The recent cartoon bouhaha in Europe regarding the publication in a Danish nwspaper of a political cartoon depicting the prophet Muhammed wearing a turban made of a bomb elicited quite a nasty response in the Muslim world,and things only got nastier when several European newspapers reprinted the offending item. By far the most visible displays were in Turkey, the West Bank in the Palestinean territory, and Indonesia. In Europe as well crowds of Muslim men demonstrated and chanted. One sign contained a slogan threatening Europe with imminent destruction. One cartoon carried on a banner by an Indonesian man depicted a likeness of the Danish ambassador held by an angry Muslim male while a large blade was crammed into his mouth, as blood gushed out of it. Indonesian Muslims in the meantime are demanding the Ambasador be expelled, a fate he would doubtless find preferable.
As diplomats and politicians in Europe stammer and stutter by way of apology and rationalization, the various European newspapers and adamant in standing up for their rights of freedom of expression and of the press.
As of late, even Bill Clinton has gotten into the act, echoing the sentiments of those who have compared the Danish newspaper cartoon to pre World War II nazi caricatures of Jews that appearred in German publications of the day.
In the midst of the madness, a relative voice of calm and reason has manifested, and in the most unlikely of places, in none other than the person of the Ayatollah Sistani, the Grand Ayatollah of Iraq. According to him, while the cartoon depictionof the Prophet Muhammed is reprehensible, Islamic fundamentalists are at least partially responsible for the negative views many in the world have of them.
This, although coming from someone many consider to be a "moderate" Muslim (he is actually quite conservative)is remarkable, and indeed,is welcome. Would that more Muslim clerics would take stands such as this, it would go a long way toward undoing the bitterness and anger which brews to a stronger stench every day, not only in Europe, but in the world at large.
Incidentally, the chief objection to the cartoon is not only due to it's derisive content, but in that it is forbidden to depict an image of the Prophet in any manner.
My take? The Muslims should get over themselves, and understand that if they are going to live in a free society, they are going to have to stand for the prospects being offended just like the rest of us. That, or leave. But to engage in violence, or even to threaten so, as in the case of one man who reminded the Europeans of the fate of Theo Van Gogh, the Dutch filmmaker who was murdered by a young Muslim thug (who was angry at a short film by Van Gogh which criticized Muslim treatment of women), is unnaceptable. Freedom of expression is something to which no one can be excluded, either from practising, or from being confronted with. Otherwise, it has no meaning.
A true faith can certainly survive a harsh tonque, or even a cruel caricature.
