Thank God for the Danish Cartoons

From the desk of Koenraad Elst on Thu, 2006-02-02 12:33

On 31 January 2006 the British House of Commons narrowly defeated – with just 283 votes against 282 – New Labour’s Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, intended to prohibit speech or artistic expressions deemed insulting by religious communities. This was a narrow yet historic victory for freedom of expression, as well as a victory for Parliament against a despotic-minded Government. Liberal-Democratic spokesman Evan Harris commented: “The Government just failed to understand that they can’t take liberties with freedom of expression.”

On the occasion of the House of Commons vote, familiar maxims on liberty were aptly invoked in various debates, e.g. against the British Government’s plea that the bill was “necessary” to make multicultural coexistence possible (an argument invoked by governments across Europe to impose similar censorship laws). William Pitt the Younger was quoted:

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom; it is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.”

Regarding the argument that this curtailment of freedom of speech is only a small concession to an acute societal need, Edmund Burke’s words were repeated:

“The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away for expedience and by parts.”

Against the argument that many things people say about other religions are ill-informed or prejudiced, Mahatma Gandhi was quoted:

“Freedom isn’t worth having if it does not connote the freedom to err.”

Undoubtedly the British parliamentary vote boosted the morale of the Danish government and media. The Danes need all the support they can get now that they are being terrorized by Muslim fanatics but also attacked, openly or indirectly, by an international establishment that speaks a.o. through Bill Clinton, the Council of Europe and various EU bureaucrats. The Danes’ freedom of expression is decried as “Islamophobia”, a notion which was introduced by Tariq Ramadan and is now being promoted and inserted into international policy by people such as Karel De Gucht, Belgium’s Foreign Affairs Minister and the current Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

So far the Danish Government and Jyllands-Posten have, while making some conciliatory gestures, stood firm against pressure. Other courageous European newspapers have expressed their support by republishing the controversial cartoons in their own pages.

What seems to cause people most offence are, however, not errors, but hearing things that are undeniably right on the mark. Depicting Mohammed with a bomb in his turban, as in one of the controversial cartoons, hurts because the perpetrators of the most recent acts of Islamic terror, from 9/11 suicide hijacker Mohammed Atta to Mohammed Bouyeri (Theo van Gogh’s assassin), have explicitly affirmed that they were motivated by their zeal for Islam and by the teaching and precedent of the Prophet. Mohammed in fact organized armed raids on caravans, took hostages for ransom, permitted his men to rape the hostages, and ordered the assassination of poets who mocked or criticized him.

Does a scholarly paper documenting the link between Mohammed and terrorism, or a cartoon making the same point, hurt the feelings of all the truly peace-loving, ordinary Muslims? Certainly, but this is where George Orwell’s observation applies:

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

Millions of Muslims have constructed for themselves a version of Islam that reconciles a veneration for the Prophet and the Quran with an acceptance of more enlightened values of pluralism and tolerance. To them it may come as a shock to see that not everyone shares their views. But that kind of shock therapy is a healthy thing. Those Danish cartoonists may be among the greatest benefactors the Muslims ever had.

Mohammed Cartoons

Submitted by foreign devil (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 22:26.

Well...who's to say it's a picture of Mohammed anyway? I mean no one has seen him and it can only be a figment of the artist's imagination, so is he/she to be arrested for imagining 'Mohammed'? Like this one?
http://adobe.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=br0315e.3s...

Only the artist saying it's a representation of 'Mohammed' makes it so and even then it's all subjective.

to forign devil

Submitted by IslaamIsPerfect on Sat, 2006-02-04 13:17.

hi u r right no one has seen prophet Muhammad saw n those pictures r just the imagination of the artists n artists can imagine things , but u see these artists rnt imagining a person in their normal sense but rather the artist is describing this person as a bomb maker , killer , evil looking monster , playing with a lil kid in a sexual way as well n so on , so u see this is where the problem lays n this cant be free speech by insulting a very powerful n well respected man in the history who is loved by more than 1 billion Muslims worldwide n to insult him or show such pictures ascribe to him

may Allaah guide u ameen

Is this Europe's Tiananmen Square moment?

Submitted by Joshua (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 20:59.

I've always wondered what will happen when Islamic supremacists finally reach the limits of the West's willingness to accommodate them. Well, it looks like we're about to find out. Not even 9/11/2001 itself was as direct a challenge to the Western way of life as the "Jyllands jihad." Like Tiananmen Square was for China, this is bound to be a defining moment for all of Europe.

