Personally I have rather mixed feelings concerning the cartoons crisis and its tragic consequences.
On the one hand I think there is a difference in publishing something in the West, in the context of the freedoms taken for granted here and those enjoyed elsewhere in the world. In the West - at least in the UK - it is legitimate to use humour as a way of exposing inconsistencies and dishonesties regarding the views and conduct of those in power or those taking the moral high ground. Thus we have TV programmes such as Spitting Image where Prime Ministers and Royalty - anyone really - can be lambasted and ridiculed as a way of expressing a legitimate social "critique". But that is just not tolerated elsewhere. Unfortunately now that we have a "global village" situation, with images and information immediately available everywhere, it seems no longer possible for us in the West to fully ENJOY such privileges - obtained after centuries of social development, obviously not yet reached by others (the equivalent of the renaissance, reformation, enlightenment, industrial revolution, universal suffrage etc). Because of the "global village" situation images that are accepted as inoffensive in the West can be EXPLOITED for political reasons in more "sensitive" areas of the world. After all how is it that a Danish cartoon ended up causing mayhem and deaths in Nigeria, 6 months LATER - unless someone deliberately decided to stir up trouble - much like in the Roanda genocide story, where normally peaceful people ended up exterminating their neighbours. Similar things were stirred up in Kosovo. Moreover the cartoons - seen from the Western perspective - were posing a question: is Islam "obsessed" with violence? It is a reasonable question. First of all just look at the violence over the centuries between Shias and Sunnis. Then look at the percentage of terrorists undermining peace in the world today- the largest proportion by far are Muslims. Followers of Islam, in the face of such cartoons equating their faith with violence, would voice their disapproval of such an equation - one would expect. And indeed most Islamic commentators keep stressing that Islam is the religion of PEACE! But enough radical Immans are around (everywhere, even in the UK) who actually support such violence (9/11 in the USA or 7/7 in the UK or suicide bombers in general etc) and their influence is OBVIOUSLY great enough to be able to stir up all this trouble around the world. There are violent biggots in all religions - but only in Islam have they such widespread political influence. That is undeniable. Even a Pope hell-bent on reviving the Crusades would nowadays be dismissed as simply insane in the West - there would hardly be any demonstrators in support in Western streets. As to the "offence" that the cartoons might have caused a Muslem in Denmark or elsewhere in the West, there are appropriate channels in the West for making such complaints and airing contradictory views. It's also important to look at the cartoons with some common sense. A cartoon is a drawing which may or may not cause "offence" to another human being. But what is that compared to the killing of hundreds of innocent peolpe - some burnt alive in Nigeria - as a "retaliation" - quite apart from the destruction of numerous embassies, in violation of diplomatic regulations. Was not such reaction a CONFIRMATION of the very proposition of the cartoon: that followers of Islam have bombs - violence - in their heads? If so was not the cartoon after all more TRUTHFUL than the phoney "offence" used against it, by Islamic provocateurs? Moreover there are more outrageous sacrileges committed by Islamic terrorists on fellow Muslims EVERY DAY almost in Iraq and elsewhere - but where are the worldwide demonstrations against these "offences" - that have caused REAL suffering and REAL martyrs? On the other hand, as someone else in this forum pointed out, some things are just intollerably offensive to a particular group and we all seem to have such sensitivities - whether it's the national flag, war graves, religious shrines etc. It would be wise therefore to be sensitive and compassionate when we can - and it also would be common sense in some situations. We know now, for instance, that a cartoon depicting Muhammed is just not worth the risk. Next time the cartoon might have to be described rather than depicted: "IMAGINE Muhammed(or Muslems) with anger/bomb in his/their head" etc.. Of course that wouls STILL be UNFAIR to the majority of Muslims, who are decent and peaceful human beings. The problem is that there is too large a minority that are NOT! That is truthful as well. Clearly whilst there certainly are real POLITICAL reasons behind the regional and international conflicts of the world, it is unfortunate this day an age that conflicts are taking a religious "edge" - and the cartoon was also appropriate as a commentary to that: surely religion is NOT about violence and politics = Ceasar; it is about Allah, the Kingdom of God, UNIVERSAL Love, Compassion etc. In some ways there's been an injustice - a sacrilege even - against the legitimacy and importance of what the cartoon was raising. Reducing it to an attack on Muhammad the Prophet was a "convenient" political diversion. An opportunity for true reflection and learning was missed...Well that is my opinion, anyway. In case you didn't see it first time round, I've published the infamous M cartoon here: http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/photos/view/3fe2?b=1 Well, the equivalent... ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
