More papers (French and German) join cartoon furore

Al jazeera ^ | Wednesday 01 February 2006

[Sometimes A River]

Both a French and a German newspaper have reprinted a series of 12 Danish newspaper cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad that have sparked protests in the Muslim world.

...

Because no religious dogma can impose its view on a democratic and secular society, France Soir publishes the incriminated cartoons," the paper said

...

The German Welt daily put one of the drawings on its front page on Wednesday, saying the picture was "harmless" and regretting that the Danish Jyllands-Posten daily had apologised for causing offense.

"Democracy is the institutionalised form of freedom of expression," the paper said in a front-page commentary.

"There is no right to protection from satire in the West; there is a right to blasphemy."

[horse_doc]

Instead of facing down threats early, with less bloodshed, the Euros always ignore them, until it is almost too late.

Then they wake up, and paint their continent red.

Nobody, but nobody, throws a good, bloody cataclysm like the Euros. They are about 40 years overdue for one, and they just can't change their nature.

[cajungirl]

Good piece there.

[ch.man]

I thought it had already started some time ago!

[steel_resolve]

Amen to that, and AMEN TO YOUR TAG!

[SwinneySwitch]

The last time they fought the Muslims in Europe, it was from 711 with their invasion of Spain until the Turks were defeated at Vienna in 1683. Now the Muslims are inside the gates!

[dynachrome]

I also sent it to my local newspapers urging them to show some testicular fortitude and reprint the cartoons.

[McGavin999]

I think the west woke up when the Palestinians freely elected Hamas. Before that, the euros were perfectly content to think the terrorists were a small minority of Islam. They could ignore what was happening because Muslims were "victems". Now it's obvious they've had ENOUGH.

You can only be pushed so far before you eventually have to either push back or die. The euros have decided not to die.

[Centurion2000]

Never thought I'd say this.

Well done France.

And Germany is making headway back to being an ally

[pookie18]

[Chode]

being em-BARE-ASSED by the Danes was just tooo much for em ya???

[dfwgator]

Could the spirit of Charles Martel finally be arising in the French?

[George - the Other]

"Nothing like the Iranians having a nuke pointed at one to give one courage to say 'enough' ... I think the Europeans just may be waking up to the barbarian at the door."

Amen to that.

[ken5050]

FYI..just heard a promo on FOX that today, at 4..Cavuto will interview Dave Marash..the American journalist who jsut took a job as a corespondent for Al Jazerrah..wonder if this comes up?

[RobRoy]

Could this cartoon have the same effect as a certain assasination in Bosnia just before WWI?

[epluribus_2]

If it shows up in Pravda, then I'll reeelly be impressed.

[Dark Skies]

Another German paper, the Berliner Zeitung, also reprinted two cartoons as part of its coverage of the controversy.

It's spreading!

[Sometimes A River]

I hope some of our own Antique Media papers and magazines re-print them also...

But don't hold y uor breath waiting for the NY Times, et al, standing in solidarity with their European counterparts.

[Dark Skies]

For any of you that read German, here is the link to Die Welt...

http://www.welt.de/data/2006/02/01/839667.html

[Dark Skies]

Here an English article from Berlin (Spiegel Online) that gives a German POV of this Cartoon Crusade.

Spiegel Online (English)

[Sunsong]

What is the "offical" Muslim response to our being *offended* by being called "infidels"? And what about their treatment of Christianity and Judaism?

As soon as they stop offending us with names like "infidels" and the truly offensive beheadings and suicide bombings - we will be happy to take a look at what offends them.