Sunday, February 5, 2006
Aside from burning down embassies because cartoons make you anguished, Muslim commentators responding by reflexively screaming, "But what about the JEWS?!" is about as rich as it gets.
I am as much a skeptic of "hate speech" laws and other pre-emptive judgement-call strikes against free speech as the next guy, but certainly there must be better comparisons to make -- something a bit more apples to apples. I'm not in favor of laws against Holocaust Denial, and I agree that many European nations would be able to make a better case on the free-speech issue if they practiced it a bit better, but I also acknowledge that with regard to laws in Europe against it (note: NOT just discussing the Holocaust, but denying it happened) Europe has a particular and recent history in that regard that may make such rules wise though not perfect from a libertarian perspective.
The fact remains that cartoons of "the prophet" are not equivalent to Holocaust denial, have zero chance of leading to genocide -- particularly of a group of over a billion people -- and surely there must be a better comparison available that doesn't so confirm the ugly stereotype of Jew obssession from even regular seeming Muslims.
Besides, Holocaust denial isn't illegal in some parts of Europe because it's offensive to Jews, it's illegal because it's offensive to Europeans.
Sam rants on this quite effectively, and also points out that there are no anti-Holocaust Denial laws in Denmark, anyway.
He also points out this Arab/Muslim started "We Are Sorry" site.
More cartoon links:
Here's a good round-up at Instapundit.
Peace with Realism comments on Cartoons Arab Style:
They have produced two cartoons so far: one denying the Holocaust, and another showing Anne Frank in bed with Hitler...
He posts the cartoons.
Dave re-posts this inspired graphic taken from here [edit: Original source apparently here.]:
Dave also comments on the Arab-European League creations.
The Jerusalem Post comments on the "counter cartoons" here: Jews dragged into cartoon controversy
Exactly what I was thinking!
And, of course, Michelle Malkin has been keeping on top of the story, see especially: THE LIES OF THE DANISH IMAMS
