DADvocate

I just listened to this interview with religious scholar Reza Aslan at NPR. Basically, it is the "compassionate, understanding" piece of fluff you would expect. Aslan states the cartoons made his "blood boil" because he knew the cartoons were published to "provoke" Muslims.

Aslan doesn't seem to understand that editorial content is meant to be thought provoking. In the case of these cartoons, it is meant to point out the acts of violence and terrorism done in the name of Muhammad and Allah. Aslan suggests an approach of appeasement towards the Muslims. He suggests that we limit our freedoms of speech and the press in order that we don't offend Muslims.

Appeasement has always worked so well in the past. Just ask any European old enough to remember WWII.

A Child's Tale Started the Current Problems

I found this at Guardian Unlimited (UK).

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 antagonizing 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."
(My emphasis)

Yes, we should all walk in constant fear of Muslim fanatics. Expecting fanatical Muslims to conform to the behavioral norms of the Western societies they have voluntarily entered is unreasonable. We should appease the Muslims (or someone might get hurt).

More Here

(Hat tip to Instapundit
Please note that if you read this acticle you will find that there are some moderate Muslims speaking out against the fanatics.

The Danish press has also paid very little attention to the representatives of a group of 80 immigrants who have expressed their support of Jyllands-Posten. A statement by the group placed on the internet carries the caption "We must condemn Islamist threats against free speech." It goes on to accuse the Islamists of "viewing any criticism or any making fun of the Islamic religion as an affront and an insult to Muslims. In this way they want to prevent any human being from questioning the Islamic religion and its holy book and the prophet Muhammad. ... With the same argument Islamic regimes and other forces in the Middle Eastern and Arabic countries have killed thousands of people and issued fatwas against authors, journalists and artists."

But you will also find this:

Berner Moe claims that the death threats were only mentioned in a note in a Pakistani newspaper - which is untrue. The death threat and the price on the heads of the Danish cartoonists were reported over three columns on the front page of the Pakistani Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami's official newspaper, the Daily Jasarat, on 15 October. On the same day the information was disseminated by the paper's internet edition.

And we thought Pat Robertson was bad.

Instapundit also points out the courage of a Jordanian newspaper:

Meanwhile, a Jordanian gossip tabloid on defiantly published three of the cartoons that have triggered outrage in the Arab and Muslim world.



"Muslims of the world, be reasonable," said the editor-in-chief of the weekly independent newspaper Al-Shihan in an editorial alongside the cartoons, including the one showing the Muslim religion's founder wearing a bomb-shaped turban.

"What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony in Amman?" wrote Jihad Momani.

Indeed.

Summarizes the point of the cartoons quite well.

Instapundit reports that the editor that reproduced the cartoons has been fired and arrested. It is a different world.

Ref: muhammad cartoon