Why do Muslims whine so much?

Be careful what you wish for Denmark. A timid press does not serve its people well.

I though the cartoons were funny and appropriate to print. Unfortunatly, society and I have very different views as to what's they think is funny and appropriate. I think the following sums up the whole situation; If you don't like it, don't read it.

This e-mail was posted to Jylands-Posten earlier this week:

Various Islamic clerics demand your newspaper "show respect" for Islam; I observe that "respect" provided "on demand" is empty. If Allah is worthy of respect, he will not mind a little infidel humor. You know how it is with those infidels. If, on the other hand, respect for Allah must be compelled by believers threatening bombs, then perhaps these believers are a bit shaky in their own respect? No...?

I finally saw the cartoons in The Brussels Journal [I missed them in your newspaper, which I had not been in the habit of reading regularly - being seriously "Danish" challenged]. Rather mild stuff, by uncivilized American standards. Oops...!

God, in various disguises, appears regularly in American political cartoons [usually drawn in no way as artistically as your lovely cartoons]. Why, just the other day, in several cartoons, God was busy explaining that the American loony Pat Roberts did not speak for him [Citation explaining Dover case omitted here].

In America, without political cartoons to keep us from taking it all too seriously, we couldn't get from day-to-day. I do hope you continue helping all your readers, fidels and infidels, to make it from day-to-day without taking it all too seriously.

Anyway, Courage... A laugh is better than a prayer...
W

Squeaky wheel gets the grease!

the muslims need to advance to the modern age.christians have been subject to this kind of humor for years.how do they like it now.

After this, I think we need more cartoons of Islam, not less. If any religion was more in need of growing up, learning a bit of comon decency, its this one. Its followers claim to be ready to kill over their prophet. Enough is enough, Islam needs reformation. Now.

In the US, the government provided grant money to an artist (Maplethorpe) who put a crucifix in a bottle of urine. When people became offended, they were pretty much told by the press to shut-up. When Billy Joel sang about Catholic girls and people got upset, the press again pretty much told the people to shut-up. I somewhat agreed with the press; however, now the press pretty much says, "ohhh we must be sensitive". Has the Post published the cartoon. I can't even find it on Google images. Double standards you have set oh holy Washington Post.

It is ammazing to me that a people who kill so many people without question would scream so loud over others publishing a cartoon. Or that others would give a D@#$ They need to start working on taking care of their own and quit focusing on the Americans.

If I put a picture of your family and said "for sale",and publish this on the front page of a newspaper Would this not be also "freedom of speech"

to RTA: Muslims don't whine any more than Christians do when things that threaten their religion are published in newspapers.

Why not so long ago, Chrisitans were bemoaning the fact that retail clerks were saying 'happy holidays' to their customers rather than 'merry Christmas'. If that's not whining, I don't know what is....

the cover is off islam-the more you dig-the more intolerence you find

go to Al Jazeera's webiste and read the letters and comments on this mess. Its truly down the rabbit hole with opinions all the way to exactly 180 degrees from commonplace western ideas. The Muslim hypocracy on their side over thi sissue nearly equals our "advanced" views on whats permissable, as if we really think ALL peoples exist in our cultures and societies.

Ironically, the six US Joint Chiefs of Staff have also been upset by a cartoon this week (see Americablog.org).

As one extremist said to the other:

"Maybe we are not so different after all, you and I..."

The comments will do nothing but further the severance of ties between non-Arab and Arab peoples. As certain leaders should make themselves understand, you cannot force democracy or freedom of speech on people who are not ready to accept these things. Freedom of expression is a basic right, and so is spiritual freedom. We should figure out how to realize these two goals without quashing an entire people's ideology.

is it me , but why is it always muslims against some thing or other ? Print them everywhere !!

There is a difference between FREEDOM of Speech and respecting others faith and religions. Thats called social morals . By publishing the cartoon not only europe newpapers have disrespected other religion but also showed how immoral they are socially..

I wish Christians would show so much respect for Jesus, non-violently of course... More power to those Muslim's who have so much regard for their belief that they will protest in any peaceful manner. I wish we Christians would band together and stand up in front of society when Jesus is portrayed in a negative light but we turn away...

So the comic parodies the idea of violent Muslims, and then Muslim militants issue a violent threat against ALL citizens of Denmark and Norway? Maybe the comic was not such a parody...

The Muslims have no problem making cartoons about Jews, Christians, Americans or anyone for that matter.
It is only fair that Europeans are able to print cartoons about Mohammed.
Its this idea "DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO", the Muslims say.
If they can dish it out why can't they take it?

Maybe Muslims need to respect the free speech of nonMuslims?

For once we here in continental Europe are in the vanguard. Isn't it time that US and British media took up the challenge and showed a little pluck?

Considering cartoons published in Arab newspapers regarding Jews and Israel, this seems also to be a case of the chickens coming home to roost, and an object lesson in hypocrisy.

the cover is off islam-the more you dig-the more intolerence you find

I guess the Taliban blowing up a 3000 yr statue of the Buddha in Afganistan is OK. I guess the various recent incidents of muslims against christians in Iraq is OK. I guess muslims killing buddhists in Thailand is OK. I mean all the muslims'death threat to Danes and French nationals living in the middle east, who have nothing to do with the publication of the cartoon, is not reflective of what the cartoon is trying to say: the truth - Islam is a violent religion whose only 3 choices to non believers are conversion, enslavement, or death.

Who cares what muslims want. They care nothing of peoples freedoms. They only care about what they can take. Any attention to this story is too much.

christians, jews , muslims all should be treated with respect as well as other faiths .please live with understanding and transgres not boundaries to offend other people. a little knowledge is dangerous.being open minded is a good thing but knowingly being offensive is not.IF THERE IS PROOF BRING IT OUT IN THE OPEN.Do not hide behind ingnarance.peace to all

Ah I see Kashif.

So it is okay when someone from another religion is offended, to threaten to take the life of another? That is the problem with so many people from certain religions and especially from those of the extreme side of Muslim faith...they want to kill ANYONE that makes disparaging remarks. This kind of action needs to stop now; instead, people bow to the pressure and this kind of terrorism wins again. Disgusting.

So we have the Palestinians engaging in collective punishment. I thought they were opposed to that?

Funny...there's no outrage across the Muslim world when Osama bin Laden or one of that ilk paint Mohammed as a terrorist.

How is it blasphemy to caricature a man? I thought Islam's central tenet was "there's no God but Allah"? The prohibition against depicting the Prophet is to prevent idolatry. But the protesters act like the depiction isn't (and can't be) idolatrous enough.

Surely there are a lot of things to draw cartoons about other than some religious figure. Lets respect others religions and hopefully they will learn to respect yours.

Wow, imagine that. The French are composed of both the weak spined political correctness impaired and the strong opinionated defenders of freedom. Too bad you cannot fire the owner of a paper. I hope that editor is fielding plenty of job offers now.

Wow!!!! what a shock, Muslims cay say anything and do anything about everyone else but when it comes to them they act like little ladies. Oh my gosh you offended my. Maybe Christian do wine but they don't go and kill people for thay

Humor, in good taste, is by definition a good thing. But let's shift the paradigm a bit to re-think what exactly has taken place here:

If the cartoons' target of humor had been at the expense of racial differenes -- for instance, white humiliation of the blacks -- would there have been anywhere near as much of a call for supporting the "right" of the newspapers to have some jolly good fun?

