I just saw that Lebanese protesters have
burned down the Danish embassy in response to the cartoon that depicted Mohammed with a bomb in his head. Now, I know I'm going to get flamed for posting this, unfortunately. Before I say what I'm going to say, I am not in anyway anti-Muslim. Nor do I think the cartoon wasn't offensive.
Nor do I believe that Israel is correct in everything it has done (you will see soon why I write this). I believe that in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, for instance, there is a lot of blame to go around - two wrongs don't make a right, the Israeli tactics are heavy handed and misguided and the settlers should be kicked out, but I still don't believe that justifies a resistance which includes suicide bombings of innocents.
So what's my point? I think that the outrage over this cartoon in the Muslim world is the greatest form of hypocrisy, and I wish we'd call them on it. Here's why:
The amount of incredibly disgusting anti-Semitic cartoons, articles, misinformation, etc. that gets published in the Muslim world on a daily basis makes this one cartoon look like Dilbert. The success of TV shows like "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," which are based on utter fictions, the fact that millions of Muslims are told that Jews want to use their babies' blood for rituals, the pictures of Jews with massive noses, so and so forth - this happens every single day.
UPDATED: Some have accused me of making this up, so I'm posting a couple links. Here is a selection of cartoons from Arab papers posted in recent years. Here is a good summary of the Protocols of Elders of Zion and its uses throughout the modern Muslim media.
Now, I am as liberal as they come, but I don't justify hatred. And let's be honest, many here in DailyKos do. I've posted about the Middle-Eastern conflict in the past, and when I do the number of responses I receive justifying the tactics of suicide bombers is stunning. The fact that anyone justifies killing at all is stunning. I'm certain now that I will receive postings justifying the amount of anti-Semitism that exists in the Muslim world.
I am not defending Israeli policies. That has nothing to do with it. The situation is extremely complex, and those who think that Israel simplies needs to offer up a good settlement and then peace will reign are naive. The hatred on both sides is deep. But let's face the truth - millions upon millions of Muslims are exposed to hateful anti-Semitism through their media - and I'm not talking about criticisms of Israel. I'm talking about real, old-fashioned, anti-Semitism based upon medieval myth and hatred.
I'm sorry, it's hard for me to have too much sympathy for people who burn down buildings when a cartoon offends them, while the media in their own countries attack a religion as much as they do. When will we call them on that?
So, at the end of the day, I'm not posting here to justify Israeli actions, or attack Muslims in general, or this or that. But, c'mon now. I call bullshit on this holier-than-thou fanatical attitude. If you want to protest depictions of your own religion, you better make sure your shit don't stink first.