Support for Denmark from North America

Submitted by foreign devil (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 20:24.

Here's some good news for the Danes and Europeans in general. Michelle Malkin's blog (link here: http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004436.htm)
but it's michellemalkin.com if this system doesn't print the link has a great piece on support for the Danes and the cartoonist for 'Day by Day' has drawn piglet courtesy of Disney who appeals to everyone to 'Buy Danish'! This should boost sales. Michelle is hugely popular, especially on the right. She is a Filippino-American who advocates using the internment camp system for jihadis and fellow-travellers and she has her head on straight! Please read what she has to say at her blog.

Thank G*d for the Danish Cartoons!

Submitted by foreign devil (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 19:47.

Ain't that the truth? I saw a piece on this at littlegreenfootballs.com and one of our posters has a montage of Mohammed engravings, woodcuts, etc. from historical times at zombietime.com under Mohammed Archive Montage and I sent the link to Jyllends Posten several days ago to let them know this was a ploy being used by the Muslims against the west. Iran wants us to give them what they want and they'll use their Muslims around the world to threaten us (or in Paris or Denmark) to get it. The youth are their 'shock troops' as demonstrated amply in Gaza and Paris last fall. This is just the latest tactic. DON'T KNUCKLE UNDER. You're not alone! Go to LGF (littlegreenfootballs.com) and find others who've been studying this problem for several years now. We have a lot to teach you! Islam's minions 'use' guilt tactics and many other forms of emotional blackmail as well as physical threats to get their way. RESIST!

forign devil

Submitted by IslaamIsPerfect on Sat, 2006-02-04 13:34.

u sad case ur nick suits ur brain n describes u perfectly u indeed r a devil n u know the definition of a devil??
Anyways mr devil which non Muslim country at present has Islam entered n killed its civilians ???n which Muslim country has cause the death of thousands of non Muslims in the west??? if u open ur eyes u big devil u will see that its the non Muslims using these tactics by doing 9/11 n other bombings n than blaming it on Muslims n than giving themselves the excuse of killing thousands of innocent Muslims n invading their country for stealing thier oil. stop accusing Muslims of wat u r guilty of urself
may Allaah guide u , u poor soul ameen

to danish people

Submitted by nermin on Thu, 2006-02-02 20:02.

You are now complaining from burning your flag and say it is a symbol of a nation…are you kidding .what about mocking a human being who is a great prophet respected an d loved and cherished by 1.5 billion muslims..where is the freedom of opinion….the flag which is apiece of cloth burned by ex president Clinton who burned his own flag as to express his anger from Vietnam war …you are arrogant double standard suffering from superiority complex .

Double standards

Submitted by Mort on Sat, 2006-02-04 12:38.

I say, as a Dane. Burning my flag, as a symbol
of your anger against my Nation, is your right. But many Muslims have said in this debate, that they would never mock other religions, simply because religion is so vital to their way of living. So I allso say,as a christian, are you not mocking my religion, by burning the Cross represented on the Danish flag? Is that not Double standards?

remember MORT free of speech burning flags

Submitted by bashar on Sat, 2006-02-04 15:06.

MORTY MORT why you do not accept burning your flag like these cartoon and take teh burning of your flag in a funny way isnt you guys the funniest people on earth you should be laughing that we are biycotting and burning your cross flag..freedom of speech and press..isnt so......

to mr mort from nermin

Submitted by nermin on Sat, 2006-02-04 12:46.

no mr mort, this Is absolutely different thing…you must know that muslims have never mock anyone …but also donot ask Muslims after you insulted them first to check before burning the flag if this flag contain Christians symbol or not.
Also you keep saying that you do not care about religion in Europe so why is that now about a piece of cloth…
I assure you that when Muslims burning your Danish flag they mean the Danish flag not your Christianity…

That's it, nermin

Submitted by Anonymous11 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 20:17.

Like others I grow tired of your inconsistent, hateful and biased comments, nermin.
Just as importantly I grow tired of your inability to attempt to refute or even address the individual arguments and points presented by others, including mine.

I'll be taking the advice of another poster and will be ignoring your posts from here on in.

May God guide you

Submitted by Sameh (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 19:46.

