About Freedom Of Expression
(All emphases by Always On Watch)
From a February 4, 2006 editorial in the New York Post (hat tip to Jason over at Liberty and Culture):
"Bushies Betray Free SpeechFrom the February 3, 2006 edition of Der Spiegel Online:
"...Even as European and Asian leaders appealed for calm and understanding in the wake of escalating violence, the State Department yesterday came out foursquare in support of the demonstrators — and condemned the 'offensive' cartoons.
"'These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims,' said department spokesman Kurtis Cooper. 'We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression, but it must be coupled with press responsibility.'
"He'd have done better to call instead for respect for freedom of the press, rather than kowtow to rampaging mobs attempting to intimidate newspapers worldwide.
"We don't doubt that many Muslims consider the caricatures, originally published in a Danish newspaper and later reprinted by other European papers in a show of free-press solidarity, offensive; Islamic law prohibits any physical portrayal of Mohammed.
"But the 12 images in question [The images are here] — one showed the prophet wearing a bomb for a turban — are pretty benign, particularly when compared to the anti-American and anti-Jewish tripe that regularly appears in Arab-language news media.
"As Roger Koeppel, editor of the German paper Die Welt, noted: 'When Syrian television showed drama documentaries in prime time depicting rabbis as cannibals, the imams were silent.'
"Someone in the administration must have considered this a perfect opportunity to score some sensitivity points by sending a pointed reminder that the United States is waging war against terrorism, not the religion of Islam.
"[T]he State Department has, in effect, endorsed terrorism by expressing sympathy for the motives behind the current onslaught...."
"Democracy in a CartoonIn London, cartoon protesters carried signs which read "Learn the lesson from 9/11" and "Behead those who insult Islam." If the West backs down on upholding freedom of speech because the exercise of that freedom is blasphemous to Muslims, shari'a law will be on its way to tacit application in our society. Is that where the West wants to go?
By Ibn Warraq
Best-selling author and Muslim dissident Ibn Warraq argues that freedom of expression is our western heritage and we must defend it against attacks from totalitarian societies. If the west does not stand in solidarity with the Danish, he argues, then the Islamization of Europe will have begun in earnest.
"...The cartoons in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten raise the most important question of our times: freedom of expression. Are we in the west going to cave into pressure from societies with a medieval mindset, or are we going to defend our most precious freedom -- freedom of expression, a freedom for which thousands of people sacrificed their lives?
"A democracy cannot survive long without freedom of expression, the freedom to argue, to dissent, even to insult and offend. It is a freedom sorely lacking in the Islamic world, and without it Islam will remain unassailed in its dogmatic, fanatical, medieval fortress; ossified, totalitarian and intolerant. Without this fundamental freedom, Islam will continue to stifle thought, human rights, individuality; originality and truth.
"Unless, we show some solidarity, unashamed, noisy, public solidarity with the Danish cartoonists, then the forces that are trying to impose on the Free West a totalitarian ideology will have won; the Islamization of Europe will have begun in earnest. Do not apologize.
"This raises another more general problem: the inability of the West to defend itself intellectually and culturally. Be proud, do not apologize. Do we have to go on apologizing for the sins our fathers?...
"On the world stage, should we really apologize for Dante, Shakespeare, and Goethe? Mozart, Beethoven and Bach? Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh, Breughel, Ter Borch? Galileo, Huygens, Copernicus, Newton and Darwin? Penicillin and computers? The Olympic Games and Football? Human rights and parliamentary democracy? The west is the source of the liberating ideas of individual liberty, political democracy, the rule of law, human rights and cultural freedom. It is the west that has raised the status of women, fought against slavery, defended freedom of enquiry, expression and conscience....
"Freedom of expression is our western heritage and we must defend it or it will die from totalitarian attacks. It is also much needed in the Islamic world. By defending our values, we are teaching the Islamic world a valuable lesson, we are helping them by submitting their cherished traditions to Enlightenment values."
