Real Politiks

Fueled mostly by jealousy and a desire to have our own cartoons spark riots, cancel international summits, and disrupt peace talks; we have decided to talk about the Danish Cartoon Scandal. Shameless? Sure, but we need attention too.

Politiken, the left leaning Danish newspaper, reprinted the controversial Danish cartoons created by Kurt Westergaard in 2005 after a plot to assassinate the cartoonist was uncovered by Danish Police on February 12, 2008. The original response by the Muslim members of our planet resulted in the death of more than 50 people, and not to disappoint the media, the response this time around is just as exciting. Continuing with a sixth straight day of riots in Denmark; rioters, described as members of the immigrant neighborhoods under the age of 18, are thought to be protesting police harassment and were only fueled by the re-release of the cartoons.

Going on a Middle Eastern tour, the cartoons have made a huge impact. Pakistani government officials have summoned a Danish envoy to lodge “strong protest” over the cartoons. Iranian lawmakers have condemned the entire country of Denmark over the cartoons. Senior Iraqi officials warn that cartoons could fuel extremism. Meanwhile, Egypt has banned four foreign newspapers over the republication of the cartoons.

Following all of this, I can’t help but wonder at the uproar. I can’t help but think that Muslims are a touch over sensitive here. Hand wringing liberals eager to appease the over sensitive have also joined the chorus of those condemning the re-printing of the cartoons. I am not one of them.

For my part, I think we should publish the cartoons every year – maybe twice a year – until it is so common an occurrence that riots just don’t happen anymore. Why am I an insensitive bastard towards other cultures? The answer is that I have thought about the issue and I just can’t find a western cultural analogue to this problem. There is no drawing that will result in riots here, at least none that will piss me off and thus be worthy of note. In fact, draw me lots of terrible iconoclastic cartoon attacks on western culture. Chances are that I already agree.

I cannot support censorship here. It’s too stupid.