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We here at Europress
always believe press
matters. So when the
imbroglio from
publishing 12 cartoons
in Denmark's
Jyllands-Posten
conservative paper
flared, well naturally
we stood up and
noticed. Riots over
cartoons? Had I made
this prediction only
last January would
anyone believed me?
First of all if you
wish to see all the
cartoons in their
entirety, please visit
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004413.htm.
Smart, sassy but
hardly incendiary to
western eyes, but to
our Muslim brothers
and sisters, clearly
offensive (forbidden
to draw the image of
Prophet Muhammad).
What is Europress to
make of this?
The culture editor of
the Danish paper
clearly was gunning
for provocation when
he published the
cartoons last October,
after being warned by
Islamic leaders in
Denmark against it.
Went ahead anyway. He
immediately got
threats but this was
only published on
blogs.
A Muslim cleric in
Denmark was incensed
that more people were
not protesting so he
led a delegation of
Muslims to the Middle
East to spread the
word about the
published cartoons.
That is when all hell
exploded.
What strikes me is the
insensitivity on both
sides. That the
paper's culture editor
would deliberately
publish the cartoons
for incendiary
purposes and that the
cleric would lead a
campaign by furthering
an already explosive
atmosphere in the
Middle East.
Scores of death, burnt
buildings and flags
and long simmering
anger later, we are
left wondering what
the heck happened and
if this is not some
slide into global
chaos.
Is this what World War
III looks like?
Fueled by a
drama-starving media,
such scenes have
tawdry currency in
today's culture.
Nothing like some fire
and bloodshed to liven
up the news at night.
Meanwhile, calls for
restraint and decency
seem like patsy
cries. Always the
retort is the same:
those who call for
peace are appeasers!
The culture editor and
the Muslim cleric
should both be locked
in a jail for several
months, together.
Then perhaps there
might be a sliver of
hope that
understanding might
result. We don't need
more hysteria. The
press is not meant to
fuel the flame, but
show us why it's bad
and how to put it
out.
I believe in press
freedom (I teach about
mass media after all!)
and believe in a
reasonably peaceful
life. But there are
instances when that
freedom can be
misused, even if for
good reasons. This is
why our legal system
does not allow someone
to yell "Fire!" in a
crowded theater. The
potential for disaster
outweighs one person's
right of free speech.
Let us always publish.
But let us not hurt in
the process. A few
printed words cannot
get back human beings'
lives!
May
2006 Europress
February 2006
Europress
October 2005 Europress
September 2005
Europress
June 2005 Europress
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