Take The High Ground

OK. Let's sink our teeth into something juicy to start. Let's talk about the cartoons originally published in a Danish Newspaper about the Muslim prophet Muhammad.

First, I've seen the cartoons. Overall, they can be classified as political satire. BUT WAIT! Before you start sending me comments, read the rest of this entry. Yes, they can be classified as political satire, but if what Muslims are saying is true, and I can only accept that this so because I haven't verified that statement and I will take them at their word on this, then yes they are offensive...to Muslims at the very least. My understanding of the reason that they are offensive is that any depiction of the prophet Muhammad, in any physical form, is unacceptable. I could post them, using certain media outlets' arguments for freedom of speech to justify it, but I won't for reasons that will become clear.

The story, as I understand it, is that a Danish newspaper published them last September by asking cartoonists to depict the prophet Muhammad. I assume that this was for the purpose of political satire, given current conditions and the content of the cartoons. Apparently they were protested locally, but that was it. They were recently re-published and that's when all h*** broke loose. The question I have to ask is, what is the motivation? The answer I came up with may not be the correct one, but hear me out anyway.

I think this was done to sell newspapers. Yes, there may be other reasons, racial hatred, fanning the flames of discontent, maybe just because they can (the freedom of speech argument). Why do I think that they're just trying to sell newspapers? In this age of multimedia where you can get your news from TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet, media outlets have to fight for people's attention in order to gain readership, thus making money. Sound simplistic? Maybe.

Let's discuss the idea of the cartoons vs freedom of speech. First, let me tell you that I believe in everyone's right to free speech. However, there has to be limits. You can't yell 'FIRE' in crowded movie house, or joke about having a bomb in an airport. Of course, the law will uphold these limitations to free speech. But what about cartoons, especially when they can be classed as political satire? I don't think a cartoon depicting a priest having sex with an altar boy will go unnoticed by Christian groups, or jokes related to the holocaust will be welcomed by Jewish groups. So, if these particular Danish cartoons, where one of the cartoons depicts the prophet Muhammad having a bomb with a lit fuse in his headwear, are offensive to Muslims, let's give them that.

In laws based on the English system, matters such as this are governed by "community standards." What the community accepted 100 years ago, may not be acceptable now, or vice versa. So where does that leave us? How do we get out of this mess?

Message to the media: Stop printing these cartoons! Don't jump on the "Look at me!" bandwagon. Don't throw gasoline on the fire, fan the flames, or...(insert your own cliche here). Use your freedom of speech to discuss them. Describe them if you must, but don't print the images, since that seems to be the root of the problem. Invite people from both sides to voice their opinions, but for understanding, not inflammatory rhetoric. Editorialize, comment, bring in guest columnists or speakers. Give the viewers of your coverage the benefit of the doubt and let them make up their own minds. But give them the information without digging us deeper into this quagmire by providing a balanced report.

Message to those offended by the cartoons, particularly Muslims: Stop the riots! Demonstrate, yes. But PEACEFULLY! Show the courts that the subject of this satire is unacceptable in terms of community standards. If you feel you must, have your organizations take the publishers of the cartoons to court. Prove to them that these types of cartoons are unacceptable and can be classified as a hate crime. Don't go into the streets and throw rocks, burn effigies, and destroy property. It may make the 6 o'clock news, but it won't gain you sympathy, or correct the problem. (By the way, I didn't know you could actually burn a country in effigy, but apparently you can, because it was done.) Burning a car is good for a 5 second visual on the news, but it won't stop people from publishing or passing around the cartoons. In fact, it may encourage them.

Both sides need to step back and take a breather. Let's work through this. Let's sit down and talk rationally about this. I was happy to see that the leader of a Muslim group was interviewed on CTV Newsnet the other day and allowed to voice his opinion of moderation. I'm not sure I agreed with everything he said, but I applaud his quest for discussion and resolution. I also applaud CTV for giving him the opportunity and engaging in responsible journalism. Let's see more of this.

Let's all take the high ground and get through this. Now is not the time for posturing, but for discussion and understanding.

Wings Over The World