmark.
Almost 4 months ago, a group of artists did a series of caricatures of the Prophet..and got it published in the local national papers...all in the name of Freedom of Expression.(check out "Freedom of Racism" "http://sabbah.biz/mt/tag/Middle+East")
A snap poll was conducted and majority of Danes supported their Prime Minister's stand not to make a public apology inspite of worldwide's outcry of indignation ..especially from nations of Middle East.
Freedom of expression..gives one the license to slander, to ridicule..etc and fret not..the law is on your side! What baloney!
To me, the whole episode is cheap, deliberate provocation!
I think if you want to play with fire..be prepared to pay the heavy price of backlash...for a start, boycott of danish dairy products already in action..and worst..their action endangers the lives of their fellow brothers/sisters in the country and working overseas! If you need to draw...please use your brain too!

24 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another racial discrimination comic..to me, is just a group of HIMBO playing fire...

7:01 PM

 
Blogger black feline said...

i suspect right wing forces are behind all these!

7:37 PM

 
Blogger junebee said...

I have seen some political cartoons I find offensive, but I support the artist's right to free speech. I'm so sick of having to be "Muslim-sensitive" these days. The U.S. is a country where the majority of people are Christian. I do not even consider myself one of them, but I respect the core values of our country and don't expect the U.S. to cater to every whim of every person who feels offended for some reason or other.

11:21 PM

 
Blogger black feline said...

point noted..but im wondering if u respect the artist's right..what about the right of those who are sensitive for whatever reason? where do we draw the line as far as lampoon is concerned?

5:30 AM

 
Blogger Crystal said...

I am very surprised that the Danish gov't is condoning these obviously blatant racist cartoons. I believe in free speech, so I don't feel that anybody should be "forced" to apologize, but I'd think that certain aspects of the society would at least be reiterating a message of tolerance to counteract what happened. And that's not what we are seeing.

5:35 AM

 
Blogger black feline said...

Yes..tolerance is the keyword. I think underneath all these..bigger issues of assmilation, immigration..etc must seriously be addressed by the government..otherwise the living time-bomb will do no one good!
LATEST from Washington Post
"These cartoons were not in violation of Danish law but have irrefutably offended many muslims, and for that we apologise," wrote Jyllands Posten daily editor-in-chief.
Arla Foods, Denmark-based dairy group sells about US$421 millions worth of products annually in the Middle East and has about 1,000 employees there.

11:26 AM

 
Blogger BrainSyke said...

This is the outcome of racial hatred and religious disregard. I am almost shocked that people would talk and portray Ghandi a regular national political independance fighter in a much more positive light than a man who fought for humanity like other prophets/messengers before him.

Ignorance and hatred will never solve our differences- which arnt much to begin with in the first place.

7:58 PM

 
Blogger black feline said...

brainy,
Ideally..i think it's impossible to eradicate racism completely from the face of this earth..Gandhi was a pacifist..in a sense he was also fighting injustice and discrimination..his achievements were undeniable.Nobody..at least in India.. will argue his rightful status as the Father of India. Sadly, as the world becomes borderless..technology improves communication technically but the basic human element of respect for one another regardless of race, religion..etc is still so "dark ages".

8:22 PM

 
Blogger Hasan Mubarak said...

It was the darkest move to defend freedom of press.

It should be strongly condemned as it defies limits to Religious beliefs of millions of Muslims.

10:54 PM

 
Blogger black feline said...

Heard.. Freedom of Speech is not: " When u are in a crowded place..someone shouted FIRE!!!!!"
Perhaps...Samuel Huntington's argument in his book :The Clash of Civilisations might holds some truth afterall.

5:00 AM

 
Blogger Raheel Lakhani said...

I heard this news.. very sad!! Today world is shouting for anti-racism and in ko dekho. Its not only about Muslims, no one has no right to hurt others. If religion gets involved, it becomes a bigger offence. I think these people have forgotten the difference between politics and religion.

6:46 PM

 
Blogger BrainSyke said...

I didnt mean to argue or dispute Ghandi's achievement or his status as "Father of India". You are definately right on the dot, we are in much the same dark ages that we no longer have the excuse to stay in.

7:21 PM

 
Blogger black feline said...

I just don't understand...what went on in the minds of the cartoonists...some smart alecs just don't understand that playing with fire is the surest way to set the house on fire!

7:42 PM

 
Blogger BrainSyke said...

unless you are in the kitchen ofcourse ;-), and in Dubai

11:49 PM

 
Blogger black feline said...

ya..in the kitchen..with the stove on while u are off to work..lol..things are getting a bit out of hands now..sigh...syrians tourched embassies (Denmark and Norway) over the caricatures..Vatican spoke out against the cartoons as well as the violent reaction..I think it is wiser to stick to the protest on a intellectual level..

7:42 AM

 
Blogger BrainSyke said...

You damn well are right. Muslims are most emotionally driven nation you will ever come accross these days. Prophet Muhamed was abused, humiliated, and called names during his lifetime, but he never himself, nor did anyone else resort to violent means...the same for any other messenger of God before him.

Muslims have truely earned their status in global society today!

9:24 PM

 
Blogger black feline said...

I think....education and improved standard of living will somehow aids to change the mindset..to fight your predator(s)...not with fists but with your wisdom... on the other hand...those who like to play with fire in the first instance..the moral of the story..check with your fire dept or buy a heavy insurance..

5:36 AM

 
Blogger San Nakji said...

I think the tester here is if this Danish paper would be prepared to publish a cartoon with a picture of Sharon with a swastika on his head. The cry of anti-Semitism would be deafening and the loudest call would be from the US. It seems it is ok to Muslim bash now days.
Free speech, I do not believe in. You should never be free to put down someone because of their race, religion or whatever.

3:25 AM

 
Blogger BrainSyke said...

I like this person here :-)

4:57 AM

 
Blogger black feline said...

totally agreed with u all...i have yet to hear or see (correct me) any muslm leaders bring the government of Denmark to task under the Danish Penal Code which is linked to its obligation under the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Article that binds signatories to "declare an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority and hatred"..rightly pointed out by Professor Vera Gowlland Debbas in a recent article (3rd Feb 2006?) for The Times magazine.

5:58 AM

 
Blogger kingfisher said...

relax... you folks all need to chill out... it's a cartoon for God's sake. Grow up and stop pissing your pants because someone took a poke at you... this anti islam thing is a real lowhanded bleat of emotion amounting to a storm in a teacup.

These cartoons remind me that nothing can ever diminish a faith or a people... the vitality of the islamic faith has not been hurt one iota by these cartoons. The muslim world is just fine and will keep on keepin' on with or without these kinds of cartoons. relax...
stop this endless whining about insignificant issues and quit being so damn touchy and oversensitve about everything...
clean up your act at home, on your own soil before you take on the rest of the civilized world...

8:34 PM

 
Blogger black feline said...

sancta,

u are entitled to your opinion..which i happened to disagree. Thank you.Btw..i got a feeling you are the MIA pilot codename Kingfisher..LOL

10:56 AM

 
Blogger kingfisher said...

yup. small "k" though. Not MIA, just readin' other stuff lately.

ciao

kingfisher (halcyon sancta)

10:07 PM

 
Blogger black feline said...

balushi...Spinneys is so expensive..only for the die hard fans..lol..so even if they stock up the whole place with danish products..i doubt it will make any difference..lol

6:22 AM

 

Post a Comment

<< Home