Is That Legal?

In response, an angry Jewish mob burned down an Iranian embassy. Oh wait...

Eric,

Surely, it's an offensive, tasteless, outrageous idea. And I've been having to restrain myself for several days to keep from screaming at my TV for those lunatic Muslims who are killing people over some cartoons to go f**k themselves.

Then, on CNN this morning, they interviewed the Iranian Ambassador and he said (in essence) "you people think freedom of expression is one of the most important things in the world. We think respect for Muhammad is the most important thing in the world. Is there any way to reconcile this difference between our cultures?" And, I'm embarassed to admit, the answer did not immediately occur to me.

Cartoons about the Holocaust would surely - and justifiably - cause outrage among most Jews and many non-Jews. But I haven't yet figured out the difference between that and offensive portrayals of Muslim's deity.

Rodney King was certainly on the right track, but how to put it into action?

Barry,

Well, we don't riot and kill when Muslim and Arab countries don't allow freedom of expression or place respect for the Prophet over freedom of expression. Why should they riot and kill when we elevate freedom of expression?

More specifically, I don't care much about the rioting in the Middle East, let them do whatever they want. What really bothers me is Muslims in Western countries calling for violence against the cartoonists or the governments who don't condemn the cartoons. Isn't it part of the deal that they emigrate to these countries to work and do well and, in return, show some goddamn respect for values other than their own?? If you're an Iranian and you're pissed and want to burn the Danish flag and boycott Danish goods, go right ahead, I won't stop you. But if you're a Pakistani who came to live in Britain and now say that you want another subway bombing, you should go f*ck yourself.

Iran's "competition" is so childish and absurd, it's something a kindergardener would do. It takes something good, freedom of expression, and takes it to the far extreme and then asks, "Is it still so good?" If Mom is going to make me eat spinach then I'll show her; I'll eat all the spinach in the house and throw up everwhere... Do you still want me to eat spinach Mom?

We can answer Iran's competition in one of two ways. We can ignore it and declare their right to expression or we can nuke them and say "You're right, we're pissed too! You were right to riot and now we admit you're right" (of course we'd be saying this to a parking lot, but...)

N is right about Muslims living in western countries. If they want to riot or promote uprising because of these cartoons they should leave and go live in a country that puts respect for Mohammed first.

The riots are an example of why we should push for assimilation into US (or Western) culture for people of every race and nationality. Put America first. For example, refer to people as Americans of African descent; Americans of Italian descent; Americans of Indian descent; etc. but whatever the race or nationality, put America first because first and foremost we are Americans (or Brits or whatever).

I think we should lash out at the apologists in the US. An American woman last night on MSNBC was saying that the US response to "Piss Christ" was similar to the Muslims response to the cartoons because federal funding for the arts was cut. HOW CRAZY IS THAT? Does she not get that no one died and no property was burned or destroyed when the government decided not to fund a cricifx submerged in urine?

i think the correct response to the holocaust cartoon contest is for jews and israelis around the globe to make submissions to the contest. we'll see if the iranians still think they're so clever then.

Why can't I help thinking that Mel Brooks is going to enter the contest?

Being a wise-ass at heart, my submission would be to portray Mohammed as a concentration camp guard. The caption would be "Of course, it did not really happen, but I wish it did." Let's see then if Muslims get offended by portraying Mohammed as a concentration camp guard for consistency's sake.

In a way, I'm glad to see this happen. While the terrorist bombngs in Madrid and London were horrible acts, now maybe the EU will begin to see what we've been dealing with on the other side of the pond for some time now - muslim extremism. And maybe they will begin to admit what a danger it is to society and western values. A society that is so closed minded as to demmand death to a bunch of journalists or that free speach be curtailed because it offends their narrow sensibilities is a danger to everything western civilization has struggled to become.

The hilarity of people on here who assure us that those in "Western" countries would never do such a crazy thing as riot for something political, or make crazy assertions or threats against people for political ends, or over something symbolic, is ridiculous. Political violence, or the threat thereof, is alive and well everyday in America and European countries. From the right wing militia groups, neo-nazi sympathizers, to state run organs like the Secret Police in Italy to the "We didn't know they were citizens" NSA repression is alive and well. If there is less overt versions of it in America, its because you don't have to shoot people on the street to silence them. You just make the price of entry to the realm of power and persuasion ridiculously high and reserved for an elite few.

What an issue! How might we decide how people in the West would take Holocaust cartoons? Actually the debate itself shows how people have lost perspective on an issue they feel emotionally involved with. Has anyone noticed there already have been Holocaust cartoons..a famous one known as "Maus" by Art Spieleglman. Although usually interpretd as a an attempt to deal with the pain caused by the Holcaust (to Spiegelman and his family amongst others) these cartoons were controversial and to my mind quite repugnant. However, I certainly did not consider having them suppressed, nor was their an outcry when major newpapers reproduced them, some thing which, in the name of cultural sensitivity, is now done over far less upsetting cartoons about Islam. Perhaps the religious fanatics in Iran and elsewhere should have looked at the historical record before starting an absurd pseudo-debate.