A fundamental problem here is that whatever is "legal" is viewed as "moral"...a concept that clearly ignores the dangers of malevolent hate-mongering.

There is only one sin, and that is any selfish act that lacks for lovingkindness.

What were the newspapers' actions projecting? It certainly wasn't lovingkindess.

Legality does not equal morality, i.e., _the right thing to do_.

Hey if someone is immature enough to believe in a religion as moronic as islam how can you expect them to be mature enough to know what truth and reality even is. Let the morons believe in fairy tales, but when they carry out violence against innocent people, there is only one way to deal with a mad dog, you shoot it in the head and burn it.
Hey muslum morons wise up, grow up or die!

Whole lot of intellectual thought going on here, ayup. USA! USA!

In my opinion, and in the opinion of most common, decent muslim citizens, what makes these cartoons so offensive is the association ignorantly made between the Prophet and terrorism. How many times does it need to be said that ISLAM DOES NOT PROMOTE VIOLENCE. Those who claim to be killing on behalf of Islam and the Prophet ARE NOT PRACTISING ISLAM. They are NOT muslims. Ignorant people (like many of those who have posted above) need to stop categorizing all muslims as unstable, murderous savages. I think C's comment (posted above) is the most ignorant of the bunch: "Islam needs reformation. Now." I think uneducated illiterates like yourself need to reform your incorrect views. I don't know what kind of racist and hateful messages your parents raised you with, but you need to grow up and learn the facts before you start calling for reform. I agree that there are groups of supposed muslims who need to learn "decency" but this does not apply to true Islam and the majority of people who practice this religion peacefully and responsibly.

Sad, as it is, the declining morality and mess in the West.

By drawing Cartoons of our Beloved Prophet, they are simply, very simply, giving vent to their own inner Insequrity and the Fear of strong Islam.

Whenever a nation or a society or a populace is scared os something they simply give vent to their feelins by making fun of the People they are scared of.

This is all the truth about the cartoons. Lets just hope the Arabs STOP going to McDOnalds and Stuff Like that and show the West How much worth they are. What say, dwag?

The idea of freedom of speech is that you are free to say whatever you wish so long as it does not put anyone into immediate danger. These cartoons do not endanger anyone.

The muslim world needs to learn to express their distaste in a properly capitalistic way - if you don't like what a PRIVATE INSTITUTION says, DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR CURRENCY FOR THEIR PRODUCT OR SERVICE.

A boycott of these newspapers by the muslim world would adequately express their distaste for the subject matter. Why does it matter what some danish cartoonist thinks if you never actually read what he says? If the publication actually cares what the Islamic society thinks, they will self correct in order to sell more papers. Otherwise, leave it alone. Outwardly directed censorship is a crime, internal censorship by a private organization is its right as a private organization.

The majority should rule, if the majority of the readers don't mind the cartoons, it should be published. I encourage everyone here to spread the images of the cartoons, use it in your blogs, local newspapers, and etc.

I see. This happens, while they don't care that the Iranian president is calling the Holocaust a myth. Whoop-tee-do

Islam is sucking the world into the next world war. It is enfuriating that muslim extremists are bullying the world into submission. I don't blame the newspapers for firing their editors -- these radicals will stop at nothing to coerce the world into accepting their myopic principles. Was so anti-war but am very slowly changing my mind that everything and anything must be done to stop these vile people.

How one group of people can have such a hold over so much of world is beyond me. It seems a little ironic that when their god, or religious icon or whatever muhammed is gets depicted in a cartoon in a violent nature, that muslims put masks on, go to the local news headquarters and start shooting in the air as if that depiction of their prophet is inaccurate. If they want the world to stop seeing muslims as violent, then stop being violent. When christian groups become violent and start to hurt people, and start wars the church has learned to distance themselves from such actions and condemn the people that do it. The muslim people need to start cleansing their own flock and getting rid of any violent zealots, if they wish to stop their god being depicted in such ways.

People of faith of all ilk are too frequently easily offended.

Consider the Catholic League and its mouthpiece troll/president, William Donohue, who never misses an opportunity to take offense at some depiction of the pope or Virgin Mary and vent his righteous indignation all over Fox News, the NY Post and whoever else will listen to him.

Unlike many Muslims, though, Mr. Donohue and his supporters usually respond with words, not violence or mischief. Usually ;)

They Cry about a cartoon and still blow themself's UP!!!! You figure it!!!

Bleeding hearts are always the bleating out the same old tired crap.
Be nice, Be nice, Be nice, Be stupid.
If someone is so retarded that they will threaten to kill over cartoons they have decided not to be part of the human race. Therefore they are not to be treated as humans. If feral animals run loose and damage property or threaten people they are disposed of. Why do we have to put up with stupid retards that hide behind the name of a extinct god. If you can't handle reality do the world a favor and shoot yourself. Last time I checked we had no shortage of morons, we could do with a culling.

Beheadings of innocents draw no criticism, yet a mere cartoon draws threats of attacks against Europeans. It has become clear since 911, if not earlier, that the Muslim world faces a clear choice. Join the modern age or face eternal irrelevance. Thankfully, European countries are finally waking up to massive problems that have come from allowing millions of western / Christian hating muslims into their lands. I only hope that it is not too late...

Palestine should be courting favour with the west not screeching how they consider europeans open targets over a cartoon. The situation is out of control with these fanatics. The world does not need another insidious lot of fanatics to preach the way of God to it. They should watch the tapes their heroes make of sawing the head off a bound prisoner while screaming god is great. This must not be tolerated. israel has been telling us for years that these people cannot be reasoned with and now we see the truth in those statements. Cut the palestinians off and see how much their beloved muslim friends help them out.

Yes Islam does not promote violence but where is the outrage from the Islamic Community for the egregious behavior being carried out in the name of Islam?

I´d like to see the West boycot all arab oils and anyother products we may import from Islamic countries And cut off ALL AID how come they can insult Jews & Christians and other religons YET IF THE WEST DARES TO PRINT A CARTOON WE ARE IN THE WRONG.... Typical 2 faced Islam

The American press publications individually chose not to print images offensive to a religious group. I applaud them for their sensibility but will defend their right to print anything they feel like. Freedom to choose means freedom to be a jerk -- Thankfully none of our papers decided to offend.

Intellectual thoughts? Come on. It's visceral at this point. Can you blame us American non-intellectuals. Let's take all the philosophical talk about respect for other culture and harmony-with-all from this issue. What's left? The truth: Islam is not a tolerant religion. It oppresses women, supresses many rights that all western and pro western culture take for granted, and basically gives 3 choices for non believiers of Islam: Conversion, enslavement, or death. So no intellectual thoughts needed for this issue.

Where was the outrage from the Muslim community when 2000 innocent Americans were intentionally murdered by Muslim terrorists? Where is the outrage from their community when innocent people are beheaded for the world to see. Now they ARE ouraged about a cartoon. Give me a break! I'm glad to know what pushes their butttons and it's not human compassion or decency. Its time for their religion to leave the third century

A cartoon photo representing muhammad as a radical muslim innocent people killing machine. hmmm...sounds familiar. are these people upset because of a representation of their prophet? Or because their pride is hurt because of how the rest of the world views their crazy asses.

