SuperCoolGuy
Critical Thinker
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2005
- Messages
- 480
I read this article and got so burned up that I drafted and sent them a response.
Link to article
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/247B538A-449B-47DF-BE4B-351AED0FDA6C.htm
My response below:
"I wonder how many Europeans, if asked on the street, would know who Guilbert of Nogent was or have read Chansons de Geste? In fact, I’d bet they’d need a history degree in “Oriental Studies” to have a clue.
Whatever sense of “self” Europe has, nationalistic pride seems more dominant. During the Crusades, a predominantly Christian Europe unified against a universal enemy, Islam. The Crusades gave Europeans an opportunity to stop fighting themselves long enough to fight someone else. In the end, they simply went back to fight themselves anyway. A couple of recent “World Wars” spring to mind.
The effort to form a European Union has emphasized the balance between economic pressures and nationalistic tendencies. If Europeans had such a strong sense of itself, the formation of the union would have been less problematic. Europe does not have a strong sense of self, nor does it need it.
I find it interesting that you characterize Denmark as “right-wing”. In fact, a liberal prime minister coupled with a liberal/social democratic dominated parliament would imply otherwise. How fair is it, then, to allow a minority right-wing newspaper to speak on behalf of an entire country?
By the number of Danish flag burnings around the world, I might fairly guess that Muslims have no trouble holding a majority to account for the actions of a minority. Does that mean it is okay for people to judge all Muslims by the actions of a few?
Whatever the motivations for Jyllands-Posten offensive caricatures, the result exemplifies the sheer lack of understanding many Muslims have regarding free speech. Why won’t the Danish government apologize for the cartoons? Because they don’t assert control over the media to the extent that many oppressive Muslims countries do. The government is not responsible for the views of its citizens. The citizens are responsible, and have the right to voice those views unhindered by their government. To even demand a government to take responsibility for a single newspaper shows the degree of ignorance in this concept called free speech.
But hey, this not about free speech. Apparently, this is about Europeans “grappling with its growing Muslim minorities.”
If the caricatures bring to mind “Israeli bulldozers demolishing Palestinian homes in Jenin, the invasion of Afghanistan, the fall of Baghdad, terrors of Abu Ghraib and humiliations of Guantanamo Bay” for Muslims, what do the numerous riots and European flag burnings symbolize to Danes? What comes to their mind? Are they allowed to think of the bombings in Madrid or London? Are they allowed to think about murders in the Netherlands or riots in France?
“In the past as in the present, religion, culture and the politics of fear are placed at the service of the great games of dominance and mastery.”
Ask honestly: Who uses religious differences, cultural differences, and fear to dominate its subjects – European nations or Muslim nations?
Which religion demands that non-adherents follow its rules? Who is dictating to foreign countries how they should enact their own laws in order to placate people’s feelings, using threats of violence as an incentive? Who uses cultural superiority and fear to isolate communities of immigrants in foreign countries? Who is demanding respect of religious beliefs without showing the same?
“The truth is that today racism, intolerance, xenophobia, and hatred of the other hide behind the sublime façade of free speech, the defence of “our” values and protection of “our” society from “foreign” aggression.”
If this applies to Europe, then substitute “free speech” with “respect for religions” and it then applies to Muslims much more comprehensively.
I can find racism in France. But can it compare to the racism in Sudan, between Arab and African Muslims?
I can find intolerance in the Netherlands. But can it compare to the intolerance in Afghanistan, where one can be killed for embracing another religion over Islam?
I can find xenophobia in England. But can it compare to the bombing of tourists in Indonesia?
I can find hatred in the Danish cartoons. But can it compare to the riots, deaths, burnings, and calls for violence that erupted in the aftermath by Muslims around the world?
Whatever respect Muslims might ask of its religion, we would do well to practice it first. To demand of others what we ourselves do not practice, is hypocrisy of the highest order.
While you, Ms. Ghannoushi, might believe that Europeans are using history as a foundation for Islamaphobia, I believe their own newspaper is making them fear adherents of Islam. But it is not the cartoon section they are looking at.
