Michel Boucher wrote:

> > There is more than a little irony in all this. I can understand
> > that Moslems would be offended by an image of the prophet with a
> > bomb, since it would characterize them as being violent. But to
> > me, to react to the offensiveness of the portrayal by starting
> > riots that have lead to murder and arson??? I have to say that it
> > doesn't do much for their argument that it is unfair to portray
> > them as being violent.
>
> So, not everyone has the literary talent of Churchill.

It is more than a matter of level of articulation. It is a sad irony that
they have violent demonstrations to protest being betrayed as violent.


> How, pray
> tell, would you suggest they do react, if they want people to listen
> to them who are ignoring them? Obviously, once a mob has gone
> unruly, there is more violence than the events call for, but that was
> also the case with the much more deadly (and much less justifiable)
> invasion of Iraq.

How much of a role do you think their governments have had in these
protests. They aren't allowed to question things about their (state)
religion. They aren't allowed to protest against their government. If
they are protesting against something western or a foreign government, it
is a safe bet that their own government is actively involved.


> Putting things in perspective, I believe the
> Muslims have very good reasons to be majorly ****ed at the West right
> now (and we as a collectivity keep wondering why because it serves
> our interests to ignore their suffering), and that the cartoons and
> Denmark's unforgiveable lack of interest in resolving this
> diplomatically are only the latest straw.

It wasn't Denmark that did it. It was the decision of the editors of one
newspaper in Denmark. The Danish government would not act because it is
a matter of freedom of speech. It should be noted that the issue had
been resolved to the satisfaction of Danish Moslems when the newspaper
printed an apology a week ago. Newspapers in other countries ran the
cartoons. Then there are the stories about some imams having been
responsible for altering or making new and more offensive cartoons for
distribution.

>
> And why are you defending the Danes? They are our enemies too,
> leaving bottles of akvavit on Hans Island in violation of Canadian
> sovereignty.

I have an affinity for Denmark because of what Danes have done for me and
my family. My father was shot down over Denmark during the war and a lot
of Danish citizens risked their lives to help him, and they would been
executed by the Germans if they had been caught. When my father died we
took his ashes over to Denmark to be interred alongside the graves of his
dead crew mates, and when people over there caught wind of our planes
they arranged special ceremonies and receptions. We were overwhelmed by
the hospitality shown by the Danish people. I have been there twice for
Liberation Day ceremonies and seen them demonstrate their gratitude to
the Allies who fought to free them.

They are freedom loving people. As far as this cartoon issue is
concerned, the Danish people did nothing wrong. Their big crime was to
uphold the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of speech, but
they ended up being victimized by the radical Moslems who are trying to
vent their hostility against the West. Given the option of siding with
freedom loving people like the Danes. who committed no wrong, or with the
religious fanatics, I prefer the Danes. I hate to see the Danes vilified
over such a trivial matter. I hate to see that sort of coercion against
an innocent people. So I will do my best to counter the boycott and urge
reasonable people everywhere to do the same.


> Of course that's actually funny, but obviously their
> close association with the Bush administration in recent years has
> caused them to disregard the sensitivities of others in emulation of
> the Erstwhile Jet Pilot (copyright Michel Boucher 2006).
>
> --
>
> "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why
> the poor have no food, they call me a communist."
>
> Dom Helder Camara