This is the equivalent of Nazi book-burning. There is a lot of "Mein Kampf" in the Koran--- and vice-versa.
Posted on 02/04/2006 11:07:12 PM PST by ClashOnBroadway
Best-selling author and Muslim dissident Ibn Warraq argues that freedom of expression is our western heritage and we must defend it against attacks from totalitarian societies. If the west does not stand in solidarity with the Danish, he argues, then the Islamization of Europe will have begun in earnest.
(Excerpt) Read more at service.spiegel.de ...
A pressing question as for the EU I would say no.
Come on EU, surprise me.
My tagline expresses my sentiments perfectly.....the civilized world must show solidarity with the Danes.
The fight against the muslims has begun in earnest. Even the Europeans have been sucked in now.
cc: U.S. MSM
Submitter here. Normally I don't post articles, but I felt compelled with this one. I know, and understand, why a lot of people might think the cartoonists went overboard and were intentionally disrespectful and aren't entirely innocent, but regardless, the Islamic world's reaction has been ridiculous, and is totally unjustified.
Now, I consider myself a moderate, but I'm probably rather liberal by Freeper standards, but nevertheless, I am tired of hearing how the West must respect a culture that would drag education and the arts (my two favorite subjects) back into the stone age, and that these extremist elements are only borderline fringe groups.
I was appalled that the US' reaction to this was to side with these groups against Europe. I know Europeans are generally not popular here due to our differences, esp the more recent ones, but how can you choose a sworn enemy over a friend who occasionally frustrates you???
This is the equivalent of Nazi book-burning. There is a lot of "Mein Kampf" in the Koran--- and vice-versa.
Boycotts are fair instruments of expression, but the threats of violence are barbaric.
Oh, yeah. This one'll go over bigtime in Riyadh...
I guess I can't completely disagree with you, but I will say that it still seems unjustified - why should all Danish companies suffer because of what a newspaper says? It'd be like me getting offended by USA Today or the Chicago Tribune and boycotting Burger King as a result.
Just IMO, of course, but even the boycotts strike me as irrational.
From all of the hurried apologies, firings of editors and staff and criticizing of publishers, I say it's a done deal. And we too are submitting to their will. It seems that violence and terror works.
I have a new meaning for WWW. West Will Win.
Point well taken.
It's too late to save Europe. Several months ago "Commentary" had a feature article "The Ismamization of Europe?" In terms of demographics the Euros are comitting attenuated suicide with negative birthrates. The Islamists have invaded them as the illegals are invading us. They just want to have a labor supply to keep the streets clean and wait on their tables til the pension system collapses. John Fund had an interesting article in the W.S. Journal about this inevitable decline and decadence.
It certainly was surprising to see so many Europeans standing tall for free expression and the U.S. (and G.B.) going wobbly. The Euros, after all, have lots of hate speech prohibitions while we Americans like to think of ourselves as free speech absolutists.
The weak U.S. response made me wish for a little of the old Bush cowboy spirit. (Not the cowboy spirit recently portrayed in the movies but the old $hitkicking one.)
I must say, though, that I do not much agree with your idea that the U.S. owes anything whatsoever to most of Europe in terms of rallying-round-your-friends. It pleases so many Europeans to be arrogantly contemptuous of the U.S. that the term "friendship" hardly applies, IMO. (And I say this as someone who is very focused on Europe, and France in particular, as an obsessive interest. I have a lot of admiration for aspects of their culture but an unclouded and unsentimental view of our relationship.)
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