Well let me share a story with you,
Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) was only accepted by few people in Mecca (where he was born, lived and started his call for Islam). He was even mocked at by the unbelievers and they even put dust on his head while he was praying.
He thought of going to another place where he might find new believers. He went to Eltaif. Unfortunately, he found all the people of Eltaif and specially little boys waiting for him to throw stones at him. He ran away with his clothes covered with his blood.
He then rested in the shadows of a large tree. At that time, Gebreil (The greatest angel) came to him and asked if he wishes that Gebriel squashes Eltaif between its neighboring mountains.
Guess what Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said. "Don't do that, I wish that one day, their children might have the guidance and be true believers"
Sorry for the long story.....I just hope that one day, your children might know the truth, have the guidance and worship the one and only God and believe Muhammed (PBUH) is his final prophet.

to sameh

Submitted by IslaamIsPerfect on Sat, 2006-02-04 13:38.

thank u sameh may Allaah reward u brother ameen
u see brother only the ignorant westerners who have no knowledge of Islam whatsoever speak such evil , but for those decent westerners who have knowledge n good manners they will not lie or disrespect Muslims by any means , may Allaah guide the liars ameen

Nermin, with every post, you

Submitted by Bostonian on Thu, 2006-02-02 23:04.

Nermin, with every post, you prove that you do not appreciate Western civilization, do not respect our rights and laws, and fundamentally cannot get along with us.

free of speech bostonian

Submitted by bashar on Sat, 2006-02-04 15:11.

remember nermim has the right to express her values even if they hirt you isnt that freedom of speech ohhh yeahhhh only europpen can say so but when muslims speak jajajjajajjajajjajaj terorista values and bullshit like your values

Bosnian Muslim Leader

Submitted by foreign devil (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 19:56.

And your purpose in publishing a link to those atrocity photographs is...? Are they your atrocities or those of someone you knew? Whatever...they don't belong here. You can mention them but is it really necessary to post that link? Do we really need to see gratuitous pieces of body gristle to illustrate whatever point it seemed to you it was necessary to make, especially without any explanation?

Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential person

Submitted by nermin on Thu, 2006-02-02 20:06.

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level."
Michael H. Hart, THE 100: A RANKING OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY, New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc., 1978, p. 33.

to IslaamIsPerfect from nermin

Submitted by nermin on Sat, 2006-02-04 13:51.

thank you for encouraging me .it is our duty as muslims if we deserve islam to reply to those ignorant arrogant people and defend our prophet who is alive in our hearts froever.

TO NERMIN

Submitted by antimuhammed on Wed, 2006-02-15 13:17.

IT IS YOUR DUTY TO SUCK MY COCK AS THE NEW WORLD CHAMPION MUHAMMED MASTER BATER!

GET DOWN ON THIS BITCH!
GO SUCK THE NEW AND IMPROVED MUHAMMED'S COCK WITH THE BIG KORANIC HEAD!

MAY THE DARK SIDE BE UPON YOU AND THE GERBIL CREEP UP YOUR ASS! FOR ALL MUSLIMS HAVE GERBILS STUCK UP THEIR ASSES. IT IS THE WILL OF THE PROFITLESS MUHAMMED WHO WAS CAUGHT WITH TWO GERBILS STUCK UP HIS ASS WHILE HE PRAYED ON ALL FOURS!

Thank God the Germans didn't

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 14:04.

Thank God the Germans didn't win World War II, if they had there would be spy cameras on every street, internet and phone records would be kept on all citizens, they would try to force us to carry ID cards, they would militarize the police, they would take our guns away, put poison in the water supply, signs would be in a foreign language and restrict our freedom of speech and prosecute dissidents. Hey wait a minute...

we cant be tolerants with

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 14:19.

we cant be tolerants with the intolerants
muslims
in any muslim country you cant build a church
and they come here to critize us.
fuck them
we must ban islam faith till they open their countries to others.
stand up!

cant be tolerant

Submitted by IslaamIsPerfect on Sat, 2006-02-04 12:54.

we cant be tolerants with the intolerants
muslims
in any muslim country you cant build a church
and they come here to critize us.
fuck them
we must ban islam faith till they open their countries to others.
stand up!

u arrogant fool go to egypt n syria n other muslim countries u wil find churches 1000 of them n most r like 100 years old , infact muslims r told by islaam to respect the jews n christians as they r the people of the same book that we belive in (torah n bible) n islaam also preaches that even in a war we must not destroy the places of worship for christians n jews , so u arrogant fool before u lie n make a fool of urself why not do abit of research on islaam abt this issue???? i bet u r the crussader of this dayn age may Allaah guide u ,u poor soul ameen

Interesting comments you

Submitted by adil (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 23:51.

