The 12 depictions of Mohammed
Topics: foreign policy
05 Feb 2006
From: Ervan Darnell
After some internet digging, I finally found the cartoons in question [1].
To the extent that the rioters represent even a slice of the Arabic world, it gives one plenty to worry about. There is the obvious: in response to being accused of being terrorists, they respond by being terrorists and even Western Muslims respond with "Slay those who insult Islam" [2]. The anger isn't directed just at sinful Muslims, but an indignation that says the rest of the world must be forced into Muslim orthodoxy at gun point. As little as I think of Christianity, at least in the U.S. even something extreme like the "Piss Christ"[4] can be shown in museums without anyone rioting.
The U.S. press response has been meek. I'm not sure whether it's out of a sense of PCness run amok or a fear of assassination (like Van Gogh or the fatwah against Rushdie). ABC this morning explicitly said (via Stephanopolous) that it wouldn't show them. "CNN has chosen to not show the cartoons out of respect for Islam." [3]. A quick search by me found no online newspapers that printed them, though the online San Jose Mercury did link to a site that had them.
[1] http://www.faithfreedom.org/Gallery/Mo_Cartoons.jpg
[2] http://www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/275
[3] http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/02/05/cartoon.protests/index.html
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ
====================================================
Ervan Darnell
ervan@kelvinist.com http://www.kelvinist.com
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