Yes Christians would whine, they would protest, they would write long letters to the editors, but I doubt they would make death threats.

A cartoon photo representing muhammad as a radical muslim innocent people killing machine. hmmm...sounds familiar. are these people upset because of a representation of their prophet? Or because their pride is hurt because of how the rest of the world views their crazy asses?

Funny how with all the freedom of press, there is not one image available from any US magazine. Hmmmm makes ya think or maybe it doesn't....

There is a clear thread of fear and lack of confidence in the bluster of the many anti-Islamic comments on this page.

When one is confident of being on the right, and sees someone clearly in the wrong and not thinking or acting well, the natural mature human response is one of compassion...not childish bluster.

No respectable U.S. newspaper would think of sponsoring a cartoon that clearly intended to humiliate another religion. So why do some think that it's OK to make fun of Islam?

The clear answer: a not inappropriate fear of being in the wrong on this. It certainly isn't coming from a place of confidence or being in the right.

"Freedom of expression means freedom to express one's views in ways that will not affect social harmony"

By this logic, citizens under the Third Reich did well not to express views that may have "affect[ed] social harmony?"

I have looked for the cartoons and can't find them, anywhere
! I really don't care to see them but I wonder how many people have really seen them. Is everyone reacting to what they "have heard" or seen?

The true face of Islam can be found on the nightly news. Any religion whose followers kill innocents at a wedding in Amman, Jordon, or in Bagdad killing journalists, or on 9/11 clearly have no civilized values.

Someone may need to depict Mohammed's viewe of hell where he only saw women and no men. What a joke this religion is!

Respect is what should be coupled with freedom. Freedom of speech or freedom in general stops when others freedom, dignity, religion, and culture starts
You can not publish pictures that offend anyone's religion, culture, or be a "stereo type". All Muslims or Christians are bad because one group is doing wrong. One group does not represent all.
Press should play a role in spreading peace not hatred. What westren press have done now is spread hate and made life diffecult for everyone.
Arab newspapers could publish actual events that can be shown as offensive, but they do not do that.

I think everyone is missing the point. Freedom of speech is fine, I'm all for it.. But it is completely against Islam to show pictures of The Prophet Mohammed, violent or otherwise. I'm an Atheist, but I can understand why people took offence to these cartoons.

The uproar around the publication of the Mohammed caricatures reveals in rather stark terms the extent to which certain basic tenents of Western liberalism clash with the ideology of Islam. Since the natural tendency of government is to restrict freedom, freedom depends for its very existence on the vigilance of citizens in exercising and defending it. It is therefore essential for those who advocate freedom to respond aggressively to challenges against it, whatever their origin. I therefore urge all readers of this notice to obtain and disseminate as widely as possible, either via the internet or print media, any and all of the Mohammed caricatures responsible for the present uproar. This will send a strong message to the advocates of theocracy that freedom-loving peoples will not be cowed by threats of violence.

It is time to get Mohummad and Islam down from the pedestal in which Muslims have placed them using their cooercive threats and terrorist means.

Singha

The people reprinting the cartoons wanted to provoke "radical Islam" in their own words.
Xtian Europe is sickly hypocrite ,imagine if the drawings were about Sharon blowing up arab kids.Maybe the same people calling for the freedom of the press would be crying foul over antisemitism.

now is the time to teach these dogs
a lesson they will not forget i call on all muslims to return to their homeland this
will show the world we are not to be trifled with

I suppose it boils down to this, that the Islamic doctrine is so weak that those who believe in it need to continue to be upset over such matters.

Perhaps if Muslims truly believed in their cause and faith, they would spend more time on educating others in the peaceful fashion they so often speak about rather than plotting violent attacks against the "offenders" of their faith.

I find Islam (and any other religion) a hypocrisy when they speak of peace out of one side of their mouth and yet advocate violence out of the other.

All Islam has shown the world is that it is a violent religion and has very little to do with peace. And once again, it continues to spew it's hatred unto the world over a few simple cartoons. What simpletons the Muslims are.

Ali Rashti

DrudgeReport has a picture of him with a bomb on his head. I guess this is the most offensive.

If Muslims are so peace-loving and kind to others. Where in the "whatever their version of the bad afterlife" is their outrage against the extremists. If there are SO many decent peace loving Muslims out there, why do we not hear a huge outcry from THEM every time some RAG HEAD TERRORIST SWINE kidnaps someone and murders them in the name of Muhamed or Allah? Muslims, fix your house, or SHUT UP!!!

Arab newspapers have show Sharon blowing up the world. Check out some of the cartoons on Al jazeera web site. You will be may be surprised. There is a lot of hate spreading there.

Has it ever occured to muslims that the cartoons are an expression of how the rest of us see them and their blood-thirsty religion? They have no respect for any body else's religion or life.

Islam is a sham, power brokers use false gods and prophets as tools to control an illiterate population that is taught from childhood to hate infidels. Fear, terror, force and brutality are used to make people kneel to the will of the current religious leader that is in power. They use exactly the same methods to control people that Al Capone and Hitler used. They fear modern schools and free thought, free speech, and a free press because it would expose them for the true cowards they are. They must be put out of business, with, or without, the help of the so called "peaceful muslims".

The Islamic Republic of IRAN plans on holding a conference to re-write the history of the Holocaust. Talk about an insult to a religion. Along the way they might behead some more hostages in the name of Islam. The truth hurts. A picture of their holy man with a bomb on his head is just what they deserve....and they should add a swastika for more effect.

I agree with Dave in NYC. In general you hear so much whining from people of faith - christian, muslim, catholic, it doesn't matter what you believe in, it's your right to believe and worship as you please but this world and espically the press is not here to be sensitive to any faith's feelings - the press is here to report and to give commentary on current events in writing and in art. Right now, the Free world has problems with certain factors of the islamic faith and vise versa. You don't ever hear the free world as a collective have problems with buddism and you don't see or hear of any monks killing in the name of the budda (not today anyway).

Unfortunately, Islam is at war with infidels so the cartoon reflects that conflict. It's an in your face commentary of how the rest of the world views the islamic groups period. You cannot fire an editor for feeling insulted, muslims who hate that they have bad PR with the rest of the world should think about reform and work on their image - govern yourself, keep your brothers and sisters in check stop the killings, get your ass a seat at the table with the big boys whether you like them or not and start talking instead of bombing and maybe the world will stop "picking" on you.

Albert Brooks has just finished a movie about humor in the Islamic world. Apparently he didn't wait long enough to find out THERE ISN'T ANY!
I am afraid that this uproar isn't going away soon. I don't want any more Muslim people coming to America.
I don't want to see anymore of their BS about being profiled, hated, etc. etc. etc. They are doing it to themselves. Stay out of the US and clean up your own countries and hide behind your burqas and your turbans.
A pox on all of you.

To those anonymous/irresponsible and lost souls calling for violence against Islam:

"...for they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."

Have faith, and focus on the good in life. The Will of God is constantly unfolding, and while it uplifts the good it does not bear well for those who follow the ways of death.

