Today is a sad day for Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press as Fundamentalist bullies torch embassies and intimidate the world from being able to parody and satire religion, which is one of the element of civilisation most in need of satire and parody.
NONETHELESS
Moderate and Progressive Muslims appalled at the actions of the Islamic Fundamentalists around the world in response to the Danish Cartoons have been fiercely fighting back.
Reporters without Borders are working hard for the release of the Jordanian Editors from jail.
Danes and Norwegians, joined by millions of freedom loving people are refusing to be intimidated.
HERE ARE SOME GOOD EXAMPLES:
MODERATE AND PROGRESSIVE MUSLIMS FIGHTING BACK
From The Brussels Journal: Yesterday the newly established network of moderate Danish Muslims urged Danish imams, who insist Muslims are being treated badly in Denmark, to move to other countries with societies more in harmony with their own view on the world. "If these imams think it is so terrible to live in Denmark, then why do they remain here?" Naser Khader, the leader of the network and a member of the Danish Parliament for the Social Liberal Party (Radikale), said in an interview with the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten.
"After all no one is forcing them to [live in Denmark]. They can always move to one of the countries in the Middle East which are based on the Muslim values they insist on living by. It seems that their loyalty is mainly to countries such as Saudi Arabia, so I think they should move there. I am tired of hearing them complain about the situation in this country which has given them shelter, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and tons of opportunities for their children. If they cannot be loyal to the values of this country they should leave and by that do the majority of Danish Muslims a big favour. The imams should stop critizising the cartoons and instead critizise the terrorists that cut the throats of innocent hostages in the name of Allah and therefore abuse Islam. But on such occasions we never hear a word from them. Hence, they are hypocrites."
Meanwhile, last night Moderate and Progressive Danish Muslims joined with other Danes in a candletight march and vigil for dialogue and understanding of both sides of the issue.
Meanwhile in the UK many moderate Muslims have vehemently condemned the awful demonstrations where even tiny children were seen holding placards calling for death and destruction.
From The Brussels Journal: Moderate Muslims are appalled at what happened in London.
On Saturday, Asghar Bukhari, chairman of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee, said the demonstration in London on Friday should have been stopped by police because the group had been advocating violence.
And meanwhile in Lebanon, the Government roundly condemned the actions of the Fundamentalists who burned the Danish Consul General, the Interior Minister, Hassan Sabeh, resigned in a show of responsibility and the police declared that there were many outsiders among the 200 arrested.UPDATE-UPDATE: BBC now reporting 70 Syrians among the 200 arrested in Lebanon--isn't that a surprise.
From CNN:"We do not accept any act that affects the security of others," said Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. "These groups include people who intended to destroy properties on purpose, giving a bad example of Islam. "Islam has nothing to do with any of this, no matter how others disrespected the prophets, about whom God says, 'We have protected you from those who ridicule.' "
NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER STOLTENBERG STANDS FIRM
From Swiss Info: Norway will complain to the United Nations about Syria's failure to protect its embassy in Damascus from being torched by demonstrators angry over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said.
"We condemn what happened in Damascus strongly, it's totally unacceptable and we are going to raise the question with the United Nations because this is a violation of international law," Stoltenberg told Reuters in an interview.
"We hold the Syrian government responsible for the safety of Norwegian diplomatic personnel and we are going to ask for compensation for damage from Syria," Stoltenberg said.
DANISH QUEEN MARGRETHE STANDS FIRM: Although is should be noted that some translators and commentators have taken her comments out of context--she is referring strictly to Fundamentalist Islam in her statement not about Islam in general:
Agence France Presse: Denmark's Queen Margrethe II warned against the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Denmark and the world in a new book out, saying people must on occasion "show their opposition to Islam". "It is a challenge we have to take seriously. We have let this issue float about for too long because we are tolerant and very lazy," she said in the authorized biography "Margrethe" written by journalist Annelise Bistrup.
While she did not specifically refer to fundamentalism, she spoke of "these people for whom religion is their entire lives". "We have to show our opposition to Islam and we have to, at times, run the risk of having unflattering labels placed on us because there are some things for which we should display no tolerance," she said. "And when we are tolerant, we must know whether it is because of convenience or conviction," added the queen, who has reigned since 1972 and celebrates her 65th birthday on Saturday.
And also the racy, Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet which was very critical of Jyllands Postens when they first published the cartoons has given Jyllands Postens its annual "Victor prize", for promoting Freedom of the Press.
MEANWHILE IN SOUTH AFRICA
When the Sunday Times would not give a verbal assurance that they would not publish the cartoons, the courts intervened and put an injunction on them not to do so. The press community called it a very sad blow to Freedom of Press in South Africa as papers should never have to tell people beforehand what they will or will not print. See J'burg Mail and Guardian.
MEANWHILE IN NEW ZEALAND
The Christchurch Press joined the National Business Review and the Dominion Post in publishing the cartoons. Peaceful protests resulted (which is fine--nobody has a problem with peaceful protesting). The Labor Prime Minister, Helen Clark, however roundly condemned the publishing of the cartoons. Although she is entitled to her opinion, I should have known she was losing perspective when she formed a coalition with New Zealand First and excluded the Greens completely last year.
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS are running the headline on their webiste Freedom Murdered in Lebanon will be taking on the case of the 2 Jordanian Moderate Islamic editors arrested a few days ago. I would urge all Kossacks to visit the website and donate generously. UPDATE-UPDATE: Der Spiegel is reporting that the charges against the 2 editors have been dropped--if true fantastic news!!
So although it is a black day, the forces of freedom and moderation are rallying to oppose the fundamentalist onslaught. Let us remain resolute in our defence of freedom be it against King George and his Christian Fundamentalists or the Islamic Fundamentalists or any other Fundamentalists of any creed or faith. Allow me to end with a nice quote from an old friend RWE.
I like the silence of a church, before the service begins better than any preaching. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson