Child's tale led to clash of cultures (The twisting path to Islamic idiocy)

The Guardian ^ | 4 February 2006 | Luke Harding

[Cornpone]

It began innocuously enough. Last year the Danish writer Kare Bluitgen had been searching for someone who could illustrate his children's book about the life of the prophet Muhammad. It soon became clear, however, that nobody wanted the job, through fear of antagonising Muslim feelings about images of Muhammad. One artist turned down the commission on the grounds that he didn't want to suffer the same grisly fate as Theo van Gogh, the Dutch film-maker stabbed to death by an Islamist fanatic. Two others also declined. "They were worried," Mr Bluitgen said, adding: "Eventually someone agreed to do it anonymously."

Mr Bluitgen's trouble prompted several Danish newspapers, including the best-selling Jyllands-Posten (Jutland Post), to begin a debate. How far should Denmark go down the road of self-censorship? And was freedom of speech more important than Muslim sensitivities?

On September 30 the paper's editor, Carsten Juste, launched his own provocative experiment, commissioning and publishing 12 cartoonists who had come up with their own satirical drawings of the prophet Muhammad.

The results were mixed. Most weren't very funny. One was clearly offensive, depicting a bearded Muhammad with his turban transformed into a fizzing bomb. Another showed a queue of ragged suicide bombers arriving in heaven, only for Muhammad to tell them: "Stop, stop, we've run out of virgins." Either way, the drawings were to set a fuse that would eventually ignite across the Arab world, sparking protests in the Middle East, and plunging Denmark into one of the most serious diplomatic crises in its history.

[vimto]

If you remember that the Guardian is a well left rag, it's reporting has been better than could be expected.

I bought it today (along with 3 other papers in the UK) and read it's coverage and it seemed pretty fair given it's political stance.

In other words liberals reading this are getting better information than we could have expected.

kind regards

[Cornpone]

We are encouraged...

[jocon307]

This article gives a very good recapping of this entire sorry debacle. I remembered that this originally started with someone looking for an illustrator for a book, and I really did not understand how that led to such cartoons as finally were printed. I had NO idea about the "incitement tour" that happened, and certainly did not know about the "additional" pictures that were displayed. I gotta give props to this old lefty paper for a very comprehensive piece and kudos to you for posting it.

[Leisler]

Ask the Imman.

Dear Imman,

Our son little Mohammad insists on watching infidel cartoons on the morning pagans refer to as 'Sunday'. We have tried to stop him but he continues behind our backs. What shall we do?

Signed,
Shahel ab-Sufi Muhammad ben drool Sid Sufi Sufi Samma Lamma Ding Dong.


Dear Shahel,

This is very bad. Very serious. Your son is under the sway of western evil. Have his sister stand by the television and throw acid on her face such that every time he sees his sister's face, he will remember not to watch cartoons.

Imman.


Dear Imman,

We have done as you instructed and joy be to us in saving our son! He memorizes the Koran every day now, Sundays he plays with his chemistry set.

Shahel

Dear Shahel,

Next time have your husband write. You should not write. I first handled your letter barehanded even though you might of been in your monthly time. Then I knew to wear gloves.

Imman.

[Cornpone]

Thanks, you've put a smile on my face and I'll be humming it all day...Shahel ab-Sufi Muhammad ben drool Sid Sufi Sufi Samma Lamma Ding Dong...

[SampleMan]

Artists, actors, etc. are always giving each other awards for being so brave in their expression.

This article illustrates that it is not bravery that artists exude, but the willingness to be crude. When it actually comes down to chosing between their art or their safety, they take safety.

[Cornpone]

"This article illustrates that it is not bravery that artists exude, but the willingness to be crude. When it actually comes down to chosing between their art or their safety, they take safety."

Keen observation well stated.

[doctora]

"According to Jyllands-Posten, the imams from the organisation Islamisk Trossamfund took three other mysteriously unsourced drawings as well, showing Muhammad with the face of a pig; a dog sodomising a praying Muslim; and Muhammad as a paedophile."

Now these I'd like to see!

[vimto]

Seen them (can't remember where but on FR) they are very badly drawn compared to the others - they look like a set up....

[mom3boys]

From the article:

"Nobody saw this coming," Jan Lund, the paper's foreign editor admitted yesterday. "We didn't think the cartoons had crossed any line. Some people thought it was a good idea to publish, others didn't." He added: "We are the biggest newspaper in Denmark. We have always been the enfant terrible of the Danish press. Our cartoonists have made fun of politicians, Jesus and the Virgin Mary."

I must have missed the articles about how Christians beat up editors and made bomb threats and death threats against this paper when they made fun of Jesus and Mary. /s

[SauronOfMordor]

Back in Denmark, journalists at Jyllands-Posten, where there was a bomb threat on Tuesday, concede the storm is unlikely to die down soon. "Most of the 200,000 Muslims in Denmark are integrated. You have a minority of rightwing imams who are trying to stir things up," Lund reflected. "We are talking about 1%."

1% = 2,000 radicals. A managable number to deport. Denmark should put them on the next planes out

[OldSmaj]

One was clearly offensive, depicting a bearded Muhammad with his turban transformed into a fizzing bomb.

Yeah?

By whose standard?

Moose limbs?

I don't care, Guardian, I thought it was apt and do not consider it offensive.

So there.

You news pukes do not speak for me.

That particular little statement was obviously gratuitously inserted, so that you illiterate nitwits could later say, should you have to, "see, see, we have sensitivity, too. Please don't burn our building."

Whores, all of you.

[Max in Utah]

...a dog sodomising a praying Muslim Mohammed...

How about it, artists? Maybe put some devil's horns and tail on the dog?

(they thought those Danish cartoons were bad... they ain't seen nothin' yet)

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

When it actually comes down to chosing between their art or their safety, they take safety.

Every sane person no matter how courageous chooses a certain amount of safety. Even the early Christians, eager to prove their faith in the Colosseum, met in the catacombs where most Romans would not find them.

Only the insane blow themselves up or charge machine guns with scimitars held high wanting to die.

[SampleMan]

Every sane person no matter how courageous chooses a certain amount of safety. Even the early Christians, eager to prove their faith in the Colosseum, met in the catacombs where most Romans would not find them. Only the insane blow themselves up or charge machine guns with scimitars held high wanting to die.

You pretty much missed my entire point. Perhaps you should reread it. It wasn't long.

[Suzy Quzy]

The Palistinians stormed the EU headquarters in Gaza over this, my question is WHY DOES THE EU HAVE AN OFFICE IN GAZA??????? EU...EUROPEAN....GAza is NOT in Europe...is it??

[Suzy Quzy]

Yeah, and who would want to be the pilot ans flight attendants on THAT flight????

[an amused spectator]

You pretty much missed my entire point. Perhaps you should reread it. It wasn't long.

THAT'S gonna leave a mark...

[MOgirl]

Hello,

As the original cartoons ran in Sept. of 2005, I am convinced that this entire episode has orchestrated. Conveniently, is coincides with the victory of Hamas, and the insanity coming from Iran. BTW, loved the preprinted signs carried in today's riot. Nice touch...

Glad to be here, MOgirl