To all the muslim out there: Don't be a f*ck*ng hypocrites. Everydays, in the islamic media, jews are potrayed as animal, cannibalistic pigs, much more offensive then the 12 cartoons. Yet, I don't see any prominent muslim leader denounce such an act. I don't see any muslim shed any tear over the destruction of buddha statue in afghan, or suicide bombers killing innocent civilians (most of them happen to be muslim), or kidnap journalists, slitting people throat. So shut the hell up. Clean up your own house first before lecturing us on how to respect the muslim faith.

I agree that what islam needs is a reformation, like what occured against the catholic church in the 1500's. I know that islam is, "fundimentally" a religion of peace, yet where is the outrage from mainstream muslim's when violence is offered in protest to 'cartoons'. Yes, I'm sure they are offensive, but honestly would god approve of the behavior of those suggesting violence against folks for this? Would the prophet (praise be his name!) approve?? When Falwell shoots off his mouth, you usually hear condemnations from many main stream reverands etc. denouncing the idiocy, this denounciation from within is what is needed by Islam.

Here are some links to some funny holocaust cartoons. Is anyone offended?

****Removed due to offensive content******
edited on Feb, 2, 2006 2:10:41PM

THE FACT IS ,THAT THIS IS DISGUSTING THIS IS NOT MY OPINION.HOW WOULD THEY LIKE IT IF WE SAID THAT ABOUT THEIR GOD ,AT LEAST WE RESPECT EACH OTHERS CULTURE UNLIKE THEM.THE GERMANS , FRENCH DONE THE PUBLISHING BY PURPOSE THEY MADE THE TROUBLE START!!

THE FACT IS ,THAT THIS IS DISGUSTING THIS IS NOT MY OPINION.HOW WOULD THEY LIKE IT IF WE SAID THAT ABOUT THEIR GOD ,AT LEAST WE RESPECT EACH OTHERS CULTURE UNLIKE THEM.THE GERMANS , FRENCH DONE THE PUBLISHING BY PURPOSE THEY MADE THE TROUBLE START!!

THE FACT IS ,THAT THIS IS DISGUSTING THIS IS NOT MY OPINION.HOW WOULD THEY LIKE IT IF WE SAID THAT ABOUT THEIR GOD ,AT LEAST WE RESPECT EACH OTHERS CULTURE UNLIKE THEM.THE GERMANS , FRENCH DONE THE PUBLISHING BY PURPOSE THEY MADE THE TROUBLE START!!

Wow Americans are some of the most hateful people in the world. I can't believe some of the comments I'm reading. I see no difference in the hate between you and them.

Wow, quite a few racist and bigoted responses. Then you wonder what the fuss is about.

What if a European paper, rightly or wrongly, published a cartoon of Ariel Sharon as a warmongering, power-hungry, self-aggrandizing pig who got his just desserts? Would the ensuing controversy prompt other papers to re-publish it as a matter of free speech? Or would they instead condemn it as anti-semitic hate speech? And aren't German media and society in general prohibited by law from pro-Nazi, anti-Semitic expressions? Yet they are free to demonize the central figure of 1.2 billion people? What hypocrisy! It's not just a matter of free speech; racist caricatures help spread hatred, justify violence and have very real consequences, and should be condemned wherever they are found, not encouraged.

It is amazing that few cartoons created such a huge havoc in the Moslem world. Does n't this say how vulnurable their belief is?. The Western media has an obligation to educate moslems as in thier cultures any reading outside the support of Islam is a taboo.

It is called good manners, and respect for the feelings of other people when you refrain doing things that may be perfectly legal and a civil right but hurt peoples feelings.
A substantial majority of Christians, Muslims, and Jews are not violent and would not be involved in terrorists activities. A minority in all these religions have practiced ordinary and state terrorism. Anyone who thinks his religion, country. or region of the world is perfect and saintly is delusional.
Any social organization, including religion, is composed of human beings with a varity of weaknesses, and it is always a bad idea to associate the weaknesses of the minority with the group as a whole. Broad accusations of that kind are called prejudice.
I am not religious, but I will tell you that among the people I most admire, in the front rank, is Jesus and Mohammed. Read a little about these people, and I am sure you will join me in that admiration.

These sorts of reactions just continue to alienate the muslim population from everyone else. If they cant deal with other people doing their own things (not like invading their country, but saying what they want, drawing what they want), then they dont really fit into the world.

This is why were not going to be able to get along until theres a big change. Without tolerance for things you dont like, youre always a step away from a fight to the death.

Unfortunately this is only making me respect Muslims less. It is entirely hypocritical and it makes me sick. Why is this guy fired for this and not the parodies of Christ on the cross? Honestly it just makes me want to hate.

Why do "true muslims" always claim that Mohammed was peaceful. Read the true history:
Christians & Jewish martyrs say; "I will die for what I believe".
A Muslim martyr says; "you will die for what I believe"....
The Muslim Qur'an is unique among all the sacred writings in the entire world -- because it alone counsels its followers to make war on unbelievers. http://www.bibleprobe.com/muhammed.htm

Go look for a job instead of posting you unemployed losers.

Get over it Arab world. Prove us wrong if you dont like being depected as angry militant suicide bombers.

So, now the story goes from the publishing offenses of a Danish newspaper to Muslims rallying for "Death to Denmark...and France...and Germany..."

Welcome to the club, guys! You must be doing something right.

I'm offended by the entire Muslim Religion.

responding by telling muslims how they ought to be or how hypocritical they are is not the point. you're shirking responsibility by doing so.

Person A - you're bad.
Person B - well so are you

it's a cheap tactic.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1700653,00.html
this is the best thing i've read on the matter so far.

everything else has been huffing and puffing (and a lot of bigotry).

Hydrogen burning cars and a Constituional Admendment banishing all news about the Middle East would do it for me.

I'm an employed loser . . .

Hmm.. Americans are the most hateful people in the world? So everything that's been going on with all the Islamic terrorist groups: death threats, actual buddhist and christian killings, blowing up of sky scrappers, calls for jihads against all westerners, bombmings targeted intentionally at non-combatants - that's not hateful. The rantings here (More commonly referred to by us hateful americans as freedom of speech), now that's hateful, right?

Please, all these comments about 'muslims whining' etc. are ridiculous, anyone with a shred of intelligence can see that these cartoons were published for the sole purpose to upset the islamic community, and it has worked, but please do not defend these hatemongers with this blanket of 'freedom of expression' and hide the true reason: hatred of muslims. And what about the obvious double-standard of ridicule of Muslims and Jews??--On the one hand we have 'freedom of expression' and on the other we have anti-semitism.... why not label it all correctly and save everyone the time and admit that you and the rest of those who support these 'expressions' are intollerant of someone different and HATE them, period. Then again, that wouldn't be the Christian thing to do.

Those poor and mistreated Muslims. How dare the world mock them. Maybe the will someday wake up from the long sleep and join the 21st century. Boo-hoo!

Inferiority complex. And the inept attitude of our leaders - bending over to all request to the point that we can never say anything against any muslim, but they can chop off our heads, burn our flag, rape our girls etc - and we have to accept.