Born in 1946 in India and raised in Pakistan, Ibn Warraq was educated in Koran schools in Pakistan and later in England. He currently lives in the United States and writes under the pseudonym Ibn Warraq, a pen name traditionally used by dissidents in Islam. He is the author of the best- seller "Why I am Not a Muslim" and the editor of "The Origins of the Koran" and "The Quest for the Historical Muhammad."
This item appeared last summer and did not receive much coverage in the media:
"Sculpture banned from the Venice BiennaleOn June 23, 2005, Hugh Fitzgerald of Dhimmi Watch had this to say about the above news item:
"A sculpture by German artist Gregor Schneider was banned from the 51st Venice Biennale because the event’s organisers said it might be offensive to Muslims. The sculpture was a 15-metre-high cube covered in black fabric modelled after the Ka’ba in Mecca and was set to be displayed in St. Mark’s Square. A spokesman for the Venetian arts authority said there was a danger that Muslims would feel provoked by the work, heightening the risk of the city being vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Schneider insisted that the artwork was not meant as a provocation. He said he wanted to symbolise a connection between European and Arab cultures. The organisers tried to place the sculpture at another site, but finally decided not to display it at all. Instead, Schneider showed a video explaining his failed attempt."
"Statues, like paintings of any living creature, are forbidden in Islam....Now back to the offensive cartoons. Felis over at Democracy Frontline recently posted the following information:
"For in Islam, the pre-Islamic or non-Islamic artifacts are of no interest, no valuable. They can be destroyed, they should be destroyed. The tens of thousands of Hindu temples destroyed by the Muslim invaders, a partial list of which was compiled by Sita Ram Goel, are perhaps the best-known example....
"The greatest destruction of art works in human history is that wrought by Muslim conquerors on the non-Muslim lands and peoples they invaded, conquered, and subjugated.
"What will happen in Europe if it is islamized? If there are already people removing statues, however banal those statues may be, from art expositions now, what will happen in 10 years? In 20 years? Already statues have been vandalized or destroyed by Muslims -- in the Piazza del Popolo, and in a church in northern France (a statue of Mary and Jesus). Muslims have been recorded discussing their plans to destroy a celebrated fresco in Bologna that depicted Muhammad in Hell. What else is happening, and is being suppressed from us by worried European governments...?"
"Drawing cartoons with the controversial Musulman 'prophet' Muhammad is not a new activity. Have no illusions about the sudden religious Muslim sensitivity. The Muslim powerbrokers are proceeding just one step further to gain full protection of the European law. If they win now nobody will be able to criticize Islam as a religious or political doctrine. Nothing happens in the Muslim world spontaneously. There is always some sinister group of people who plan, pay expenses press buttons and unleash their hounds when the time is ripe.Good question.
"Well before the Danish cartoonists, who probably by now wished to be somewhere safe in Israel, various artists depicted Muhammad probably thousands of times. Initially it was the Persian and Turkish Muslim artists. Muhammand was depicted also by Western artists before....
"Why wasn’t the Muslim fury released then (apart from some mild whining from Islam on Line)?..."
posted by Always On Watch @ 2/06/2006 09:38:00 AM
36 comments
36 Comments:
Interesting assertion by Hugh Fitzgerald that nothing happens in the Muslim world spontaneously.
If this is so, then the reason for that would be because Islamic culture, generally is totalitarian. Individuals do not feel the right to assert themselves, generally.
Therefore, change is left to a nefarious group of power elite.
Of course, this was proven to be the case with regards to the Danish Cartoon Jihad. An Imam from Denmark traveled the Middle East with faked drawings of Mohammed getting anally raped, and said that they were done by a Danish person.
It is interesting that Bush would choose "sensitivity" over Free Speech, considering he had been telling everybody to read Natan Sharansky's The Case For Democracy.
His statement is the opposite of anything Sharansky's book teaches.
When a society limits speech, people become double-minded, then confused, and then, they forget who they are and what they want.
The inhibiting of Free Speech is the first step towards totalitarianism.
Pastorius,
Actually, it was Felis who noted that nothing happens in the Muslim world spontaneously. But I imagine that Fitzgerald has also so asserted.
