Danish Cartoons: "Worthless Democracy"?

Via Fjordman:

Daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten [in Denmark] is facing accusations that it deliberately provoked and insulted Muslims by publishing twelve cartoons featuring the prophet Mohammed. The newspaper urged cartoonists to send in drawings of the prophet, after an author complained that nobody dared to illustrate his book on Mohammed. The author claimed that illustrators feared that extremist Muslims would find it sacrilegious to break the Islamic ban on depicting Mohammed. Twelve illustrators heeded the newspaper's call, and sent in cartoons of the prophet, which were published in the newspaper one week ago.

But not all 12 cartoons were critical of the prophet. This one stood out for its defense of Islam:

[Artist Lars Refn's] cartoon did not feature the prophet Mohammed, but a normal Danish schoolboy Mohammed, who had written a Persian text on his schoolroom's blackboard. 'On the blackboard it says in Persian with Arabic letters that 'Jyllands-Posten's journalists are a bunch of reactionary provocateurs',' Refn said.

It wasn't enough to satisfy the local Islamists, whose faith is so un-robust that it must apparently be protected from "offensive" pictures like the one at the top of this post.

"This type of democracy is worthless for Muslims," Imam Raed Hlayhel wrote in a statement. "Muslims will never accept this kind of humiliation."

Hmm. Or else...what? More fatwas? More Mohammed Bouyeris?

Meanwhile, an apology from the imam himself, for seeming to condone sexual violence against Danish girls and women, still isn't forthcoming.

One year ago, [Hlayhel] became the target of criticism from Muslims and non-Muslims alike, when he said in a sermon during Friday prayer that Danish women's behaviour and dress invited rape.

More indignation over so-called anti-religious cartoons here.

Comments

[LeeFranke]

"This type of democracy is worthless for Muslims."

That is the beauty of democracy. Those Muslims that do not like this type of democracy are free to try and change it and free to leave if it is not worth their effort and they are so offended.

[Phil]

Fanatic Muslims are not much different from fanatic christians.

[John palubiski]

"Fanatic Muslims are not much different from fanatic christians".

Oh yes they are!

The subject of homosexuality can perhaps serve as a litmus test.

In Christianity the "sin" of homosexuality is condemend, but not the "sinner".

In Islam you're strung up from a lamp-post.

Islam is vastly different when it comes to women's rights, as well.

A girdle for thee, but not for he!

[N Habash]

>> "Fanatic Muslims are not much different from fanatic christians".

>>Oh yes they are!

[snip]

These are unfair comparisons between different parts of two irrational systems of thought. Most of the west's current attitude towards women and gays is the result of secularism and rationality NOT christianity. Indeed christian thought is the most backward aspect of the west: e.g. gay marriage in the US, the US war on Iraq etc.

And by the way, gays are not lynched in Islamic law. If such a thing happens (and I am sure it does) it has to do with stupid people. A comparison would be to consider all lynchings done against blacks in the US 'christian'. Clearly this is nonsense.

[ARABIAN KNIGHT]

WATCH OUT.....WAIT AND WATCH.....

REGARDS
ARABIAN KNIGHT

[ARABIAN KNIGHT]

WATCH OUT.....WAIT AND WATCH.....

REGARDS
ARABIAN KNIGHT

[Mikhael Enemark]

It seems to me that muslims in many parts of the world need someone or something to constantly make them feel persecuted. It is for this reason that they justify terrorism. It is sick and for me a Dane growing up in a Muslim country, it touches a nerve. Because someone attacks their religion with words and cartoons, they will resort to barbaric acts of terrorism as revenge. It is just a waiting game. I have never encountered a religion as a whole with more hate before.

What do you mean by
WATCH OUT.....WAIT AND WATCH.....

[Shoba Mirshahi]

How is it that a muslim can show a hostage killing on TV and yet we have to apologise for a cartoon??

[Arab-Syrian]

The muslim world is in a up roar because of cartoons?
Wtf? isn't there more important things at task? How about giving women some rights?

No, they rather burn flags and scream till their lungs collapse.

Arab-Christian

[Mujahid al Allah]

What a group of backwards people. WHen is the world gonna stand up and eliminate those Kuran thumping Muslims.