Times are changing ... I hope this is a wake-up call for everybody.

OK the misinformation have to stop.

There where 12 pictures.... 12

not 1 not 2 not 3 but 12

1 of the shows a row of terrosupspects muhammed being one but the right wing politician Pia Kjærsgaard being another.

Another pictures is just Muhammed with a Star as one eye and a halfmoon making up for is jaw and so one. Many of the other pictures are quite peacefull and humerous.

The Article was called something along the line of "The face(s) of Muhammed"

If muslims are offended, then start using the free press in the west to voice your oppinions. Lets have a debate about why we must not portray your god while no one had anything to say about the recent documantary the pictures Jews as canibals that ran in Syria or some other muslim country.

The drawings was not an attack on muslims it was part of an internal debate we have had in Denmark with regards to selfcensure.

The killing of Theo Van Gogh because of the movie he made and the fact that the woman that made the movie with him have gone underground. The publication of the illustrations was followed by a TV debate where muslims where also equally present to voice their opinions.

Danish Imams took these drawings to the Middle East and made this an international issue. They took besides the illustrations pictures with them that portrayed Muhammed with pignose and pigears and postulated that this was the kind of stuff that where being printed. This is simply a lie.

We just learned yesterday that one of the Imams have been speaking with two tounges to danish media saying how sorry he was that this had hurt danish interests and that danishe people are being threatened just to later to middle eastern TV say that he was happy that the the people had risen against denmark and that he was in support of the boycot.

Needless to say that the really guilty people in this was the Imams who act like the cathotlic priests used to, as if they where closer to their god that the rest of the devotees.

It is rather sad that at small group of Islamic fundamentalist have to destroy it for the rest of us. This have affected both moderate muslims which there are plenty of in Denmark and normal Danish people.

This means friends of mine and me both muslims and non muslims.

P.S. I am a non-religous person.

to "jay, h/n_j,kashif,dsmith, michaelleo,peacemaker,sk, muslim: what the...!!! Especially h/n_j, your comment about Christmas, not even close, how a comparison, i.e., Happy Haaj Day to "holiday season" greeting(?) Not even close H/N_J. The thing is the Muslim nation is ran by a fanatical few, while the majority are too scared to stand up and tell these "few" to go f--k themselves cause its making it hard on the rest of us peaceful muslim, so it appears they have no tolerance, no respect for others on this planet. Never have there been such a stupid ethnic group people. Its a nation of people stuck in the "terrible two's" stage of development. In the name of free speech, all publications adhering to this notion of "freedom of speech" should print these "offending" cartoons and any more thereafter. Any press that cowers, is giving these idiots "permission" to intimidate and coerce.

to "jay, h/n_j,kashif,dsmith, michaelleo,peacemaker,sk, muslim: what the...!!! Especially h/n_j, your comment about Christmas, not even close, how a comparison, i.e., Happy Haaj Day to "holiday season" greeting(?) Not even close H/N_J. The thing is the Muslim nation is ran by a fanatical few, while the majority are too scared to stand up and tell these "few" to go f--k themselves cause its making it hard on the rest of us peaceful muslim, so it appears they have no tolerance, no respect for others on this planet. Never have there been such a stupid ethnic group people. Its a nation of people stuck in the "terrible two's" stage of development. In the name of free speech, all publications adhering to this notion of "freedom of speech" should print these "offending" cartoons and any more thereafter. Any press that cowers, is giving these idiots "permission" to intimidate and coerce.

I would love to let the Muslims live a peaceful life. Unfortunately they don't want to reciprocate towards us. Stop with the Bush/oil/nazi triumvirate -- it's so fricking tired already. Quit blaming everybody BUT the Muslim extremeists. Somehow, they are good guys that just like to kick it in the desert. Yea right.

BTW how many women are allowed to go to school in fundamentalist countries?

Enough said.

Isn't it interesting that there is so little said from the moderate Muslin community. Maybe there are no moderates in that society. Maybe they have all been silenced. Aren't there any moderate Muslins brave enough to stand up to the radicals?

"The rantings here (More commonly referred to by us hateful americans as freedom of speech), now that's hateful, right?"

Don't equate the two. One may fall under the other, but they're not the same.

This is absolutely absurd. The fact that the western world even entertains the thought of surrendering to the religious dictates of SOMEONE ELSE'S RELIGION makes me ill. When I was a Catholic in the U.S., I didn't expect Jews in Israel and Muslims in Morocco to join my meat-free Fridays. The Jews don't expect the Buddhists in China to keep kosher. So why should anyone, anywhere, accept, for even a moment, the idea that Muslim religious dogma is universal law for non-Muslims living in secular states? The Arabs, like all people on Earth, have a number of legitimate complaints that should be heard by the global community. This, however, ain't one of them.

Jordanian independent tabloid al-Shihan reprinted three of the cartoons on Thursday, saying people should know what they were protesting about, AFP news agency reports.

"Muslims of the world be reasonable," wrote editor Jihad Momani.

"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?"

The article in al-Shihan also included a list of Danish products.

The fact that muslim "leaders" are already using this harmless cartoon as an excuse to propogate more terrorist acts against non-muslims shows how much the truth hurts. Too bad the editor got fired for expressing his truthful opinion. I wonder how many editors at Al Jazeera got fired for their hateful political cartoons about non-muslims? Answer: zero.

Muslim = terrorism. Violence. and Hate. It's simply a fact.

Yes, I am a moderate Muslim and find this whole thing much displeasurable. I think that...wait....WAIT...that's my neck your cutti #)(#$*)@&$)...

I understand that joke can be perceived as insulting, however, in west there are far more jokes which mock Jesus and church as institution, and in general, we do not see millions of people protesting over it.
I think that problem is more in the (lack of any) level of tolerance on Muslim side, than anything else. If the freedom of speech in a country gives you right to make cartoons about politicians, church, and etc. then you should be able to make jokes about the Profit as well. The fact that they are extra sensitive is their own problem. If their response to a joke are terrorist attacks, then someone should teach them more about humor, one way or another.

Muslims are just showing their true colors again. Islam wants to rule the world.

Can you say "Dar Al Islam"?

Can you say "Dhimmi"?

Can you say "Jizya"?

Wake up, Western world.

While I read:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1700653,00.html

I am confused as to in which way is Islam a religious minority?
Also I have seen the cartoons and believe them to be more about satire than about hate, and satire is protected as freedom of speech.

I think muslimes Beleave that they should make every one on earth muslem, and that is a homework that god gave them with a power of attoreny to act and do whatever it takes to achive that gool, and if you kill yourself as you killing the one don't turn muslem you get the first class seat in heaven(vip)ticket!
what a jok

Arab papers publish disgusting caricatures about Jews and the Jewish religion, of the like not seen since the Nazis... and yet are outraged over a few mild cartoons.

Anyone else notice a pattern here? The world is expected to kowtow to Muslim sensibilities, while excusing their every excess. It's about time Europe started standing up for itself.

Everyone needs to STOP judging others based on the country they're from or their religious beliefs. Muslims, Christians, Jews, doesn't matter what you are -- You can always be a good person and you all can get along.