On FNC, I saw a brief clip mentioning what you said: An Imam from Denmark traveled the Middle East with faked drawings of Mohammed, except that I don't recall the "faked" part. I might have missed that part, though, because I was getting together a load of laundry and didn't hear all of the item, which was very short. I've said from the beginning of the cartoon fracas which occurred this past week that something else is behind this story. I asked, "How did the word about the cartoons get spread to the Muslim masses?" I think I may also have mentioned that I doubted that Muslims read evangelical-Christian newspapers.
If I rioted every time I felt offended, I wouldn't have any time to blog. LOL.
Of course, there really is nothing funny about this cartoon jihad, is there? When a society starts watering down freedom of speech and freedom of the press, totalitarianism is not far behind.
So, why are were hearing about "sensitivities" from GWB?
Saw this posted (by ignorant atheist)at DW earlier . . .
american ambassador in Denmark firmly behind Denmark and apologizes for previous luke-warm support!
http://ekstrabladet.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=333867
It was about time! but im more than willing to forgive! I think our spam-campaign to the administration worked!
AOW,
Here's an article about the Danish Imam and his faked drawings:
http://ibloga.blogspot.com/2006/02/cartoon-intifada-is-worldwide-and.html
Pastorius,
"If this is so, then the reason for that would be because Islamic culture, generally is totalitarian."
If left alone, most Muslims will hang about their little dwellings or leaning agains the walls, pehaps sipping very sweet tea and smoking cigarretes.
Only their mind control freaks (imams) can break this letargic hybernation.
Have you noticed how all action among the Muslims always starts after Friday "shit stirring" (pardon me I should've said sermons)?
Did anyone else hear Bill O'Reilly tonight? Are the gloves off?
There is an end to this mess an the Arabs know it . We should seriously work on a plan to reduce the cost of producing Oil from shale beds. The break even point is $75.
OPEC knows there is a limit to this madness. If the cost is lowered to fifty we can bankrupt Chavez and OPEC.
As far as the President is concerned he has failed to use the big stick with the Saudis. A serious conversation was overdue years ago.
It also means that freedom of speech now must seek sanctuary on the web. And that is where the infidels excel.
I saw Newt Gingrich on O'Reilly tonight and he made a clear point that this appeasement by Bush and Condi is the absolutely wrong position. I hope they heed Newt's advice.
Isn't it funny how the left is now criticizing Bush for not rushing to the defense of cartoonists disparaging Islam?
And that's tonight's moment of Zen.
John Sobieski,
I saw the early portion of O'Reilly's show last night. In that portion, O'Reilly was interviewing two Muslim men--a professor and Kamal Nawash of the Free Muslims Coalition. The official statement of the FMC, from this source is as follows:
FMC Condemns Reaction of Muslims to Unfavorable Cartoons of Prophet Mohammad
The Free Muslims Coalition condemns the reaction of American Muslim Organizations and Muslim governments to the unfavorable depiction of Prophet Mohammad in European News papers.
Protests have spread across the Muslim world over the publication in European news papers of cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist. Outrage over the cartoons has ignited demonstrations from Turkey to the Gaza Strip, and prompted a boycott of Danish products throughout the Middle East.
In Pakistan, hundreds demonstrated on Thursday, chanting "Death to Denmark" and burning Danish and French flags. In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak warned that the decision by some European papers to publish the cartoons could encourage terrorists. Consequently, government ministers from 17 Arab nations have asked the Danish government to punish the newspaper for what they called an "offense to Islam" and some countries have even pulled their ambassadors from Denmark.
The controversy intensified on Wednesday when a French news paper, printed a new drawing on its front page showing Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy figures sitting on a cloud, with the caption "Don't worry Muhammad, we've all been caricatured here".
The response by Muslims to the cartoons is absolutely pathetic and depressing but revealing. The reason Muslims are responding with anger and threats of violence is because most Muslims live in countries where democracy and freedom of speech are alien concepts.