[brittle]

whatever happen to compasion, forgiveness, Rationallity for Mohammad's sake. like they don't have a better reason to hate the west
Cartoons!?how about bombs, how about mass evacuation, how about economic sanctions that have made some arab countries some of the poorest anywhere in the world. Lets get it straight, those masses get lied to just as much as our masses do. Except they offer less distractions and do it less politely. The rich people in those countries(and ours) are the ones fucking over the poor! they don't need a rigged election to tell you who the leader is, the've known for a long time. We on the other hand dance through this merry old distraction called democracy and support our leader because we think we had something to do with him being their. We really do know we had nothing to do with it, but succeed tremendously in implying the opposite,so I think that in part, we can get on with our lives. And I think that's what I was getting at, GET ON WITH YOUR LIVES! It's a Cartoon. I'm not a Christian,Jew,muslim,Hindu,buddist,shito,etc.. I'm no religion and making fun of god is funny to me, just like all organized religion is funny to me. I don't a book to tell me not to steal, to murder to be hateful. I know in my heart and my head not to do those things. Religions are barbaric supremises used to control the masses, to scare them. Used like propaganda to the unwitty. It was created in a time where most natural things could not be expained any other way. Now they can. GET ON WITH YOUR LIVES........you might not have as much time as you think.

[Adam W.]

"In Christianity the 'sin' of homosexuality is condemend, but not the 'sinner'.

BS! Ever here of, among other nutcases, Fred Phelps?

[Kathy]

The religion of islam is nothing more than people who defend their hateful and murderous ways. They are people who cannot achieve success in life, so they hate those that do. I saw the pictures of them in Europe holding signs stating "butcher", "slaughter", and the most digusting, "Europe take some lessons from 911". Those that follow islam, not as a peaceful religion, but as an excuse to murder innocent people, deserve death! America and the rest of the world.....WAKE UP!!!

[amna1]

you say islam is full of hate..have you read your own comments? you sound like you hate and that too for all the wrong reasons.islam doesnot teach violence.yes whatever "some" muslims did was wrong.does anyone remember hitler? he wasnt a muslim..how do you feel sharing the same faith as hitler? what about the atrocities committed in bosnia and palestine,afghanistan,iraq?? all these r muslim countries...and who is attacking them...mr bush...and who is he?? oh yeah right he is not "muslim"!! oh but thats ok because he wanted to save america from the weapons of mass destruction!!! or was he?? oh no he wasnt greedy for oil!! was he? so please before u make comments like that "muslims are this and that" all muslims r not like that..just a bunch of retarded people gone psycho..doesnt sum up the whole muslim world.muslims everywhere r paying the price of what the taliban did..who r by the way looney...innocent "muslims" are dying too...and after this the muslims everywhere feel insecure so yes it does hurt our emotions when people make fun of our religion..religion is a very sensitive issue.any religion.we should respect all the religions to live in peace..we all have to live in this world..so attacking islam wont solve any issues!

"you say islam is full of hate..have you read your own comments?"

To amna1
All though I don't personally know Kathy, I am sure that her hate of Muslims is a cause of the current circumstances surrounding Islam and the rest of the world. She wouldn't be hating them if they did not hold banners stating "butcher", "slaughter", and the most digusting, "Europe take some lessons from 911"

Understand that Hitler and Bush have not attacked countries in the name of religion which is what we are arguing here about Islam. All attacks by Muslims have been made in the name of Islam. Bush attacked Afghanistan and Iraq for economic and political reasons, not for religous ones. Hitler attacked the entirety of Europe in the name of a superior Aryan Race, it had nothing do to with religion. If it was, why did he ally with Japan?

If muslims are such peaceful people, why is it that in the world today, the most bloodshed is in the Middle East? If muslims respect all religions, why is it that in every single Muslim country, Non-Muslims are treated as Second Class Citizens? and women treated like dirt in varying degrees, I must admit

I was born in Malaysia, which is a moderate Muslim country, please tell me why the head of Mother Mary had to be chopped of the tallest Church because it was taller than the State Mosque.

[UK Muslim]

To All of you. The problem we have now is that our Christian brethrens are too relaxed on religion. They'll follow just portions of the bible which makes them comfortable to live in this so called democratic society. Most Church's are empty here in the UK. Christians have lost the decency and respect for other peoples religions. We live in a piss taking society. Ever since the Church and State were seperated people have given up those heavenly laws set by God. That's why the western world is becoming a mess with the growing number of teenage pregancies, alcoholic related crimes, rape, roberries, murder etc etc. Keep to your ways, just remember what happend to the people of the prophet Lot. Satan has already led you all astray. Answer this: would Jesus (peace be upon him) permit such freedom to the extent that you create blasphemy to other peoples relgions - NO. Would he allow teenage girls to get pregnant before marriage - NO. Would he allow partying all night and boozing until you lose your senses - NO. You live in sin for a while until you decide it's the right time for marriage. Most of you don't marry at all. When it's over, you move on to the next partner, most times leaving children behind. Your society is heading for doom at this rate. Look at other religions in Asia such as Hindu in India, they also don't approve of sex before marriage and that women should dress up decently. I'll continue after I get some feed back. By the way, there's no offence to anyone here, I'm speaking truth....and the truth always hurts !! Most of you with some fear of God should understand where I'm coming from.