It wasn't long ago that my country, America, enslaved people and could have cared less about woman's rights. Did Jesus say that was the right thing to do? No. These days, the Western world looks at the East and blames Islam for what's going on.

People, open your eyes!!!

Islam, like many "young" religions, has a death sentence for blasphemy and apostasy. Look it up. I am against theocracy in all of its forms because it removes the right to question unjust laws. Legislation of today may be the weapon of intolerant hate-crime or repression in general.

I don't like Israel's de-facto theocracy, the theocratic leanings of much of Europe, or the theocratic leanings of the current United States administration. And I certainly don't like the Hindu-nationalist or Islamic outright theocracys.

Remove the right to question, and all you have left is crimethink and a bleak future.

Ignorant Amerikkkans, all, y'all. Except for those who aren't. Bush has lower rating than any president in history. Love is stronger than hate. CEO's make over 500 times the amount of money than their workers. In the 70's it was 40 times. Continue with the facade, sheeple. Go back to work, watch your tv. "You're all f*cking peasants as far as I can see.." -J. Lennon

Anonymous, you need to open your eyes. have you ever studied Islam? Do you even know what Islam is all about? It DOES matter what you believe, because WHAT YOU BELIEVE determines WHAT YOU DO!!

The Koran mandates that muslims take over the world, by force if necessary. Ever heard of the little word "jihad"??

I think when the Muslim world starts acting like little spoiled children, then ana only then will the rest of the wrold treat them like humans.

I am a refromed Muslim. Which simply means, I grew up and have switch to Christianity after seeing all the death and destrcution Islam has caused my people and country.

It's amazing to see all these responses saying how wrong the muslims are.

Why can they not get so uptight about a cartoon when most americans get just as uptight about someone burning a piece of cloth, ie the flag......

I think i'll go burn one right now and make a cartoon about it....or maybe i'll just wear a t-shirt to bush's next speech so i can get arrested. You preach free speech but only follow it when it is to your advantage. Hypocrites.

It's understandable that people would take offense to negative caricatures of their faith or its symbols. Respect and sensitivity *should* be attributes of those people or societies that would consider themselves "civilized" or "tolerant", but people with clear opinions will always express them. Good or bad, this is a consequence of a free society, and as long as this kind of expression does not advocate violence against anyone, in the end, what's so harmful about it?

In any case, any reaction that says people who say or print things that are considered "offensive" should become the target of violence or even death is an overreaction of the grandest proportions. If we could kill everyone who ever made fun of us, even in the most disrespectful way, there wouldn't be many people left on the planet. I may not like what a person says about me or my beliefs, but I would simply consider such a person as ignorant or an idiot. I would be free to express my own views about that person, but it would not be okay for me to go out and try to kill the person.

Such a reaction is that of an extremist, no matter what that person's beliefs. (And as far as I know, it is not the teaching of any mainstream religion -- including Islam -- to kill other people.) As is always the case, those who wish to incite violence or inflict harm will use whatever they can, including religion, to legitimize their actions.

In the end, we all should keep two important lessons in mind: "Do unto others as you would have done to you" and "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me".

why cant we all just get along?

I meant muslim world STOPS acting like spoiled little children.

The Muslims who are offended are vocal extremists. Just like with Christianity, you have vocal extremists like Pat Robertson. With Christianity you have strange practices like handling snakes or drinking poison kool-aid. Many Christians beat their wives and keep them in submission (and an Islamic nation like Pakistan had a female prime minister. It will take decades before America has a non-WASP-male president. Kennedy was a Catholic, and it was quite controversial... And we all know what happened to him...) One has to wonder why Muslim nations have had female leaders, but America seems to give lip-service to freedom and equality, but we really just want a rich white male in the White House (Is that why it's really called the White House?)

You have to realize, these vocal Muslims are extremists, and don't represent the majority of Muslims, just as Pat Robertson does not represent the majority of Christians. I am not a Muslim, but I have known many in my life, and they're not the wife beating terrorists you would think.

What about the Christians who kill "abortion doctors" and bomb their clinics? Christians are not all the tolerant people you would think. I personally think Jesus was a socialist, but look at any Baptist, and they're completely in agreement with right wing social policy. Did Jesus end up selling the fish and wine he made at an extremely high profit margin?

As far as killing people, the war in Iraq has killed over 30,000 Iraqis. And Saddam Hussein is secular... He's not a devout Muslim at all, neither is his Baath party. He's a bad guy, don't get me wrong, but we seem to do a pretty good job of killing Iraqi's too. Maybe a better job than Saddam?

That said, the Danish cartoons are in poor taste, and cater to these off-base generalizations. I'm half Danish, and I have lived there, and I find their homogeneous culture a little confined. In fact, in some places in Denmark, it is not safe for a "person of color" to walk the streets at night, because you might get beat up. I was warned about this from relatives.

But they have the right to say this, and it just shows how close-minded they are. You want to make sure these biggoted generalizations come out, so at least we know who thinks this way. They probably haven't taken any time to meet the many Muslims who you see walking down the street in Copenhagen. Maybe they should.

I am making generalizations of Danes, and they're not all like that. But there has been a backlash against "foreigners" in that country because of their liberal immigration policies. Sometimes it's hard to believe this was the same small nation that put up such a fight against the Nazis.

Tom Toles is caught up in the Pentagon's cover up of the real war in Iraq. War is not pretty.

www.awitness.org

Muslems don't want to see the curve of there own nick:
they don't want to see there own sheikhs talk about christians and how unfaithfull they are or how jeasus is a laying guy and this is not the real one , but the real one will come one day as muslem to make sure everyone on earth is muslem and that day will be the end of the world
they talk about other religons all day long with alot wors language than just a cartoon, why they don't want to see that?

Umm, I_am_Canadian, the last time I checked, burning the American flag is considered protected free speech by law.

So, which flag are you going to burn? The Maple Leaf or the Stars and Stripes? I think when your butt gets in a jam, you'll be plenty happy to see those stars and stripes coming to defend your puny butt.

Chuck, are you really that out of touch that you think all muslims and islam preach "jihad"? This is just one small sect not the entire religion.

Every religion has a sect like this and some like chrisitianity have commited many attrocities in the world in the name of "god".....

It's my belief that a person gives himself away through his reactions. I could assume it's the same for a country or organization (seeing how they are run by people). So it would be safe to say that the Palestinians are really out to cause as many problems as possible. Usurpers usually rise in time of chaos. We also know it would be too dangerous to leave them alone. It's really starting look like we need to bring in some aggressive negotiations.

Surah 9:5: "Slay the infidel, wherever you may find them." This is the voice of a peaceful religion? A society that deserves our understanding and sympathy? Give me a break. WE ARE AT WAR. Every Muslim not only wants to, but is commanded to by the Koran, destroy each and every one of us, conservative or liberal.

IaC is right. It's scary to watch the US head in the same direction as the Islamic fundies they're fighting.

Freedom of speech is limited in all democracies. I cannot yell fire in a crowded theatre and say I did it because I am free to do so. The consequences of such speech would result in a harm to society. Publishing anti-muslim speech that clearly offends that audience is also harmful.
Most of the posted comments on this issue do not truly address the concept of free speech which is regulated by law. Rather, there seems to people who hate muslims and Islam and are using this incident to attack. Would it alright to express anti-semite and anti-jewish speech? How about racist bigotry or pro-Nazi ideology? I think not.