Interesting comments you make. Perhaps you would care to enlighten us as to which Moslem country forbids the building of a church? Please don't say Saudi Arabia - I want to see a mosque built in the Vatican first.
Assuming you are European, my advise to you is to study your own substantial history of intolerance before casting the first stone. I'll give you hint; slavery, colonisation, the holocaust, economic exploitation of the third world, xenophobia, Bosnia, Iraq etc.
I doubt you have the brains to process the information, but I am sure other contributors will see where I'm coming from.

Please Iran, Make your bomb!!!

Submitted by The Crusader (not verified) on Fri, 2006-02-03 00:22.

Because, hopefully and god willing Israel will send a strike force and wipe you all off the face of the planet. And before you think i am a nut, i should tell you that i am just an ordinary guy that can see the future. Islam is intent on taking over the world, and if you are not a muslim, well we can forget about it. Anyway my country(UK) is half way there. We spend so much time kissing Islams arse that we have forgotten what a proud nation we once were. Long live Denmark!!! If i could speak Danish i would move there tomorrow.

mr crussader

Submitted by IslaamIsPerfect on Sat, 2006-02-04 13:02.

hey calmdown n stop day dreaming , u r soo arrogant that u dream 24/7 :) u know wat is ur problem?? u r weak minded n sick person , ppl like u do nothing good in this world eccept preaching hate n intolerance of other ppl. u r angry because islaam is growing?? why do u think islaam is growing? think abt it , n also u mention isreal so u must be a jew , dont u know that God decides as to whom he will wipe out? so stop talking on behalf of God or giving Him orders u arrogant idiot, n one more think im sure there r many jews who will not agree with u nor will stand by injustice but jews like u have given ur religion n other jews a bad name , so keep up with ur plans n plots n yet remember God is the best of the planners
may Allaah guide u poor soul ameen

in your dreams

Submitted by Aman on Fri, 2006-02-03 01:38.

hey Crusader
Your name is just like your comment; you came from the middle ages, may be you did not complete the story of the crusaders who invaded the east, sorry but at the end they were either killed or kicked off our lands
And this is what going to happen to the British mice in Iraq

well, I have to pitty all

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2006-02-03 01:19.

well, I have to pitty all those with such limited minds and blinding anger. A person who considers himself a free spirit who is allowed free speach, shouldn't wish for Israel to blow up all muslims. maybe instead of wishing death for muslims, u should learn a lesson or two from them about how to stand up to humiliation and fight for your principles in life.(that is if you have any)! And its good that you have noticed that wiping off other nations is what Israel is good at...I am a brit myself and I think that you are a disgrace to human race.

well, I have to pitty all

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2006-02-03 01:13.

well, I have to pitty all those with such limited minds and blinding anger. A person who considers himself a free spirit who is allowed free speach, shouldn't wish for Israel to blow up all muslims. maybe instead of wishing death for muslims, u should learn a lesson or two about how to stand up to humiliation and fight for your principles in life.(that is if you have any)!

well, I have to pitty all

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2006-02-03 01:13.

well, I have to pitty all those with such limited minds and blinding anger. A person who considers himself a free spirit who is allowed free speach, shouldn't wish for Israel to blow up all muslims. maybe instead of wishing death for muslims, u should learn a lesson or two about how to stand up to humiliation and fight for your principles in life.(that is if you have any)!

Please Iran, Make your bomb!!!

Submitted by The Crusader (not verified) on Fri, 2006-02-03 00:21.

Because, hopefully and god willing Israel will send a strike force and wipe you all off the face of the planet. And before you think i am a nut, i should tell you that i am just an ordinary guy that can see Islam is intent on taking over the world, and if you are not a muslim, well we can forget about it. Anyway my country(UK) is half way there. We spend so much time kissing Islams arse that we have forgotten what a proud nation we once were. Long live Denmark!!! If i could speak Danish i would move there tomorrow.

Interesting comments!!!!

Submitted by Alex (not verified) on Fri, 2006-02-03 00:04.

Slavery, colonisation. Sounds like North African Arab slave traders 19th century. Get your facts right before you mouth off. Good luck to Denmark and it's people for having the balls to stand up for free speech. Wish my government could!!!!. Although our capital is not called 'Londinstan" for nothing.

if europe is so bad why all

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 23:56.

if europe is so bad why all of you want to come to europe to live=?
and want to leave your shits countries?
if europe is so bad ,DONT COME .

Interesting comments you

Submitted by adil (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 23:50.