[mohammed is a child rapist]

fuck islam you daft monkey bastards.
the heads of those in your families should be rolling around on the streets as footballs.now fuck off

[Casey]

I keep on coming back to this: Freedom is defending someone else's right to say at the top of their lungs what you would spend the rest of your life opposing at the top of yours (I'm sure that was from an episode of the West Wing). Whatever their ideology, people that resort to violence in response to someone else's expression are weak. Freedom requires strenth, and it is only granted to those determined and strong enough to first take it and then live with the fact that others are also free.

What troubles me is that if I were to guess, the cartoonists themselves would absolutely uphold the rights of those that were angered to protest and yell and scream, but I wonder if that same right to expression will be extended to the cartoonists? I worry that they and their families are no longer safe, and that troubles me.

I am not Muslim and do not know what that experience is like, but if I were guessing, the vast majority of Muslims that were deeply angered by the cartoons would be content to express that anger in a way that would not physically endanger anyone. The 99% of peacefully-inclined Muslims needs to somehow reign in or create some sort of consequence for that 1% that would take it beyond protest to violence. It is a Muslim problem more than it is even a Western problem, and it is not the cartoons that make Muslim people look bad, it is the violence of the few.

But what do I know.

[Mikhael Enemark]

"The 99% of peacefully-inclined Muslims needs to somehow reign in or create some sort of consequence for that 1% that would take it beyond protest to violence."

I would tend to disagree on that point. The violence seems to be happening everywhere around the Muslim world. Surely the fanatics represent a much larger percentage than what was previously thought.

You musn't fall into the trap of thinking that there are Muslims around the world think in the same way that we do in the civilised world. There are many differences we have to take into consideration.

Do you want to know the main difference between Christianity and Islam. The Bible is open to interpretation whereas the Koran isn't. Why do you think there are so many different sects within Christianity but only two under Islam? This inability to interpret the Koran has led most Muslims around the world to actually believe that they will get virgins when they reach heaven. That they will get a place in heaven by killing the infidel.

We must not allow them to criticise our ways of thought and force us to change for them. Afterall, we do live in a more developed society than many of them will ever dream of doing so obviously, we are doing something right. Who are they to threaten us with death? Our religions have beena round, if anything longer than their's. Our religions are more peaceful than theirs. The largest charities are Christian Organisations. The Largest charity is the Catholic Church!!!

They are such a low and messed-up religion which needs to understand the evil in their ways. They seem to be the only religion that wants to attack people for not believing in their ideas.
It is Sick!!!
Does Modern Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, SHintoism, Taoisn do this? They are as usual the odd one out.

[Profaner]

Yeah, I'm not buying the 1% peaceful story either.

[Profaner]

Oops, I meant to say 99% peaceful story. Heard it- not really seeing it.

[Mikhael Enemark]

If it was one percent, I am sure their respective governments would be able to control it.
Burning embassies? How low can they get?
I have come to that stage where they have no respect for the lives of the rest of the world that for me I show the same respect for them.
That boat which sank in Egypt, I felt absolutely nothing, no sadness or no pity for loved ones that were lost. It was just a plain feeling.

[Profaner]

But when you think about it- we're not peaceful either. The Euros, Americans, Aussies, Kiwis and sometimes the Canooks are some of the baddest sons of bitches there are. That's why the muslims would be well to take into account who they are picking a fight with. Westerlies will put up with alot of crap- but then after a while- you piss them off enough- Talk about your Jihad! It makes the Musliims and their Fatwahs look like childs' play. Whew! Check out your Western history books- it ain't pretty. I'm just saying... This isn't a game. It may seem like one to Iran and Syria and the rest of Islam right now. See how far we can push- but it's not good to push the Westerlies too far. History has shown what happens when you piss off the West too much. They seem like they don't have a limit- but they do. And it's never pretty. Those monkey tough guys with face masks talking tough now- not so tough later. check out history. As they say in Islam----it is written.

[Profaner]

I felt bad for the Hajjis on that boat. I don't want the dead- I want them to cut the crap- stop doing sabatoge and holding up progress in thier own country and Europe.

[Carolina Scott]

I tell you that it seems like we are heading for a religous war. You have the coolest people in the world, the Danes, taking this kind of heat? They are some of the best people in the world. Industrious, peaceful and good. It just goes to show you that the militant muslims only understand one thing, a 2x4 board upside the head.
We need to understand that some people just don't get it and never will. We live in free, civilized societies. These Muslim wackos live in oppressed, uneducated, nervous slums; with generation upon generation preaching hate. How can we understand each other? You have these cultured PhDs trying to reason with nuts. Figure it out folks, you don't reason with hell-bent jerks. We all don't live in civil locations, with good schools and law abiding people. We have seen 911 and we will do all we can from letting it happen again. Hit hard, always from now on. Peace through Strength. They will only calm down with they see a big gun or maybe the fear of an unseen Preditor with a Hellfire missile on it. Maybe they will calm down when some buildings vaporize. Star Wars sounds like a good idea after all.