WE SHOULD RESPECT EACH OTHER MORE.
WE SHOULD MIND OUR OWN BUSNESS WHEN IT COMES TO MUSLIMS.
KNOW WUN IS TO THREATEN EACH OTHER OVER BABY COMENTS.
WE SHOULD BE MATURE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND OTHER PEOPLES BELIEFS AND CULTUERS.
ON THE AMERICAN NEWS ITS MOSTLY THE JEWUSH PEOPLE ORGANISING THE REPORTERS WORDS.
THEY ARE THE ONES STIRRING THINGS UP TO CAUSE VIOLENCE WITH 2 RELIGIONS THEY FIGHT WITH PALISTINE PEOPLE, THEY TREAT THEM WITH NO RESPECT THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR.
WE SHOULD ALL BE EQUAL ANDDONT THINK WE ARE BETER THAN OTHERS BECAUSE THAT ISTHE TRUTH (BUT REMEMBER ONLY GOD CAN JUGDE US)
WE WILL FIND OUT THE TRUTH ON JUDJMENT DAY.
WHO IS THE REAL GOD. WHO MADE US.
WHY IS THE WORLD FULL OF TOURTURE.
WHY ISNY GOD THERE WHEN WE MOSTLY NEED HIM.
WE ARE BEING TESTED. WE SHOULD NO BETTER. SO THE NEWS REPORTERS SHOULD NO BETTER TO NOT STIRR THINGS UP.
THEY NO DEEP DOWN THAT THEY ARE DOING SINS .IT IS UP TO GOD TO 4 GIVE THEM OR NOT.EVERY BODY JUST WAIT AND C.
WATCH THE WORLD GROW WITH PEACE AND WAR ??
WHICH IS BETTER .
WHAT DO YOU THINK.

The proof is now in the pudding: muslims *are* bomb wielding, aggressive and enraged people. Their totally intolerant and disproportionate response shows it pretty clearly, no? The Koran spelled it out clearly centuries ago. To all the naive westerners who have not bothered reading it yet, the Koran says: convert all infidels; if you cannot, destroy them. This has been going on for centuries. Today's agnostic Europe is now pretending that this order has magically disappeared and that one-way tolerance is a going to work to integrate. Unlike some other, the French have had the courage to stand up to the US's trying to bully them into another Vietnam. If there is a nation of true cowards out there, it's the giant bullying one that remotely sends bombs onto micro-powers that cannot retaliate.

To all the idiots,
Unless you have a clear understanding of
religion and history, you should keep your comments from seeping out of your ignorant mouth! Muslims do not parody Jesus, nor do they make cartoons about Moses. It's forbidden to them. Freedom of speech, should not be freedom to offend! unless you want to get punched in the mouth, thats the way we did it in the old days. We all know every religion has its fanatics, did you forget about the crusades? Timothy McVey? The KKK? The witch Hunts? etc... If some one insults you or something you stand for, you run the risk of getting hit in the mouth. So why stir up controversy? leave them alone.
Instead of calling people "Rag Heads", take a look at yourself you dumb hillbilly! and go to school!

PS - respect is not something to be given to anyone, Islam included. Respect is to be EARNED, and as of today, i have seen nothing that makes me want to respect the savages who kill innocent woman and children!

Charles fletcher,

Does this mean you don't respect the USA? Because they have probably killed more women and children than any other country, remember Hiroshima anyone? How about experiments on their own people?

What you fail to realize is that the government and the people are different. I hate George Bush and think he is the anti-christ but this does not mean i hate americans.....well except you :p

This is ridiculous. Here we have a religion that has absolutely no problem posting the beheadings of foreigners on its web sites, who think it is appropriate to kill women if they are not properly dressed, and they are angry over a CARTOON! I realize that not all Muslims aspire to this disgusting view of morality but I think it is time to stop pandering to those idiots that do. Death threats over a cartoon. Far more constructive would be to teach their children that there is no glory in being a suicide bomber and that murder and violence are the worse sins of all.

"A government official in the United Arab Emirates offered a very different definition of freedom of expression to the Khaleej Times. --- "Freedom of expression means freedom to express one's views in ways that will not affect social harmony,"

Boy does that sound like the old Soviets or what? Actually it sounds a lot like many authoritarian regimes.

I'm not in favor of Bush, his war in Iraq, the Iranians playing with uranium or the Palestinians plight, but I am very happy to see democracy and freedom for once being tried and discussed in the Middle East. A culture of authoritarianism, both in government and religion, will take centuries to evolve toward giving people their freedoms. I can only hope that we may be seeing the beginnings of an Islamic enlightenment.

Boo-hoo!

The equivalent of these cartoons against Christianity would be showing Jesus raping kids, since child molestation is apparently as common (probably more) in Christianity, even worse Catholic church, as suicide bombing in Islam. I would like to see the reaction to such cartoons.

Remember actions of a few radicals cannot be casted over all community or the leaders of it.

Why should we repect pIslam? The desert cult of the terrorist and pedophile Muhamhead (bucket of piss be upon her).

The porKoran calls for our conversion, death or dhimmitude (social slavery and paying a 50% tax to the mullahs).

Screw Islam, screw the morons that want the West to respect this trash!

To look at the images you can search on the google images and and search for "Muhammad cartoon". I have seen 'em and they are funny.

I am not talking about the actions of a few radicals. Osama bin Laden has almost universal approval in the Islamic world. Everyone in the Islamic world hates the American people.

Jeez who cares about a lousy cartoon? This disgusting buill is all manufactured outrage of the purest kind. Does anyone seriously think protesters from Palestine actually have *seen* any of those cartoons? So offended that they call for murder and assassination? Duh. Anyone who gives the nod to this kind of behaviour or claims to 'understand' it deserves nothing but contempt. And a good shellacking.

Makes me all wanna vote for the extreme right and get the nukes dusted off (anger leads to hate, eh) But I won't.

Consider that the 'Chick Tracts' cartoons have been there for ages ... and is there stuff to be offended about oh boy.

Islam is a racist,mind-numbing,oppressive religion that promotes bigotry, slavery, pedophilia (the beloved "prophet" consummated a marriage with a 9-year old!) And his followers choose to suppress their intellects, "submit" their wills and be totally irresponsibile for their own lives and behavior. Their so-called religious leaders hoard money, deny services to their citizens, then tell them to pray and that Allah will take care of them. What a brain-washing scam! Meanwhile, to cover-up cheating their own people, they tell them to blame the West for their troubles. "It's Israel, It's the USA" No! it's poor leadership, out-rite laziness, and fear of competing in a world market that fuels this desire to return to the "glorious" time of the 8th century. Wake-up muslims! Stop crying about a stupid cartoon and get your act together. Stop clouding the real issues - your countries are a mess, you don't co-operate and its your own fault. I as an American am sick of footing the bill for millions of people who refuse to seek and create gainful employment, who take our money that we've labored for in fair exchange for oil and rather than use it to better themselves, they waste it on terrorism. How arrogant, how ungrateful, how unpeaceful and THAT is what disrupts "Social Harmony" - Being upset over a cartoon is an excuse - quit using religion as an excuse for incompetence.

