If you haven't heard anything about the mass protests and violence spawned by the publication of Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, check out this Wikipedia Entry. It explains things pretty well. I must admit, when I first heard of this controversy and had not yet seen the cartoons I assumed the masses were up in arms over nothing again, a la the Burger King Sunday cone scandal (see earlier posts for details). Then I actually took a look at the cartoons and felt a little uneasy, but still was not sure how I was taking it. Certainly this cartoons were distasteful to say the least, but while I am Muslim I am also a child of free speech and free thinking (thanks to our free thinking republic which as it turns out isn't as free thinking when you disagree with it). I figured that although the cartoons had obvious political motivations and in the end were actually pretty crappy cartoons, everyone should just settle. That is until I read this article and realized why I should be upset, and why anyone who likes t think that one day we will have a free and unified globe should be as well. I found this article in Slate magazine and realized that this woman was speaking the truth.
It's not simply that the cartoons were published. Its what was in them, they were not just Cartoons of the Prophet speaking or doing some stupid everyday task and complaining about it, the cartoons took the nastiest of stereotypes cast on Muslims and cast it on one of the religions most beloved and important figures. Who in the hell do these Danish cartoonists think they are? Freedom of speech is one thing, being responsible and knowing how to use it is a very different subject. The reason that these cartoons were published is somewhat given away in one of the cartoons and Ms. Aslan points out, but the true reason may never be known. The point is that the results of the publishing are various and mostly foul, causing a lot of death and strife throughout the world. Is this what the cartoonists wanted? If so then they should be locked up for inciting such violence and unrest. I am so glad that the west is quick to jump on countries such as Iran for being outraged and firing back, what a good way to show your interest and support of a better middle east region by not condemning these pieces of trash cartoons for what they are. Publish a cartoon in Iran or Saudi Arabia showing Jesus Christ pimping girls and let's see what the world reaction is. It's not bad enough that we as Americans have to live in a charade of a "free" country dominated by a single religion, but our policies have to reflect that as well. What a crock of shit this administration and general western politics are.
In other un-related (well maybe a little related if we are going on the topic of the crappy administration) George Deutsch, 24 year old presidential appointee to NASA has resigned (login required) because he is a dumbass ideologue that had no place there to begin with. How this guy acted as NASA's public affairs/presidential appointee for so long is one matter, how the President could give such a openly biased man such a non-partisan position is the real question. Is GW even trying to make it look like he is being fair anymore, or does he no longer give a shit what anyone thinks because he now knows he is King of America? My money is on the latter. For more info on George Deutsch great streams of thinking, check out the World O' Crap blog, its actually pretty funny.
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