[Mikhael Enemark]

Yeah look, I am not doubting that about the West, but that is in the past. Something that is unchangeable. We are talking about the now.

If we look at it at a religous stand point, You will never find wars fought in the name of Christianity or Hinduism or Buddhism now anywhere. Not even the fanatics would do that, because in Christianity, it is about compassion for others. While I may be being a bit hypocritical here, I respect those who respect me. Simple as that.

I agree with you on the entirety of your argument about the west, and you are right, there will be war but because of our military and political prowess, we will win, also not because we will fight as Christians but because there will be the inclusion of many other faiths who are feeling threatened at the current state of Islam; India, Japan, South Korea perhaps???

It is already happening now; Afghanistan, Iraq and next; Iran I guess? This is all guesswork though. I can't fortell the future

[Profaner]

Remember when that museum had Jesus with poo poo on him? Or there was one with Jesus that had pee- pee? It was horrendous. Way worse than these cartoons. It really made alot of people mad- even non Christians. But there was no museum burning. No going wild.No acting like a jack ass with a gun. Alot of bitching- Oh sure. But nothing violent and frightening. And in the end everyone agreed in the principle that those artists had the right to make those profane art peices and the museum had the right to show them. Even people who hated the art- lived by the concept. A concept that millions have died for, by the way. It wasn't pretty. But it was right.
This concept is foreign to muslims. They aren't getting it yet- even when they come to Western societies. They come from lousy situations in their home countries. Yet they don't understand ths one thing. If the sitution was so crappy in your homeland that you have to emmigrate to Europe- why on Earth would you want to try to turn Europe into as lousy a place as the one you just came from?

[Anonymous]

It is regrettable that so many people(s) in this world feel that their beliefs are paramount over others. In the case of the Danes, it may have been insulting to have cast a poor light on the Prophet of Islam, but they are not followers of that religion and, thusly, do not fall under its jurisdiction any more than a German commiting a crime in Italy falls under the juridiction of the Bolivian justice system.

People unfortunately dehumanize other cultures and peoples with jokes and comments at one end of the spectrum, violence and destruction at the other. Either way, it is a form of hatred that an adult human being with a speck of compassion should be ashamed of commiting.

The question that must be asked of any religious person who is decrying some afront to their belief system is this: Is your religion so fragile that a word or an image or even a negative action will cause it damage?

Personally, anyone in this world is hereby authorized to say or draw or do anything they want about my beliefs. They will still be intact when you have finished, so knock yourself out.

Sticks and stones, people.

Besides, if you're not a Dane or a Muslim, what's the big deal? Let the babies duke it out.

[Mujahid al Allah]

TO THOSE MUSLIMS WHO CHOOSE TO DEFEND THAT

PAPER TOILET OF A BOOK THEY CALL THE KURAN

I SAY----YOU NEED A REFORMATION----

RETHINK YOUR PURPOSE---MUHAMMED IS A FALSE

PROFFET-----THE KURAN IS FALSE-----AND WILL

SOMEBODY MAKE A PORK RIB ROAST FOR THESE

BROWN BASTARDS SOO THEY CAN STOP BELLY

AICHING.....

[Mujahid al Allah]

Bunch of LUND sucking CHUTIAHS

STOP BLOWING UP BUILDINGS-----

BLOW UP YOUR OWN DIRT HUTS

DIDN'T allah SAY SOMETHING ABOUT NOT BEING

JEALOUS OF OTHERS----ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING

FOR YOURSELF-----AND STOP BITCHING SOO

MUCH----AND PLEASE TO THE WOMEN ISLAM----

TAKE OFF THOSE VEILS AND BURKAS----ITS

SOO SAD HOW YOU DEGRADE YOURSELF BY BEING

SOO SUBMISSIVE----SPINELESS PEOPLE YOU ARE

[ولاء عبدالستار]

فداك ابى وامى يارسول اللة
انتم لاتعرفون من هو محمد علية الصلاة والسلام الذى جاء رحمة للعالمين ومنذر وبشير واو من ينشق عنة القبر واول شافع واول مشفع اوول من يدخل الجنة الذى ارتبط اسمة باسم اللة فى كل وقت وزمان ومكان
انتم لاتعرفوا الاسلام على حق اورجوا من الذى نشر الرسوم المسىئة لحبيبنا ورسولنا وحبيب اللة محمد صلى اللة وملائكتة والجماد والحيوانات علية قبل البشرونحن نفتخر انة رسولنا وحبيبنا وشفيعنا نرجو منة قراءة القران جيدااااااااااااا
اشهد ان لا الاةالا اللة وان محمد رسول اللة
والسلام عليكم ورحمة اللة وبركاتة

[Peter]