Interesting comments you make. Perhaps you would care to enlighten us as to which Moslem country forbids the building of a church? Please don't say Saudi Arabia - I want to see a mosque built in the Vatican first.
Assuming you are European, my advise to you is to study your own substantial history of intolerance before casting the first stone. I'll give you hint; slavery, colonisation, the holocaust, economic exploitation of the third world, xenophobia, Bosnia, Iraq etc.
I doubt you have the brains to process the information, but I am sure other contributors will see where I'm coming from.

Adil, you have to be one of

Submitted by Jason (not verified) on Fri, 2006-02-03 02:35.

Adil, you have to be one of the stupied people I've ever heard in my life. There is not a single christian church in Saudi Arabia (indeed it is against the law to even posess a Bible) and you defend this gross intolerence by noting that there is not a mosque in the Vatican. What are you 6, or is this the standard of education is Islamic primary school. I like the list of accusations you hurl at European civilization also. Let's see, slavery...the Islamic world never had that did they? Colonisation...hmmmm why is most of east Africa muslim again? The holocaust...well that never happened according to many "educated" Imams. Economic exploitation of the third world...is that what you call it when we pour billions of dollars into oil drilling in the desert shithole you live in? Xenophobia...well now you're just making it too damn easy.

What a sad little joke you are.

Oh dear

Submitted by The Ink Slinger (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 14:44.

we must ban islam faith till they open their countries to others.

What a great way to preserve freedom of speech.

Freedom of Speech v. religious intolerance

Submitted by Sue Mitchell (not verified) on Thu, 2006-02-02 13:54.

There has been much hoo-ha in the media of late about this bill to curtail free speech^W^W^W^outlaw "inciting religious hatred." If anything's going to cause religious hatred, it's using religion to outlaw free speech.

I am getting a little tired of walking around on eggshells in case someone cries, "Blasphemy! You've insulted (...insert name of god of choice...). I find this very offensive!"

Well, I find that whole attitude very offensive. I'm quite happy for people to believe in the god of their choice and to treat it with all due reverence. It's their god. But it isn't mine.

So, I figure it's time to start my own religion. If folks want me act like a follower of their faith, then they're going to have act like a follower of mine. Or I will take offence and accuse them of blasphemy and insulting my goddess.

Therefore, may I introduce:
...........................

The Church of the Ethereal Butterfly

Founded 2nd February, 2006
...........................

The Gospel according to Morpho, the first High Priestess.

1. i. In the beginning was the Aether, wherein dwelt the spirits, the butterflies. Papilia Regina, Great Queen of the Aether, kept watch over her charges as they lived in eternal happiness, consuming nectar and singing of their joy. And all was as it should be.

ii. But not all was well in the aether. The moth, Acherontios, grew jealous and so decided to create a territory of his own. First, he created a bubble of atmosphere, denser than the heavenly aether, and called it his.

iii. Papilia watched but did not intervene.

iv. Acherontios soon tired of his atmosphere and wanted something of more substance, so within his bubble of atmosphere, he created a sphere of water. Still he was unsatisfied for although he had dominion over his territory, yea, it was a dead world.

v. Therefore he created creatures to fly through the water as the butterflies fly through the aether. But they survived only a short while, and Acherontios was angry for his creatures did not live for ever as the butterfly spirits do.

vi. And Papilia continued to watch but did not interfere.

vii. Acherontios decided, in his divine wisdom, that weightier substance was required. Thus, in his impatient anger, he created a misshapen lump of clay and flung it into the waters. Some of the clay stood out above the water and Acherontios called it The Earth.

viii. Then Acherontios created beings to walk upon the land. But still, they did not survive for long.

ix. Papilia watched and took pity on the dying creatures. When death took them, she made their outer bodies to split and release the butterfly spirit within. The spirits flew up into the aether to join the others who dwelt there already, and there was great rejoicing.

x. But Acherontios raged against his Queen and against his destiny.

xi. So at last, Papilia was moved to act. She set upon his back a death's head and named him Atropos. Then she cast him from the aether to live upon the Earth with his creations.

xii. Yet she was not without mercy. When he loses his desire for power over others, then will he be welcomed back into the Aether.
.....................

to sue

Submitted by IslaamIsPerfect on Sat, 2006-02-04 13:24.

hey sue stop mocking God u lil minded wicked soul God is not something to be mocked at He is ur creator sustainer n provider , do u have a any brains in ur head??/ think abt the purpose of ur life n as to why u r here n wat will be ur end? don’t think of something that ur lil mind is never going to comprehend n stop humiliating urself
may Allah guide u , u por soul ameen