We are all Danes

Hindus may consider it odious to use cows as food, but they do not resort to boycotts, threats, and violence when non-Hindus eat hamburger or steak. They do not demand that everyone abide by the strictures of Hinduism and avoid words and deeds that Hindus might find upsetting. The same is true of Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Mormons: They don't lash out in violence when their religious sensibilities are offended. They certainly don't expect their beliefs to be immune from criticism, mockery, or dissent.

But radical Muslims do.

(...)

Here and there, some brave Muslim voices have cried out against the book-burners. The Jordanian newspaper Shihan published three of the cartoons. ''Muslims of the world, be reasonable," implored Shihan's editor, Jihad al-Momani, in an editorial. ''What brings more prejudice against Islam -- these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras?" But within hours Momani was out of a job, fired by the paper's owners after the Jordanian government threatened legal action.

He wasn't the only editor sacked last week. In Paris, Jacques LeFranc of the daily France Soir was also fired after running the Mohammed cartoons. The paper's owner, an Egyptian Copt named Raymond Lakah, issued a craven and Orwellian statement offering LeFranc's head as a gesture of ''respect for the intimate beliefs and convictions of every individual."

Read the entire article by Jeff Jacoby here.

For those living in Paris, you can buy Danish products at the Maison du Danemark, 142, avenue des Champs-Elyses.

"If your belief is affirm, then you shouldn't be oppressed by the contrariant fingers"

I don't think Boycott is a right thing to do.

Though about the caricatures of Muhammad PBUH, I as a human, believe that: 'to make a mockery of someone's belief - I don't know if that's a very well-thought act to carry out. Just my opine: if one really wants to criticise someone's belief, there are more civilized ways to do it'

Obviously, accroding to Islam, making caricatures are forbidden, but then us Muslims forget that the selected masses who made it are not Muslims, and you cannot compel others to act the way you please.

Furthermore, as a Muslim, instead of being all affronted by the issue we should try to grasp the thought why it allured people to make such caricatures - Maybe because somewhere along the line, we were at fault. And we should be responsible for our doing instead of standing someone else blameworthy of it.

In the end, I understand what you are going through. Islam really doesn't teach all this what you see on the media. What you see in the news/media about the protest and etc is not teaching of Islams.

If you see all these big news channels like CNN, BBC and more, and for a second wonder who really owns them maybe you'll get an idea of where I'm getting at. I'm not blaming or point fingers, but what I'm trying to say is that if tomorrow I owned a big news channel I would've made every effort to show the good side of Islam and what Islam really is.

Just for a thought, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world (almost sure) - so do you really think it teaches voilence and stuff? ... Just a thought!

It's all my opinion - I had no intentions to hurt anyone.

Bye

-A Muslim

PS::: and I agree with what you said in this post. Everyone has a Freedom of Speech and they shouldn't be bulldozed to apologize for their saying.

Viks,

I have a question for you.

I am a Christian and since you're telling us you are a Muslim, and that Islam is all about tolerance, here's an opportunity to discuss.

The Arab media daily print odious cartoons full of hatred against Jews. Here is an example.

What if the Jewish community reacted the way Muslims around the world are reacting today? What do you think about the publication of those cartoons? Don't you think that they "make a mockery of someone's belief"?

In France, we have a daily, TV program whose aim is political caricature. They never miss an opportunity to bash the Pope.

Do Christians go burn to the ground the TV channel broacasting the program?

Do Jews burn the embassies of Saudi Arabia or Iran?

And I'm not even mentioning the caricature of Americans in general, only because they not necessarily represent one single religion.

I would've made every effort to show the good side of Islam and what Islam really is

Brilliant, Einstein. WHY DON'T MUSLIMS DO THIS?

Yeah, I know, Einstein was a Jew. Get over it.
You are not going to kill me because I made a joke, are you?

If you see all these big news channels like CNN, BBC and more, and for a second wonder who really owns them maybe you'll get an idea of where I'm getting at.

Carine::: Yeah - I agree, that's a wrong thing to do. As I said before - I agree with most of the stuff you said; in fact all.

There are bad people in every religion/race etc etc, but that doesn't mean that the whole populace of that particular religion/race are bad. As I said it on my blogsite 'I don't know if those drawings were a right thing or a wrong thing to do' - so I really don't know; but as a human, I wouldn't want to make fun of other people's emotion. But that's just me, maybe people have different views.

Andy ::: No I won't kill you ;) - WHY DON'T MUSLIMS DO THIS? That's a good question! Arabs are rich enough to invest in it - If I had enough I would've made an effort; but hopes are high!

McCarthy ::: That's your views maybe. I have nothing against Jews or anyone else :-) Why should I?

-Regards