I'm an Arab Christian, born in the southern part of Syria, in a village that still preserves Jesus' language; we speak Aramaic, and we're probably the only Christians that we speak Jesus' tongue; we don't view ourselves as special or above others; in fact, we live in a Muslim country and we're still alive; despite our differences and at times some challenges from intolerant people, we've not engaged in hate for we believe the Bible as true voice of God, which by doing we love our neighbors, and we don't engage in any demeaning of their faith, persons, or belongings; it's very sad to see how the greed for money and oil is being used in religious contexts to defend injustice. Even those who agreed with wars or the rumors of wars are but insecure individuals of their own faith; when you're strong in your faith, you don't need to claim suppremacy for you have the light of God. Today, behold the world for the children of God themselves have lost their faith in the son of God; otherwise they would forgive, heal, and love their neighbors, and thus promote through faith and the world shall live in peace. Some of the post below are terrible, stand for your humanity and rebuke any hate; don't let your heart be filled with consuming, raging hate for others; you shall always find reasons for your behavior, but can you be Jesus-like and find love in your heart for Jews, gentiles and Samaritans alike? Depicting other humanbeings as evil or subhumans and filth reflects not on them, but on you as a Christian, for Jesus didn't engage in such a behavior; the Pharissees did though, in Bibical you don't wan to be considered a Pharissees, who were arrogant to their own behaviors.
P.S. Jesus was never depicted in such a way; in fact he has never been depicted in most Islamic societies because he is revered and respected.
As for the Muslims around the world, move on and don't let a bunch of ignorant individuals ignite anger in you. For Jesus faced the same and he walked away from it, never feeling a need for revenge, forgive and this shall pass. To my Christian brothers be Jesus-like, don't join the pool of hatred and comfort your neighbor and speak good words from your heart for those are your fruits and you shall be known by your fruits,
The fruit of the early Christian Christian,
Peter,
With Love

[amna1]

see when someone says...the egyption boat sank and so many people died but i didnt feel a thing...thats just sad.im a muslim but i felt bad when 911 happened...i feel bad and very upset when anyone is killed unfairly.and by the way.."muslims" who are creating havoc everywhere is just a bunch of uneducated ignorant fools, who have devised their own understanding of islam...(im talking about taliban)which is false.so its not islam that we should blame,its muslims who dont understand islam we should blame.in my opinion,every religion teaches beautiful things and one thing if u compare them...dont lie,dont steal,dont kill,dont hurt.islam does not say anywhere "go kill the non believers and u will get a place in heaven"!!!! puhlees!! im a muslim and im proud of it because i believe in it for all the goodness it teaches....u know islam since 911 happened right because of taliban..a group of deformed fanatic "so called" muslims?!?! thats all u know about islam just because they said that they r doing it in the name of ALLAH?!? and islam does not suppress woman..who said that?? woman are very much allowed to work and do everything a man does only that she should cover her body so as not to attract the wrong kind of attention...its just protective of woman...woman has all her rights in islam.so it just makes me sad that muslims who have come into the lime light lately have just tarnished the image of islam so badly that in every comment of yours the hatred is so evident.and well if i remember correctly..hitler killed all the jews?? didnt he?? so that did become religion related!

[amna1]

and..one more thing..how do you know bush is doing what he is doing for economic and political reasons?? why , did he tell you? and what u r saying is correct then how come all the countries he has attacked and destroyed turned out to be muslim countries?? one hell of a coincidence! so if kathy say "wake up america" well america has definitely woken up and taken charge and the destruction of afghanistan and iraq are proof of that!

[nora]

Treating people like idiots only says about that person that he or she is an idiot. to insult some one's deity like this, what ever it is, then thinking that adding a drawing describing the cartoonists as a provoking bunch, won't turn the whole thing into a non harmful joke. I was born a Muslim. now I do not believe in the religion thing as a whole. I definitely do not approve of the way Muslims treat women, and I certainly do not approve also of the way the west treat women as sex objects, but I would never insult some one's religion what ever it is, I would discus it, completely disagree with it, but never make fun of it in the name of freedom of speech. why is there laws against denying the holocaust as a Jewish massacre though it was for blacks and every one who is not pure Arian and no laws non what so ever for protecting religions?!I know that Christ was subjected to the same ridicule even in movies but that does not make it justifiable. all the more reason to stop ridiculing other people's beliefs

[Uk Muslim]