Moreover, the Muslim world suffers from a lack of visionary leadership. In this particular case, when Muslim leaders, including American Muslim leaders, realized that Muslims are furious they joined the chorus of fury rather than explain to their people that they must be reasonable and that freedom of speech is healthy even if it is insulting. What is even more disgusting is that most American Muslim organizations, who should know better, have joined the chorus of instigators rather than taking this opportunity to teach their members about the importance of freedom of speech and tolerance.
One would think that Muslims have learned a lesson from the mishaps of the radical Iranian spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khomeini when in 1989, he called on Muslims to kill British author Salman Rushdie for alleged blasphemy in his book, The Satanic Verses. The childish and stupid reaction by Khomeini caused an otherwise poor book to become a number one seller. Similarly today, the stupid reaction by Muslims has caused many more news papers to publish insulting images of the Prophet Mohammed.
When will Muslims wake up and realize that their intolerance of opposing opinions is keeping them in the dark ages? When will Muslims realize that respect must be earned and not forced through violence and coercion? When will Muslims realize that individual liberty and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights? When will American Muslim organization provide solutions to Muslims rather than instigate problems? The Free Muslims Coalition hopes that the answer to all these questions is soon.
When Nawash was interviewed last night, he stressed that the cartoons offended him, but that learning to accept such criticism is the price of living in a free society; he strongly supported the concept of freedom of speech/press. The professor, on the other hand, was more supportive of the Muslim reaction to the cartoons and seemed to feel that censorship should apply to anything which deprecates MTP.
Earlier in the evening, on Brit Hume, the closing panel discussion made the point that more than a few radicals were involved in the demonstrations. Krauthammer made the point that Islam teaches Muslims that they are superior and that this teaching leads to reactions such as those we're seeing to the cartoons. Brit Hume also showed some of the Middle East cartoons, which are particularly offensive to Jews.
Making excuses for and appeasing these recent outbreaks against the cartoons may calm things down for a while, but the problem will still be there, just waiting to erupt again.
Storm,
Worse than sad! The administration's position undermines our individual freedoms.
Duck,
I am not a Bushite when it comes to this administration's dealings with Saudi and with regard to immigration policies.
I agree with you: He's doing whatever the hell the Saudis tell him to do. And I think that David Forte and Grover Norquist have a lot to do with this administration's policies and even the term "The War on Terror," a term which is meaningless as far as I'm concerned.
If I recall correctly, Saudi took the position of ending diplomatic relations with Denmark over these MTP cartoons. And we all know that GWB goes out of his way not to upset the Saudis.
Mussolini,
He claims over and over that we're not in a war against Islam as a religion. (COUGH) Funny, our enemy has never said it was anything else!
Three points about GWB:
1. He's of the persuasion that all religions are good and speak to that which is good in human beings.
2. Advice from Norquist and Forte pushes GWB even further in the direction of point one.
3. Oil dollars speak loudly.
Now, all religions have a certain attitude of exclusiveness, as in "my faith is the way to heaven." But Islam has not only that attitude but the militancy to enfoce that Islam become the worldwide way. And because Islam is so entwined with geopolitical ideology, its practice as a personal faith involves a lot more than worship. We're seeing that aspect now, with the cartoon furor.
And another thing about Islam...Of all the world's "faiths," Islam stands alone in its lack of the concept of the Golden Rule. Or so says Ali Sina, apostate; his material is available at here.
Beak,
The conversation is so long overdue because of the matters of who's-got-the-oil and who's-got-the-oil-bucks. I can't think of a single one of the West's leaders who even wants to have that conversation!
Felis,
Yes, the imams definitely stir the pot. They know how to manipulate the masses. And the services at the mosques is one of the main venues.
Did you hear about the recent escapees in Yemen? They tunneled out and escaped through a mosque. Of course!
I'm starting to have a problem with this. As a rule I support freedom of speech. There always have been and always will be cartoons about religion and politics, get over it. I do have a problem with Westboro Baptist Church members protesting military funerals. I've posted several messages about that at my site. There are some things I feel you just should not do. Holding a protest at a funeral would be one of them.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
As a Brit, I would like to see Newt Gingrich take over the White House. He talks sense and IS sensible. He understands the complexity of these issues. Moreover, he is an educated, well-read man.