Yasemin wrote:
"The equivalent of these cartoons against Christianity would be showing Jesus raping kids [...] I would like to see the reaction to such cartoons."

Its happened many times already. The most memorable to me was the art exhibit "Piss Christ" by Andres Serrano in 1989. It was a cross with Christ on it in a jar of urine. Christians were, well, pissed. The conservatives in the US Congress were upset since it was done using money from a government grant. But no one threatened killings, kidnappings or other violence if I remember correctly.

The real test will be Friday, when Muslims go to the mosque and are told how to react. If it is a peaceful reaction then those defending Islam will be correct, the noise being generated is only by a few. But if it blows up and violence is the result, then Islam will prove what its detractors say, it is a violent religion.

Lets wait and see what Friday brings...

James stein you are a dumb@$$
apparently you are never read the Koran,
It never says anything like that! You should actually read before making such statments. If you don't know how to read,
there is always speak & spell or hooked on phonics. give them a try!

Yasemin, your point is excellent:

"Remember actions of a few radicals cannot be casted over all community or the leaders of it. "

And it cuts both ways. Can we, among the readers and contributers to this message board, agree on the following:
1) the actions of Muslim fundamentalists who advocate or perpetrate acts of terror do nothing but besmirch Islam
2) such actions should not be taken as a pretext for condemning all Muslims everywhere, or deriding their Prophet
3) when such blanket condemnation and derision does take place, as many believe occurred in Denmark, there is nonetheless absolutely no moral superiority attached to a reciprocal condemnation and death threats against innocent Danish nationals or other Europeans who are in no way involved in the publication of the offending material

If we can agree on these points, perhaps all the words written on this topic may actually advance some semblance of reasoned dialog, and therefore may not be entirely in vain.

""Any citizens of these countries, who are present in Gaza, will put themselves in danger," a Fatah-affiliated gunman said outside the EU Commission's office in Gaza, flanked by two masked men holding rifles.

If the European governments don't apologize by Thursday evening, "any visitor of these countries will be targeted," he said.

The furor over the drawings, which first ran in the Danish paper Jyllands-Posten in September, cuts to the question of which is more sacred in the Western world freedom of expression or respect for religious beliefs. The cartoons include an image of Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse. "

- Doesn't this just make the picture FACT. Can't blame them fo rpublishing the truth.

It's weird that is OK to fly planes into buildings, blow up trains, burn your wife and move million of muslims to europe then demand that europeans acoomodate them but it's not OK to print these publications. I hate to say it but at everyturn I get a bad impression about arabs and muslims. We are dealing with a backward, ignorant, violent and increasingly fanatical culture.

This religon started as a war, and formed and grew up as a war , then there it is today trying to take over the whole world as a war( self bomb war).
I think average american should read and educate themself about the relegon just to know how it was established by a preist that had an illegal son by having sex with a woman seeked him for help/
Preist name was buhaira, the son name is Muhamaed which they call that a prophit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a fine line between "freedom of expression" and out right "insulting". The Muslim world is one Europe's biggest markets, with annual sales in billions. Doesn't being a regular customer at a store earn you the right to be respected by that store? But we are not even asking for respect. We are simply asking you to simply not disrespect us. Is that too much to ask? Morality is what we ask for. Just like it is immoral to point at an overweight person, it is immoral to insult 30% of the World's population. No?

Hey, let's not be too harsh on the Muslims. You know, GW is good buddies with the Saudis. The Kuwatis too. So much so, we're spending trillions of dollars and killing our sons and daughters to keep regional security in this area, which is really their job. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are wealthy countries, and we bend over backward for them. So our official policy is that some Muslims are so fantastic, we're willing to bankrupt our nation and kill our citizens to provide them security (oh, and so we can have more OIL!)

Someone willing to kill other people just because they:
don't like their art,
don't like how they think,
don't like what they wrote,
don't appreciate their sense of humor,
don't like the other person's government.

Cartoons may be stupid, vulgar, obscene, or in poor taste; but they are pictures. Pictures are worth a 1000 words; too bad not everyone sees the same words when they look at them.

Look people blowing SH&$ up in the name of Islam==> Picture of Muhammad with hat-bomb. It's standard satire, sorry if you're offended but maybe you should be more offended by people killing in his name!

Cost of pipe bomb to blow up a bus in the name of Muhammad? $20
Cost of cartoons of Muhammad with bomb? $.50

Cost Muslims blowing up embassy because of cartoon? Priceless

no religion has been more ruinous than that of christianity. if you want to attack religion, start there. slavery, oppression, forced conversion, persecution, the holocaust, molestation, you name it.

islam and judaism are just catching up in the grand scheme of history.

nospyingonme: You might have a point if American papers did not carry the story, ignoring it altogether. They didn't. They have reported the story, they have just chosen not to run the cartoons.

On the whole, everyone needs to grow up. Boo hoo, the press was insensitive. The press is ALWAYS insensitive. I've written plenty of letters to the editor when I was offended by things I have read in newspapers. I did not call for the targeting of all civilians in the paper's country of origin. If someone cannot see logic in this, then he/she is simply beyond reason.

The extreme right exists in every religion. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus. All would take up violence to further their goals and would do so outright,in guise or by proxy.

If we could only put them all on one continent, call it Heaven, and let them sort themselves out.

religion: The history of all three religions you have mentioned are drenched in blood. You're just choosing to look at one over the others. The difference is that the recognized authorities of some religions have progressed over the years and have changed with the times. Holding grudges that go back hundreds or thousands of years is pointless, and more accurately, precisely the excuse that fanatics in some religions use to justify continued violence today.

Why the f*$k should US papers run the story? This is Europes mess, let them take care of it.

Solidarity my ass, you want provocation. All those calling for a printing without an attempt at dialogue are full of it.

It's not a black and white issue freedom of speech. You have a group of people who don't like the way they are constantly being depicted. Now some idiot is going to say well then they shouldn't do this and that, blah, blah blah.

Make a cartoon of arafat, of the saudis or whatever. But their prophet muhamad? Come on. This hits at the core of their religion. Protests have hit all across the muslim world. Not just the mideast and not just arabs. They quite efficiently used the power of a boycott.

On the other end, violence as a response is indeed ridiculous and stood up against but engaging them with a constant us and them attitude is just f'in stupid.

"religion: The history of all three religions you have mentioned are drenched in blood. You're just choosing to look at one over the others. The difference is that the recognized authorities of some religions have progressed over the years and have changed with the times. Holding grudges that go back hundreds or thousands of years is pointless, and more accurately, precisely the excuse that fanatics in some religions use to justify continued violence today."

your today is not that long ago in terms of history. you have survivors of holocausts and slavery for example. i suppose in your mind it's all in the past. keep living dangerously.

history: Um, which religion sanctioned the holocaust again??

As I've said here (http://mikeanddean.blogspot.com/2006/02/it-gets-better-re-arab-hysteria.html) and here (http://mikeanddean.blogspot.com/2006/02/thank-god-people-are-standing-up-to.html), people need to get a grip.

So now all Danes and Norwegians are legitimate targets because a private Danish paper said something fanatics don't like?