We Muslims should learn to be much more tolerant in this modern world. It's no wonder we're not getting any where with the extreme attitude we are showing. I mean look at Iran, they want Nuclear enrichment for engery and yet they also openly say Israel should be wiped off of the map. Ofcourse the US and UN will be concerned ! My Muslim brothers, we have to be tolerant and calm and look at things realistically. Look at UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Malaysia - the economy is booming there, and that's due to their tolerance and getting along with the world. Look how powerful our Jewish brethrens are, they have unity and money power. We Muslims have oil and the biggest wealth in the world, yet we lack diplomacy and tolerance. If we get the US on our side thay can make Iraq rich ! We can still follow our religion in peace and harmony. The US is protecting it's own interests, the oil. But remember, it's the US that made Saudi Arabia rich. Go with this example. Using our wealth and brains for a change can achieve a hell of alot !! If it weren't for the USA, we'd have Hitler, Russia and other communist countries in power. Communism is anti islam and anti Christian. This is precisely the reason why we gave Aramco (An american company) the rights to build an oil plant in Saudi and NOT the Russians. I am a British Muslim and very proud to be one. Peaceful and tactfully handling situations such as blasphemy would be a better way to get an apology from the Danish. We should be proud that we only have two sects in Islam, thats' the rope we should hang on to.

[Profaner]

Here's the thing as I see it- and I am ready to be set straight. Whenever we in the West see Muslims we see evil terrorists killing people, angry people constantly demonstrating or marching in the streets disrupting society shooting in the air and holding up scarey signs, mullahs in mosques saying scarey things for Friday prayer, little boys sitting in madrassas like robots memorizing the Koran. When we hear Muslims speak they are mad about something. In this case for example we saw a whole lot of violent outrage from the Muslims over these cartoons. But I have not seen the same sort of outrage- ie. Muslims demonstrating in the streets, screaming bloody murder over their own people for 'profaning their religion, killing, talking death to the West." They might make platitudes a little- immediately followed by a disclaimer that "The West needs to examine itself". Damn little. But cartoons- Now that is what sets them off?

I also don't see or hear much patriotism from Muslims for their new countries. No love for their new homelands. I get the idea they feel closer to Iran than to their new home. and if push came to shove- they would side with their Islamic brethren in far off countries rather than the nation they live in and call home. These things frighten many Westerners. and when people get frightened they get mean.
I also find it interesting that the very people the Islamists hate the very most The Americans, the British and the Jews are the very people who spoke out against these cartoons. Sometimes your worst enemy can be your very best freind. And those, like Iran, who pretend to be Muslims freind are guiding them to a bad place. They want to keep a warlike feeling amongst them. They preach hate. They sponsor terrorism. but they are seen as the good guys to Islamists.
Lastly, about Islam. Somebody up there said that women in Islam are treated equal but that's just not true. I don't mean the abayas or head scarves that they wear. Who cares about that- if they want to wear that- who gives a rip. Have at it! I'm talking about unequal schooling. I'm talking about women aren't alowwed to drive a car. They have to go to alot of trouble to get a proper job. The multiple wife thing. Of course, they don't believe in sex before marriage, or in adultery- so they get around this by just marrying the girls. Whenever they want to cheat on their wife- hell just marry the other woman. It's adultery- with a loop hole. There's isn't the secular Bill of Rights that protects all individuals equally in Islam. And that's a problem for the West.
I don't believe, although many do, that the West wants to destroy Islamic countries an steal their oil. I really do believe that they want to free them so they can be more stable. This is not becuae the West is just all wonderful and altruisitc- mind you. They are doing it for oil and trade. They want the Middle East to be more stable so they can buy oil, do lots of trade back and forth and generally add to the peace and proserity of the entire world. Why? because we are greedy. We like to live good. And we want everyone else to live good too. We want them to go to school,get jobs, fal in love, get married. participate in society. That way the world gets along better. Poor angry, ignorant people can't buy stuff. And we want them to be able to buy stuff and Pursue their Happiness. With Middle Eastern countries in an unstable, unpeaceful, constantly riled up and constantly angry- it takes longer to get anything good done becuase there are always people who will be fighting every step of the way. Even if it is a good idea- Islamists will want to fight it. It's a pain in the ass. And the economy and progress of the entire world suffers.

[John smith]

Bunch of ignorant Motherfuckers. Yall hate muslims for no fucken reason. WEll i can see that you might have areason and that reason is what you hear and see on tv just like a bunch or parrots, and a bunch of uneducated assholes you think that all muslims are bad! Well let me tell u something yall are wrong. Only people like you start war on religions, because you think that you are better then other. If you consider yourself true believers and true chirstians or jews or even muslims, if you all believe in Jesus, then why dont you foillow what Jesus said. "You have heard it said you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. For if you love only those who love you, what reward is there in that?" well stop hating is my advice to you but anyways i will go and pray for you to forgive you because you jus t dont undertand the basics of being a true human being.

[Uk Muslim]

To Profaner. You talk about us marrying another wife - a way of cheating on the wife. Or in fact adultery. At least it's marriage, wherein we give rights and feed and clothe the wife....not a one night stand. In the west it seems to be okay to have a bit on the side or the mistress as you call it, but poligamy is not allowed. Where's the sense in that.

[Uk Muslim]

To Profaner. You talk about Muslims taking sides when trouble erupts in the Middle East. Well, if Christians are harmed in foreign countries the west intervenes. Look what happened in Yugoslavia.

