Two Cheers for Europe in Cartoon Controversy
Joseph McHugh
February 13, 2006
No one has been more severe than me in condemning European pacifism in the face of the greatest threat to Western civilization since, well, the European instigated war called World War 2. But I have to admit that they’ve shown more courage than us in fighting Islamic fascism, growing as a force on their continent.
The Arab street” has exploded over the depiction in European newspapers of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed in cartoon form. Apparently, it is blasphemous to some Muslims to ever depict the prophet of Islam physically. Moreover, the newspapers not only depicted Mohammed, but certain of the cartoons satirized him. For example one cartoon displayed him with a bomb on his head in place of a turban.
What is the genesis of these cartoons, which our State Department called the newspapers insensitive for running? The papers ran the cartoons in response to the complaints of an author who could not get an illustrator for a planned children’s book on Mohammed, due to fears of Muslim reprisals. The papers ran the cartoons as a statement defending free speech, and in opposition to Muslim extremist threats of terror against anyone they disagree with. The papers were right to run the cartoons. They were a statement against violence and thuggery.
It is not an issue of “sensitivity” as some are crying. First of all, it is not universally held by Muslims that depictions of Mohammad are blasphemous. Secondly, one needs to look at the context. Certainly an arbitrary running of the cartoons for no apparent purpose would be insensitive (and, more importantly, irrational.) But these cartoons were not run for just any reason. They were in response to threats of violence, threats of violence that are victimizing people throughout Europe. It would be as though the Italian mafia in the United States had threatened any publisher who published depictions of the Virgin Mary. Good for Europe for standing against that type of intimidation.
Everything one can say morally about the violent protesters is this: On September 11 there was dancing in the streets of Arab capitals. Cartoons cause “the Arab Street” anguish. Carnage causes celebration. Cartoons disrespect a faith. Beheadings do not.
The Clash of Civilizations is here. On the one side is freedom and on the other side is tyranny. More fundamentally on the one side is reason and on the other side is brute mysticism. The United States, founded explicitly on the enlightenment ideals of reason, should be in the vanguard of this fight. Alas, it is not as evidenced by the cowardly responses of our State Department, and our newspapers that won’t run the cartoons (with very few brave exceptions.)
The question is, can Europe hold out? The philosophy of multiculturalism, which holds that all cultures are equal no matter how barbaric some may be, holds some sway in Europe. Such a subjectivist view paralyzes moral certainty. Can traditional enlightenment values hold out against the simultaneous onslaught of multiculturalism and Arab fanaticism?
Unfortunately, there seems to be some backpedaling as various European Governments and some papers apologize. There should be no apologies. Congratulations to the newspapers throughout Europe that ran the cartoons. Shame on the American papers that won’t.
The Arab street” has exploded over the depiction in European newspapers of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed in cartoon form. Apparently, it is blasphemous to some Muslims to ever depict the prophet of Islam physically. Moreover, the newspapers not only depicted Mohammed, but certain of the cartoons satirized him. For example one cartoon displayed him with a bomb on his head in place of a turban.
What is the genesis of these cartoons, which our State Department called the newspapers insensitive for running? The papers ran the cartoons in response to the complaints of an author who could not get an illustrator for a planned children’s book on Mohammed, due to fears of Muslim reprisals. The papers ran the cartoons as a statement defending free speech, and in opposition to Muslim extremist threats of terror against anyone they disagree with. The papers were right to run the cartoons. They were a statement against violence and thuggery.
It is not an issue of “sensitivity” as some are crying. First of all, it is not universally held by Muslims that depictions of Mohammad are blasphemous. Secondly, one needs to look at the context. Certainly an arbitrary running of the cartoons for no apparent purpose would be insensitive (and, more importantly, irrational.) But these cartoons were not run for just any reason. They were in response to threats of violence, threats of violence that are victimizing people throughout Europe. It would be as though the Italian mafia in the United States had threatened any publisher who published depictions of the Virgin Mary. Good for Europe for standing against that type of intimidation.
Everything one can say morally about the violent protesters is this: On September 11 there was dancing in the streets of Arab capitals. Cartoons cause “the Arab Street” anguish. Carnage causes celebration. Cartoons disrespect a faith. Beheadings do not.
The Clash of Civilizations is here. On the one side is freedom and on the other side is tyranny. More fundamentally on the one side is reason and on the other side is brute mysticism. The United States, founded explicitly on the enlightenment ideals of reason, should be in the vanguard of this fight. Alas, it is not as evidenced by the cowardly responses of our State Department, and our newspapers that won’t run the cartoons (with very few brave exceptions.)
The question is, can Europe hold out? The philosophy of multiculturalism, which holds that all cultures are equal no matter how barbaric some may be, holds some sway in Europe. Such a subjectivist view paralyzes moral certainty. Can traditional enlightenment values hold out against the simultaneous onslaught of multiculturalism and Arab fanaticism?
Unfortunately, there seems to be some backpedaling as various European Governments and some papers apologize. There should be no apologies. Congratulations to the newspapers throughout Europe that ran the cartoons. Shame on the American papers that won’t.