It’s the front page."
Link to article
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/247B538A-449B-47DF-BE4B-351AED0FDA6C.htm
My response below:
"I wonder how many Europeans, if asked on the street, would know who Guilbert of Nogent was or have read Chansons de Geste? In fact, I’d bet they’d need a history degree in “Oriental Studies” to have a clue.
Whatever sense of “self” Europe has, nationalistic pride seems more dominant. During the Crusades, a predominantly Christian Europe unified against a universal enemy, Islam. The Crusades gave Europeans an opportunity to stop fighting themselves long enough to fight someone else. In the end, they simply went back to fight themselves anyway. A couple of recent “World Wars” spring to mind.
The effort to form a European Union has emphasized the balance between economic pressures and nationalistic tendencies. If Europeans had such a strong sense of itself, the formation of the union would have been less problematic. Europe does not have a strong sense of self, nor does it need it.
I find it interesting that you characterize Denmark as “right-wing”. In fact, a liberal prime minister coupled with a liberal/social democratic dominated parliament would imply otherwise. How fair is it, then, to allow a minority right-wing newspaper to speak on behalf of an entire country?
By the number of Danish flag burnings around the world, I might fairly guess that Muslims have no trouble holding a majority to account for the actions of a minority. Does that mean it is okay for people to judge all Muslims by the actions of a few?
Whatever the motivations for Jyllands-Posten offensive caricatures, the result exemplifies the sheer lack of understanding many Muslims have regarding free speech. Why won’t the Danish government apologize for the cartoons? Because they don’t assert control over the media to the extent that many oppressive Muslims countries do. The government is not responsible for the views of its citizens. The citizens are responsible, and have the right to voice those views unhindered by their government. To even demand a government to take responsibility for a single newspaper shows the degree of ignorance in this concept called free speech.
But hey, this not about free speech. Apparently, this is about Europeans “grappling with its growing Muslim minorities.”
If the caricatures bring to mind “Israeli bulldozers demolishing Palestinian homes in Jenin, the invasion of Afghanistan, the fall of Baghdad, terrors of Abu Ghraib and humiliations of Guantanamo Bay” for Muslims, what do the numerous riots and European flag burnings symbolize to Danes? What comes to their mind? Are they allowed to think of the bombings in Madrid or London? Are they allowed to think about murders in the Netherlands or riots in France?
“In the past as in the present, religion, culture and the politics of fear are placed at the service of the great games of dominance and mastery.”
Ask honestly: Who uses religious differences, cultural differences, and fear to dominate its subjects – European nations or Muslim nations?
Which religion demands that non-adherents follow its rules? Who is dictating to foreign countries how they should enact their own laws in order to placate people’s feelings, using threats of violence as an incentive? Who uses cultural superiority and fear to isolate communities of immigrants in foreign countries? Who is demanding respect of religious beliefs without showing the same?
“The truth is that today racism, intolerance, xenophobia, and hatred of the other hide behind the sublime façade of free speech, the defence of “our” values and protection of “our” society from “foreign” aggression.”
If this applies to Europe, then substitute “free speech” with “respect for religions” and it then applies to Muslims much more comprehensively.
I can find racism in France. But can it compare to the racism in Sudan, between Arab and African Muslims?
I can find intolerance in the Netherlands. But can it compare to the intolerance in Afghanistan, where one can be killed for embracing another religion over Islam?
I can find xenophobia in England. But can it compare to the bombing of tourists in Indonesia?
I can find hatred in the Danish cartoons. But can it compare to the riots, deaths, burnings, and calls for violence that erupted in the aftermath by Muslims around the world?
Whatever respect Muslims might ask of its religion, we would do well to practice it first. To demand of others what we ourselves do not practice, is hypocrisy of the highest order.
While you, Ms. Ghannoushi, might believe that Europeans are using history as a foundation for Islamaphobia, I believe their own newspaper is making them fear adherents of Islam. But it is not the cartoon section they are looking at.
It’s the front page."
