February 04, 2006

Burning Embassies Over Insulting Cartoons

The Danish and Norweigan embassies in Syria were set on fire by angry Muslims reacting to the publication of Muhammad cartoons. The cartoons were an insult to Islam. Depictions of the prophet are forbidden. Those cartoons are as insulting to Muslims as Piss Christ is to Christians. I don't deny the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten the right to publish them. A free press means insulting, hurtful things can be allowed to be published. The reaction from many Muslims has been over the top. It's one thing to be angry, it's another to burn flags, call out death sentences, and to torch buildings. When Piss Christ was publicized you didn't see Christians burning art and museums. They engaged in political speech by writing letters to the editor and contacting their representatives. This violent Muslim reaction is an example of the faith's insecurity. They fear their faith is endangerd merely from cartoons. Their focus on the infidel distracts them from examining the failings of their own civilization that has put them in the historic position they are in.

Erick Erickson writes, "Had it been Christ or the Virgin Mary instead of Muhammad, I guess we would also be supporting the Danish media against the protests of Christians." Dean Esmay is more pronounced: "Oh yeah, and I can utterly condemn this without losing my bearings about who our allies are. You can too."

"Syrians Torch Embassies Over Caricatures"