European’s Fear of Fundies Proves Justified
The recent publication of ‘blasphemous’ cartoons in the European Press has highlighted the differences in the concepts of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press between Europe and the US. Sure, if those same cartoons had been published here there would have been controversy, but I seriously doubt that would have evolved into burning down embassies and murder. Naive, perhaps. The various comments further highlight the division between the US and Europe. For example the Pope said that “Freedom of Speech does not imply the freedom to offend.” Well, of course it does. In fact, I would say that the freedom to offend is the most essential and important portion of the whole Freedom of Speech thing. There have, as far a s I know, been no bombing, burning, or murders in response to the The Arab European League’s publication of cartoons offensive to christians and jews (the current cartoon makes fun of the 6 million people killed in the Nazi concentration camps). Click the picture for a link to all 12 of the cartoons that have led to so much death and destruction at the hands of the intolerant and fundamentalist arm of the Muslim faith. Although, really, since none of the cartoons are funny, it’s kind of a waste of time. Of course the protest is not that the cartoons are not funny, but rather that they dare to portray Mohammed. Period. For the record, the idea for the cartoons came about because an author, Kåre Bluitgen, unable to find anyone willing to illustrate his children’s book about Mohammed; or those who would would only work anonymously.