Denmark and the cartoon scandal.

[Cascadian]

I am deeply concerned about the cartoons from Denmark depicting the Prophet Mohammed. While I am a firm believer of freedom of speech and the press, I wonder how far is this cartoonist and the paper he works for is going to go? Also, the Islamic fundamentalists are exploiting the hell out of this and stiring the pot even further. I understand that the newspaper where the cartoons orginally came from is conservative and tows the line of the current right-wing government in Denmark. The Danish government refuses to apologise about the cartoons and anti-Danish sentiment has exploded in the Islamic world. Who knew that Denmark, a country known for tolerance and has previously done nothing to anybody would be jettisoned into a target of Islamic rage right up there with the USA, Israel, and Britain?

I truly fear that as a result of these cartoons and the Danish government's complacency in this controversy, plus it's willing participation in the Neocon Bush quest for world and oil domination in the Middle East has Al Qaeda upgrading Denmark as a terrorist target. Madrid, London, Copenhagen next? High likely.

Maybe I am naive about the whole story behind this but my concerns are quite sincere. Europe is an even less safer place because of this.

John

[rodeodance]

1. well, don't forget that they still have troops in Irag (the 'coalition of

willing. This fact does not help them)


.......Who knew that Denmark, a country known for tolerance and has previously done nothing to anybody would be jettisoned into a target of Islamic rage right up there with the USA, Israel, and Britain?

[rodeodance]

3. I had thought a while back they would withdraw troops but read a few

days ago that the Danish troops now have to be guarded in Irag as they are a target due to the cartoon contraversy.

[malaise]

4. Who knew

The neo-con cartoonist and his friends in the US

[Cascadian]

8. I already mentioned that on the post

" it's willing participation in the Neocon Bush quest for world and oil domination in the Middle East ..."

It does not mention Iraq but you get the idea.

John

[rodeodance]

2. nominated

[KharmaTrain]

5. There's A Lot Of Other Problems Under The Rug

It's easy to broad-brush the current culture war between Europe and the Arab World as being instigated by boooosh, but that belies the long-running problems that Europeans have had in accepting non-Christian cultures. Guest worker programs opened a lot of doors to North African and Middle Eastern Arabs to enter the European workforce as cheap labor...just like Mexicans here...but it's been tainted with underlying racism for decades.

While I'm not acquainted with the problems in Danemark...and I'm still trying to get a handle on all angles of this story...there's no question the Arab world backlash is not just lashing out at Danemark but at Western culture in general and what many in that part of the world see as centuries of subjugation of their lands and a disrespect of their culture.

Yes, some, like Khatami, are fanning the unrest for their own political purposes, and the lunatic fundies there will take advantage of this strife, just like the fundies do here. You get a lot of ears when many of your followers are unemployed or underemployed...poor and considered second class.

When the U.S. ramrodded its way through Iraq and humiliated that country and the Arab world, I knew one day it would lead to a backlash...and sadly, American soldiers are right in the midst of this unrest and their continued occupation will only incite further unrest.

Peace...

[Wilms]

7. I agree.

I visited Denmark, and despite how much I appreciate about the country I was very disappointed with the just-under-the-surface racism.

[QC]

6. How can the Danish government apologize for the actions of

a Danish newspaper? Denmark does not have a state press, unlike most of the countries where the rioting has taken place. Should the U.S. government apologize for the goofy shit in the Weekly World News? Should Tony Blair apologize for Andrew Sullivan?

Also, it's "toe" the line, as in placing your toe precisely on a line. Think of people standing in formation.