Anger over Prophet cartoons rages on in Muslim world

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060206/ts_afp/europeislammedia_060206222416&printer=1;_ylt=AlRKm7H4zySWRfZpW.wtreKGOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

Anger over Prophet cartoons rages on in Muslim world

2 hours, 59 minutes ago

Angry protests over cartoons portraying the Prophet Mohammed continued in the Muslim world with hundreds of demonstrators attacking two European embassies in Iran and the regime halting trade with Denmark.

Governments and international bodies called for calm and compromise and from Brussels to Moscow to Washington leaders sought an elusive balance between mollifying Muslims outraged by irreverent caricatures of Islam's prophet and upholding the principles of free speech.

In the public arena, however, passions remained dangerously inflamed, with worldwide demonstrations against the cartoons causing at least five deaths and dozens of injuries and arrests.

The White House said it understood Islamic anger but added that Muslims must also condemn anti-Semitic and anti-Christian "hate speech."

[rodeodance]

1. Iran newspapers holding contest for cartoons of the Holocaust. oh oh

.....Iran's largest selling newspaper announced it was holding a contest for cartoons of the Holocaust.

"The Western papers printed these sacrilegious cartoons on the pretext of freedom of expression, so let's see if they mean what they say and also print these Holocaust cartoons," the graphics editor at the Hamshahri newspaper, Farid Mortazavi, told AFP.

Charge and countercharge continued with some European governments condemning the violence and expressing sympathy with Denmark. Voices on either side urged calm.

The European Council of Religious Leaders, which groups representatives of all Europe's religions, condemned both the publication of the cartoon and the ensuing violence in the Muslim world.

[MrMonk]

4. Someone tell them to provide English captions.

[adarling]

2. I am going to sound like a Freeper but they are big babies

they are exactly like the neo christians that want the rest of the world to be crazy christians just like these Muslims want everyone to be crazy muslims. I am sick of using the word radical, i think it is just a nice way of saying crazy and i am sick of being nice. I am very religious, but feel so sickened by everyone's religious egos taking over everything and people are getting hurt over a stupid cartoon...IT WAS A CARTOON YOU BIG BABIES!!!! I am just glad they haven't seen South Park, now that is a show that i love but dont understand how they get away with things they do.

[Odin2005]

3. I agree.

Freedom of expression is a fundimental tenent of western civilization. I may dislike what you say, but I'll die to protect your right to say it.

[adarling]

8. thats why i love being a democrat

What do you disagree with. I look back on it, i should have added that it was a horrible choice for a cartoon, i am just tired of all the religious craziness that is going on.

[eallen]

5. No, freepers only pretend to care about free speech....

If they really valued free speech, they wouldn't favor a flag-burning amendment, gag rules, mandatory prayer, etc.

[adarling]

9. very true

[Cobalt Violet]

14. Plenty of liberals feel the way you do.

I will not live by any religious laws. I'm a atheist.

[sam sarrha]

6. How about condeming choppin the christians F'n heads off in Iraq...!!!!

[phrenzy]

7. LOL - Nice Challenge!

Jeezus these nuts are just further making fools out of themselves - Their idiotic anti-jewish cartoons will of course be printed as a way to show how fucked up (and hypocritical) they are. Their lame bluff is going to be called by every nation with a truly free press. Idiots.

[Sgent]

10. We protect the right to speak

we don't protect the right to sell.

Ask the KKK how their pamphlet's have sold since the '70's. But they sure as hell have the right to print it.

That being said, I do think some European countries have some real problems with free speech -- Germany for sure, although I imagine their are others.

[HuckleB]

11. Most European nations have more free speech than we do.

Germany's issues have a bit of a historical basis, and will likely change in time. However, it's very difficult to compare that with what some of the rest of the world faces, in terms of a lack of free speech.

[Scurrilous]

12. The New Anti-Semitism, cartoon division

<snip>

"Of late, a new breed of anti-Semitic caricature has begun to circulate through Europe, an indication, perhaps, of a new breed of anti-Semitism. But the Semites, in this case, are not Jews.

The message of a number of the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in a variety of derogatory caricatures is roughly this: Most Muslims are Arabs, and most Arabs are potential suicide bombers.

The message is obscene. It is racist. It dishonors the bedrock spiritual beliefs of one of every six people on the entire planet. In that sense, it also profanes the right of freedom of speech, distorting it into the freedom to foster hatred.

Correctly, many rabbis have expressed their disgust at the cartoons. "I share the anger of Muslims following this publication," French Chief Rabbi Joseph Sitruk said. "I understand the hostility in the Arab world. One does not achieve anything by humiliating religion. It's a dishonest lack of respect."

Said the chief rabbi of Great Britain, Jonathan Sachs, "The only way to have freedom of speech and freedom from religious hatred is to exercise restraint. The question is: can we learn to respect what others hold holy?"


more

[Erika]

13. American Family Assn. stops an episode of Will & Grace

because it's irreverent, in their mind, to Christ.

One rule, don't mess with fanatics on their religion. They lose all common sense and rationality and fight like hell. Muslim or Xian fundamentalists.