Monday, February 20, 2006
Cartoon Hungama
Much has been said and written about the controversial 'prophet' cartoons. If freedom of expression is everyone’s right in Europe, would someone in Denmark publishing a cartoon depicting a mob beating up the Danish Prime Minister be let scot-free? Well after all he is just stating his point of view using his European birthright - freedom of expression.
In the entire infamous 'clash of civilizations' debate a couple of arguments stood out.
- On one of the panels an excitable American journalist accused the Arab world of 'overreacting' by boycotting Danish products. An Arab on the panel calmly replied, 'And the Americans were patriotic when they boycotted French Fries (in the aftermath of the French decision of not joining the war in Iraq)
- This one was a stunner - The chief cultural editor of the now famous/infamous Danish daily was on this panel. A religious Muslim in the panel asked him if his paper had ever published any cartoon making fun of Christians or Jews. The response was - "Yes, sometime ago we did publish a cartoon depicting Ariel Sharon killing Palestinian babies". The person who raised the question was infuriated and commented - "It’s not the same thing, Sharon is a human being. It’s not the same as drawing a cartoon of the prophet". The editor replied, seemingly with all the conviction in the world - "In our culture it is considered a bigger insult if someone makes fun of a living or existing being". Needless to say, the panel and the audience were speechless for a couple of minutes.
The age old quote which states that 'Every right comes with a degree of responsibility' holds, with regards to this controversy atleast.
# posted by Akshai @ 5:41 AM 
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"Would someone in Denmark publishing a cartoon depicting a mob beating up the Danish Prime Minister be let scot-free?"
Actually I believe they would.
"In our culture it is considered a bigger insult if someone makes fun of a living or existing being". Needless to say.
Needless? It seems like a perfectly rational viewpoint.
Actually I believe they would.
"In our culture it is considered a bigger insult if someone makes fun of a living or existing being". Needless to say.
Needless? It seems like a perfectly rational viewpoint.
I agree with what rajneesh has said. Take a look at some of the criticism that Bush administration receives at http://www.presidentmoron.com/ or even in a mainstream magazine such as Time - http://www.time.com/time/cartoons/20060204/2.html
Some of the stuff might be downright offensive - especially the bit showing Bush with big ears, but they don't get as much as a slap on the wrist, do they?
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Some of the stuff might be downright offensive - especially the bit showing Bush with big ears, but they don't get as much as a slap on the wrist, do they?
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