Mr Spinkles said:
Will Western newspapers print the anti-semetic cartoons? Should they?
The question was addressed to linwood, but I think they should print at least a representative sampling. If it were my newspaper, I'd also try to get some discussion going about why, in the Muslim world, anti-Western sentiment is vented in this way.
We're mad at the Europeans; let's go kick some Jews.
See, I think a lot of the protesters have a lot be angry about. There's the usual oppression of the poor by the rich, which happens almost everywhere, but isn't less oppressive for being common. There's Israeli oppression of Palestinians. There's Western -- and especially American -- imperialism. However, I don't think some cartoons in a Danish paper would normally get them this stirred up. How many of them ever read Danish papers in the first place? How many of us do? Muslim religious leaders in Denmark deliberately stirred up this controversy, even traveling to the Middle East for the purpose.
Sadly, religious fundamentalism gives people the illusion of purpose and vindication. We see the same thing in the U.S., where millions support the very right-wing politicians and religious leaders who are screwing them over, because the religious leaders have convinced them that their real enemies are feminists and homosexuals.
What it basically comes down to is corrupt politicians and business leaders who give people reasons to feel off balance, and corrupt religious leaders who exploit those feelings and puff up their own position by stirring up hatred and focusing it on some scapegoat.
None of it is any excuse for violence, though.