The current President is a let down. At the start, he showed some promise; but now he shows none.
He's too friendly with the Saudis for my liking. The Bush family has been friendly with the bin Ladens for years. What's going on behind the scenes there? That's what I'd like to know! Moreover, how much money is changing hands at the top? How many favours are being done for this oil? How many blind eyes are being turned?
Then you've got Haliburton and all the millions changing hands there.
These guys are not looking out for Western civilization; rather, they're looking out for themselves.
Too many people lining their own pockets for my liking!
I was impressed by Newt’s comments on Iran (comparing the situation to Nazi Germany in the 1930s) and the cartoon brouhaha. On the latter he was uncompromising: he condemned that barbaric outburst and defended the right of a free press. He was against the administration’s apologetics. So far, Newt is the only politician that has moral backbone.
BUY DANISH!
Just letting everyone know that I'm exhausted after a hard day at work. Also, I have to make a grocery-store run.
I may have to hit the sack early--if coffee doesn't revive me.
Later,
AOW
Cheney for President. Alan Keyes for VP. That way even if Cheney kicks off, we've still got a "Staussian" in the White House.
-FJ
I'm running for President in 2008 as well. The Hillary political triangulation can never outhawk my promise to use nuclear weapons at least once within my first 100 days.
About who will run in the next election...Sometimes, the candidates are a surprise. Think Jimmy Carter here. Had we heard much of anything before he started winning primaries and eventually got the nomination? The same goes, more or less, for Bill Clinton. Typically, the recent Republican candidates have been quite predictable, but maybe not in 2008.
In my own mind, I go back and forth as to whether or not Hillary will run. The promotion of her candidacy is already afoot, but some skeletons in her closet may tank her run; the Internet has a way of exposing the past of any candidate, and the blogosphere will go after her, no holds barred. I've yet to meet anyone, face to face, who likes her much.
I suspect that Mark Warner, who just left the governorship in VA, will be on the Democratic ticket. His looks are reminiscent of the Kennedys, for one thing. And what he did while governor of VA would not hurt his chances in the run.
As to the Republican Party, I recently heard Guiliani on talk radio--Hannity, I think. Guiliani's tone seemed to indicate that he is indeed considering a run. Hannity mentioned Guiliani's teaming up with George Allen, and I don't recall Guiliani saying no.
I also don't discount Jim Gilmore, former governor of Virginia, and Tancredo, who seems to be positioning himself for a run. The same goes for Romney.
Of course, it is early to speculate, isn't it? Lots can happen between now and summer, 2008.
And Beamish has declared his candidacy. I seem to recall one point of his platform: "Why haven't we nuked Mecca yet?"
Mark,
I don't think that Newt Gingrich makes a viable candidate. Too many scandals in his past.
GWB's ties to the Saudis AND his belief that all religions and all people are inherently good and derive from the same God Whom all religions worship in their different ways have blinded him. He learned that second idea at Yale, I'm sure. I went to college a few years later than he did, but here in Virginia, the teachings of Yale are about 10 years later in having major sway in academia, so I heard some of the same catch phrases in college that I now hear from GWB.
Money usually talks louder than patriotism.
Mussolini,
A close associate of Rove says that Condi IS going to be a candidate.
I keep hearing the Condi should run, particularly from women, who think that Condi is a good option if Hillary runs. However, if Hillary doesn't run, I don't believe that Condi will run, either. The Republican Party won't risk a female candidate if the Dems don't.
Beamish,
Nobody outhawks you!
Jason,
I missed that portion of O'Reilly, so I didn't hear what Gingrich said. Around the D.C. area, most people have negative associations with the name "Gingrich," but I don't know all the details--other than that many see him as "slick."
Cubed,
I'm not much on ham, but I do like Danish cookies. Not that I need the extra carbs. LOL.
