Hmmmmm, the racism issue...I think this maybe the American definition vs. everyone else's definition in play here.
As someone who isn't Muslim, there are really only two where I can see an insult, a few others I can see as mildly offensive, a few I simply just don't get, but I assume it's because I can't translate something in the cartoons or because I'm culturally ignorant.
I'm also not even arguing that the cartoonists didn't have the right to draw what they did. I'm not even aruging that the don't have the right to be even more insulting if they wish. Freedom of speech ain't always pretty. Sometimes it means letting some real assholes speak, like some of the U.S.'s juicer racist organizations and holocaust deniers and right-wing-nut-jobs that actually advocate killing progressives like me because we're "traitors" and "not real Americans."
I also agree that the level of violence is absolutely wrong and is completely out of proportion to the supposed insult these cartoons are supposed to represent.
As I was saying in my response here, where I have an issue with Western coverage is that there seems to be a push for us to believe that the violence is universal (it's not even close) and that calls for boycotts and peaceful protests is somehow equivalent to the actions of those perpetrating the violence when it's not.
Am I horrified by the violence? Yes. Am I even marginally sympathetic to those who are perpetrating it or encouraging it? No.
I'm just very, very suspicious of the motivations on both sides of the debate that are trying to play up the violence and I think a step back and a real hard look at what few facts are available in this evolving situation is called for.
Admittedly, I've been ill (and actually still am), so I'm playing catch-up now. What I am seeing, though, is an awful lot of hysteria and an awful lot of fanning the flames, none of which is helping anyone right now.
no subject
As someone who isn't Muslim, there are really only two where I can see an insult, a few others I can see as mildly offensive, a few I simply just don't get, but I assume it's because I can't translate something in the cartoons or because I'm culturally ignorant.
I'm also not even arguing that the cartoonists didn't have the right to draw what they did. I'm not even aruging that the don't have the right to be even more insulting if they wish. Freedom of speech ain't always pretty. Sometimes it means letting some real assholes speak, like some of the U.S.'s juicer racist organizations and holocaust deniers and right-wing-nut-jobs that actually advocate killing progressives like me because we're "traitors" and "not real Americans."
I also agree that the level of violence is absolutely wrong and is completely out of proportion to the supposed insult these cartoons are supposed to represent.
As I was saying in my response here, where I have an issue with Western coverage is that there seems to be a push for us to believe that the violence is universal (it's not even close) and that calls for boycotts and peaceful protests is somehow equivalent to the actions of those perpetrating the violence when it's not.
Am I horrified by the violence? Yes. Am I even marginally sympathetic to those who are perpetrating it or encouraging it? No.
I'm just very, very suspicious of the motivations on both sides of the debate that are trying to play up the violence and I think a step back and a real hard look at what few facts are available in this evolving situation is called for.
Admittedly, I've been ill (and actually still am), so I'm playing catch-up now. What I am seeing, though, is an awful lot of hysteria and an awful lot of fanning the flames, none of which is helping anyone right now.