[Profaner]

First off- I'm not Christian. I am not trying to be like Jesus. Although, I agree that wouldn't be such a bad aspiration. Next, muslim guy who says that marrying more than wife is somehow more moral than having a one night stand. They are both adultery and have a negative consequence for society becuase it is emotionally destructive behavior. But in Islam it's hypocrisy along with being adultery. Like that other guy said- maybe you all do need a Martin Luther type guy to reform some Muslim doctrine.
Tell me what happened in Yugoslavia again? I thought the US came down on the side of the Muslims on that one. Straighten me out if I'm wrong, okay. We don't do religious wars. Haven't had one yet. We WILL however fight and die for the Ideal that people have a right to practice their religions. All religions in peace so long as they don't infringe on the rights of others and rule of law. IE no marrying little girls, burning property, disturbing the peace. We also fight and die for the Ideal that people- All people have the right to speak freely without fear of retribution. Even if we don't agree with what they are saying.
What do you Mulsims think about your fellows burning down the embassies in Damascus and Beirut over a cartoon?
As for motherfuckers. Oh, you are right. Right now we are seeing Muslims rioting, burning, shooting and disrupting their own societies and the daily living of other hard working Muslims who are just trying to go about their day over goddamned cartoons! We in the West put up with all kinds of crap that we don't like. If we reacted violently to every little thing both large and small we'd not be able to get anything done over here. It would help the perception of Muslims in the West if they learned to pick their battles a little better. After a while it all starts to blend together in the Western perception and you all look like a big pain in the ass. Every single night on the news it's the same. Flag burning, riots, marching with banners, complaining about Palistine or Muslim oppression or the arrogance of the West. It doesn't register nor is taken seriously after a while by many Westerners. We just say "There they go again".
If anything good happens in Palistine it will be becuase the Palistians, the West and the Jews make something good happen. Syria, Iran and all the wacky Mullahs and trouble makers aren't helping anything except confusing the Palisitinans and riling them all up over and over and influencing them bad.

[bob from london]

muslims are always looking for some kind of recognition ,to show other muslims that they are fighting for the cause each one competing with the other , for more notariatey ,from country to country . read what muslem have been writing recently on all sites they think the more they say the more we'll believe , havent they worked it out yet ,that we are considerably more in telegent than them and that we dont need this reasurance from every one every time we do some thing, they're very week and insecure, but it's not one or two it's the whole lot. if their so right why do they cover their fases may be thier women beniether the masks .cos the the men don't have any ball's in fact all the suicide bombers were kids !

[Mikhael Enemark]

I do hope that our anger is kept within ourselves and that we don't act upon it. The comments posted by the vast majority of us haven't been really politically correct to any degree. It is blatant racism. I know how difficult it can be to hold emotions in but we have to do it. We can't sink down to the fundamentlaist’s level.

While we can keep on ridiculing the truth about Islam and its practices, we must also start being pro-active about the situation. This is just the beginning of the "Islam against the rest of the World" War. We still have time to achieve some sort of peaceful agreement. Hopefully? War should be our last resort. Considering this blog, there seems to be so much hate, that war might be closer than what was expected

We are living in a world with a large and angry population who as we have seen in the past few years, would resort to sacrifice to kill as many “infidels” as possible; 911, Madrid, the two Bali Bombings, Australian Embassy and Marriot in Jakarta...
What are we going to do about it?

[jay from NY]

Thanks for having the balls and printing the cartoon, it has been a little difficult to find. Ignorance is a said thing, especially when it is used to control mobs by politically motivated individuals. For every person killed in the name of islam, or any other religon up will have found apupet master controlling the dumb and blind. you should print the other pics for all the world to see why buildings are burning and people are lying in the streets.

[Profaner]

Dear Bob,
I know what is being written here is scarey. I'm afraid of some of the things that I am writing. I know it's racist.
I believe in people- not that you can tell from what I say. I believe that everythig is going to have a happy ending. I believe that moderation will prevail in the end. I believe that the Middle East will be free and also Muslim. and that's a good thing. I believe that we will all over time learn to love each other. But I also believe there will be a time of fire. Of force. Of clash. Maybe not war- but... I don't know. It can't stay the way it is indefinately. In the end though, I believe that eh best will happen. Maybe not in our lifetimes. But some time.
There isn't going to be any crystal night nor anything like that. Although some muslims right now sure are bringing back happy memories with the car burnings, scarey threats and intimidation. "Say and do what we want or we'll "get you". I remember a small party of folks back in the thirties that did that too. They scared everyone into silence until they DARE say nothing bad about them. Then they took power and 100 million people died in 4 years. Oops, racist comparison.

