How many Cartoonists Will They Kill?

A Pakistani cleric announced Friday a $1 million bounty for killing a cartoonist who drew Prophet Muhammad, as thousands joined street protests and Denmark temporarily closed its embassy and advised its citizens to leave the country. Story here at Stop the ACLU
Can we expect a fatwa on these cartoonists as well?

And if I may express my sadness and distress at the American media's recent bout of dhimmitude in not publishing these silly cartoons while expressing outrage and shock at VP Dick Cheney's decent, admirable and correct behavior in handling the unfortunate hunting accident. What is wrong with these people? C'mon, don't they embarrass you? I cringe.

Speaking of dhimmis; Clinton says cartoons 'a mistake'
                           Atlas says Clinton 'a mistake'

Contributing Cartoonists: Cartoon by Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune, February 10, 2006 Cartoon by Robert Ariail, The State, February 10, 2006 Cartoon by John Branch, The San Antonio Express-News, February 10, 2006 Cartoon by John Cole, The Scranton Times, February 8, 2006 Cartoon by John Darkow, The Columbia Daily Tribune, February 10, 2006 Cartoon by Eric Devericks, The Seattle Times, February 10, 2006 Cartoon by Bob Gorrell, AOL News, February 8, 2006 Cartoon by Mike Graston, The Windsor Star, February 10, 2006 Cartoon by Steve Greenberg, The Ventura County Star, February 9, 2006 Cartoon by Bruce Plante, Chattanooga Times Free Press, February 10, 2006 Cartoon by John Sherffius, February 8, 2006
hat tipMarcH

Comments

[optimicynic]

While I agree with your disgust about the Muslim reaction to the cartoons, I think the reaction highlights the difference between what/who people think the target of the cartoons is.

Taking the reaction at face value, the point of the Muslim reaction, pretty much across the board with notable exceptions, is that Muhammad was insulted and was the centerpiece of the drawing. Most rational people who are aware of events of the last 50 years, and more specifically over the last 5 years, think the cartoons depict the way Islam has been preempted by extremists. The bomb in the turban is brilliant.

So the comparisons between the Muhammad cartoons and the anti-Semitic cartoons are only valid if you stick to a non-Muslim interpretation of the cartoons embroiled in the controversy.

While I find the anti-Semitic cartoons deeply troubling because of their thoughts Muslims have about Jews, and indicative of deepseated bias, I find the vocal reaction to the Muhammad cartoons deeply troubling because of the lack of self-awareness demonstrated by Muslims and the impotence of the West. So the cartoons you show and the cartoons causing the Muslim fervor both highlight the sad state of modern Islam -- its hatred of Jews/Christians/Others and its cluelessness about itself.

Now, to look more closely, the whole reaction, while real in many people, is overall a farce, a power play by radical Islamic states/orgs intent on wowing the world. The sick feeling I get in my stomach is caused by the retreating reaction of the "West". Our hypersensitivity and fear of unrighteously offending others is blinding us to a major problem. This form of Islam must be countered. Ideally, it should be countered from within Islam. But barring that, it should be countered by us (define that how you will). And we have been countering it. Understanding the makeup of Al Qaeda, and how Al Qaeda recruits, why its horrific actions are widely cheered in the Muslim world, etc, is extremely important. We must not back down. I see the reaction to the cartoons as indicative of a future showdown. The longer we defer, the bloodier (or less likely) the future showdown will be. At a time when Iran is waging this war and building nuclear weapons (or trying to), we must react swiftly and surely.

How we do that, while respecting the multi-cultural "West", is the central discussion that needs to be happening. Perhaps it is, and I just don't like the way the conversation is headed.

[DagneyT]

This is encouraging. The cowardice of our media is disappointing at best, frightening at worst. Optimicynic is correct. These people respect only strength. Any sign of weakness is going to be misinterpreted by them...or is it? We cannot afford to be weak where this threat is concerned.