Seriously, however, those who support freedoms should support Denmark.
David,
There always have been and always will be cartoons about religion and politics, get over it.
Have you read this? It speaks of the engineering of all this Muslim violence over cartoons.
I've been reading your articles about demonstrations at funerals. Along similar lines, I'm sure you've heard about the political speeches at the funeral of Coretta Scott King. Disgraceful to do such a thing at the funeral of such a lady!
I've rethought nuking Mecca. A couple of conventional Tomahawk missiles dead center through the top of the Kaaba would make a dust of the holy black meteoric phallus of Allah.
It wouldn't even have to kill anybody.
It beats pretending we're not mad at 'em.
Duck,
Do you self-censor your videography because your message MIGHT incite violence or MIGHT offend someone?
At what point does fear of the reaction become the guideline and, thereby, censorship? Of course, what offends one group of people may not offend another group.
The furor and reaction to a bunch of drawings gives more credence to the idea that Islam has serious problems with the freedoms which Westerners hold dear. Certainly these cartoons are insolent, but primarily because MTP is so revered, to the point of cultism. And certainly the Muslim reaction is WAY out of line. I didn't see any Christians burning down art museums over Piss Christ. Outcry and boycotts, but no violence.
Part of being a member of a free society is the responsibility to be offended without making an ass of oneself.
As to Coretta Scott King's funeral, I find it very distasteful to politicize such a time.
So, how did the cartoon jihad get started?
From this source:
February 02, 2006
Fabricated cartoons worsened Danish controversy
The controversy over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed is expanding, as more Muslims join the boycott and protests against Denmark and various European newspapers decide to publish the cartoons, mostly out of solidarity with Jyllands Posten and to make a strong political stand. One issue that puzzles many Danes is the timing of this outburst. The cartoons were published in September: Why have the protests erupted from Muslims worldwide only now? The person who knows the answer to this question is Ahmed Abdel Rahman Abu Laban, a man that the Washington Post has recently profiled as “one of Denmark's most prominent imams.”
Last November, Abu Laban, a 60-year-old Palestinian who had served as translator and assistant to top Gamaa Islamiya leader Talaal Fouad Qassimy during the mid-1990s and has been connected by Danish intelligence to other Islamists operating in the country, put together a delegation that traveled to the Middle East to discuss the issue of the cartoons with senior officials and prominent Islamic scholars. The delegation met with Arab League Secretary Amr Moussa, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohammad Sayyed Tantawi, and Sunni Islam’s most influential scholar, Yusuf al Qaradawi. "We want to internationalize this issue so that the Danish government will realize that the cartoons were insulting, not only to Muslims in Denmark, but also to Muslims worldwide," said Abu Laban.
On its face, it would appear as if nothing were wrong. However, the Danish Muslim delegation showed much more than the 12 cartoons published by Jyllands Posten. In the booklet it presented during its tour of the Middle East, the delegation included other cartoons of Mohammed that were highly offensive, including one where the Prophet has a pig face. But these additional pictures were NOT published by the newspaper, but were completely fabricated by the delegation and inserted in the booklet (which has been obtained and made available to me by Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet). The delegation has claimed that the differentiation was made to their interlocutors, even though the claim has not been independently verified. In any case, the action was a deliberate malicious and irresponsible deed carried out by a notorious Islamist who in another situation had said that “mockery against Mohamed deserves death penalty.” And in a quintessential exercise in taqiya, Abu Laban has praised the boycott of Danish goods on al Jazeera, while condemning it on Danish TV.
The equivalent of an anti-blasphemy law runs contrary to the concept of the separation of established religion and government. But Islam melds religion and government as a geopolitical ideology.
If one doesn't like a depiction of one's God or prophet, don't look at it.
Many people have a gut reaction against Newt including members of my family. But I can't tell what it is that they don't like. I wonder what it is ...
If Newt runs for President I'll withdraw from the race. I relish the thought of bringing Condi Rice and Hillary Clinton to tears on international television. But not as much as watching Newt do it.
Keep up the good work
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