When Thomas Jefferson died, his house "Monticello" was purchased by a Jewish family. And when asked why they bought it they said they were grateful for what he had done for the world and Jews (Freedom to Worship, Freedom of Speech, etc.) and wanted to take care of his house.

my god! woman are allowed to drive a car,woman get great jobs everywhere?? in islam...u are allowed to do everything a man can..like i mentioned before..only thing they have to be careful about is wearing a decent outfit when they go out...thats just hogwash..and it shows ignorance of religion...u obviously dont completely have knowledge of islam.and multiple marriages..ok here goes..at that time there were more woman than men because all the men use to die in wars and our prophet was given the permission by god to marry the destitute woman to give them home and shelter and if he can treat all of them equally...that is the biggest condition inislam...and know what the husband has to ask the permission of his first wife if he can marry the second time..she hasa right to her own home and she can refuse ...but this fact of islam has been joked about and deformed and made use only for the convenience of some muslims...so its not a permission of adultery.if u do it the right way as said in islam...it does not say.."hey men, go enjoy have 4 wives" there r so many conditions in this matter.but people use it wrongly.those r the people have destroyed the name of islam.im a muslim woman...i practice islam,i drive,i go to work.its the middle east who have suppressed their woman. and whatever they do is "NOT" a condition of islam.its just their way of treating woman...the arabs...they are wrong in what they do!! not islam! islam does not teach that.islam teaches to respect woman.can u respect a woman who goes around topless?!? and a veil?!?! islam does not even says to wear a veil...the only thing must is the covering of the head...the hair..because beautiful hair attracts people.so i would say again..dont blame islam..blame people who have made an excuse to do wrong things in the name of islam.

[Mikhael Enemark]

Regarding the treatement of women in the last post;

You can't use the excuse that "it is not permissable in Islam to treat women unfairly, hang homosexuals, to threaten the Jews, to blow innocent non-muslims and muslims (Jordan) up" and expect us non-muslims to suddenly gain respect for you. We don't really care if it is written in the Koran or not or even whether it is part of the Hadith. The problem here, is the fact that these attrocities are still committed.

Stop the unfair treatment of women, stop the suicide bombings, stop the burning of flags, then I am sure you can improve the world opinion about your religion, culture and people

[Mikhael Enemark]

I am sure that I speak for the vast majority of non-muslims participating in this blog when I say that there needs to be some sort of reformation within your culture.

A large proportion of the criticism that is given to you is meant for you to understand the situation that we as non-muslims face by representatives of your faith, be they fundamentalists or not. These cartoons are basically showing you what we think of you. This is how we see you through our eyes. Is it nice? Do you want us to see you in this light? No! Therefore, You do something about it. Change our perception of you!! Than perhaps the hate can stop. What do you think??

We are saying, Stop and look around you, look at all the other faiths who have managed to move with time. Even Catholicism has managed to move, not as quickly, I have to admit, but it is definately moving. I as a Catholic now go to church to develop my spiritual understanding of Christ through Youth Groups, it is no more church propaganda as such that is being shoved down my throat to indoctrinate me to only believe in a certain way.

We are also saying, that if you want to participate in this community of rapid human and economic development, you are going to have to keep up with our pace. We cannot be slowing down for you, and making concessions for your narrow-minded and stubborn attitudes. Afterall, we are trying to achieve a better world ourselves and you are really just pulling us down.

That is why we are angry at you. That is why we are trying to find reasons for this imbalance and we look toward your religion as that is the only means we know how to understand you. Your lives are based around your religion. This is possibly the reason why the world always attacks Islamic culture and not anyone else's to the same degree. Do you notice that you are the odd one out of the basket of religions? There does not seem to be as much double standards, violence, propaganda, hate and disrespect for any other faith from any other faith on earth.

[amna1]

comments about the last post
whatever i say in defence of islam wont have any effect anyways cause u have a very obvious mental block towards it.u dont want to hear the true islam u just have an image of islam in your mind which is an extremly negative one and u would continue to believe in the falsity of islam that you have created.u dont know anything about islam in the first place so its irrelevant giving my opinion about it cause what u r saying is not in islam at all.like i said.its not islam its some muslims who dont understand islam, who create negativity in people like u.i actually dont blame you at all.i can just be sad at how the name of islam is being destroyed by some people who call themselves muslims but are ignorant as hell.

[amna1]

why do you want to hurt sentiments through these cartoons? religion is a sensitive issue, why invoke the sensitive.why do u need to hurt and malign someones relion on basis of what u think.i may not agree with so many things in some other religion but i wont go publicly ridiculing it and asking everyone to laugh with me on the respective religion.these cartoons are making fun of my religion.i am upset because the light u see islam in is incorrect.even if u think like that about islam u dont have to publicly make a laughing stock of it.thats not fair.its just not justified.u call it "freedon of speech" please...why only islam has to be subjected to your so called "freedom of speech".freedom of speech on expense of someones religion?