Saturday, February 04, 2006

Why did Jyllands-Posten bring those cartoons?

This is my first post on this blog, actually it's my first post on a blog ever! I'm a student living in the current front line in this rising war between the west and the arab world, Denmark.

I guess many people around the world really don't know why Jyllands-Posten did bring the very discussed cartoons. They didn't do it to provoke muslims in any way. It all happened with the Theo van Gogh murder. He was killed because he made a film (Submission) critizing Islam (though it was more the view on women). Afterwards a writer named Kåre Bluitgen wrote a children's book about the profet Muhammed's life and searched artists to do some illustrations of Muhammed. He only found one artist willing to draw but the artist demanded that his name wouldn't be mentioned. He feared violent attacks from angry muslims (keep in mind the van Gogh murder was still pretty recent). This made Kåre Bluitgen, who is very leftist, openly question the self-censorship and freedom of expression in Denmark. Jyllands-Posten thought it was crazy that noone dared to do those illustrations, so they decided to try bring some cartoons of Muhammed themself and deliver their opinion to the very serious debate.

And that's why Jyllands-Posten bring thoose cartoons! Danish muslims was very angry about that and tried to find support in the rest of the world, and you probably now the rest.

Details to be found at wikipedia.

This is the war the arabic countries want. They are really going down, but I'm not sure if the western Europe will survive. I'm prepared to leave when Europe turns real bad.

10 comments:

Jason Pappas said...

Thanks. I like hearing from our friends in Denmark. Stay strong. Left, middle or right, we are all in the same boat on this one. Free speech is a prerequisite to all debate.

I'm optimistic in the long-run. Sure matters may get worse before they get better. But people are waking up. Perhaps not at the US State Department. But we'll have to change that.

On another topic. For some reason I can't get onto my blog ("Liberty and Culture" - see list on right) or "Always on Watch." Anyone else have this problem?

Pastorius said...

DS,
This is one of the most powerful posts we have ever had on IBA. The sense of crisis is palpable. I got chills reading this post.

It is very hard for us in America to understand danger. We are very safe here. It is also very hard for us (especially us white Americans) to really understand that injustice can lead to our deaths.

Europe has barely grown out of its fascist past. And, of course, there are many who would like it to return, so they seem to have common cause with the Jihadis.

I'm so glad you are writing for us. Keep up the good work.

I hope you are very serious about getting out when you decide the danger is too great. Might I suggest reading Herman Wouk's The Winds of War, and War And Remembrance. There is a character in these books, I believe his name was Aaron Janowitz, who just couldn't believe that his beloved Europe would turn so medieval. He sat around philophizing and trying to rationalize the bizarre behavior of his neighbors, until it was too late.

Honestly, I don't how a person can know that it's time to leave. But, that time might come.

Krishna109 said...

Jason: apparently Blogger was down for a few hrs. I couldn't get to several blogs either (including my own and IBA). However, it seems to be OK as of about 10 minutes ago.

DS said...

Thanks jason_pappas and pastorius! Anti-semitism is on the rise in Europe. I don't think many of the western countries will be able to connect Israel and the arabic states to what happens between the western world and arabic world. They'll probably see it as two different things. And anti-semitism in Europe will not brake.

I've just experienced too many things going the wrong way to be optimistic about the future of western Europe.

I'm pretty sure that death penalty in Europe is coming soon. We are just in a inter-war period (like the period between the first world wars). I fear most of the western countries won't survive. On the other hand, I'm very optimistic with the eastern as they probably will fight to the last man to defend the democracy and human rights they just got.

What happens right now is good. We're forced to find and use alternatives to oil so we can get out of the claws of the arabic oil states. I heard Bush did a great speech on that (haven't watched it yet though). But it's war now so terror/terror attempts in Denmark will happen soon.

JMJ said...

DS: You have all of our support!! Thank you so much for writing!

If you must leave, you must do what you must do.

But while you are still there and ONLY if it is safe for you, would you mind helping us infidels in the west with your "on the street" assessments of what the atmosphere is like over there.

For instance, I had heard there were unreported riots in , I think in Holland or Denmark. Is there any truth to that?

Have some of the people in your country that were more leaning toward the Muslims starting to see what a threat they truely are? I have noticed a change on some of the forums I visit.

Please, this is only a request. If you do not feel comfortable, I certainly understand.

If there is anything we can do to help, please let us know! We are all in this together!!

DS said...

Thanks jmj! There has been riots in Denmark. Yesterday police had to use truncheons and 4 was arrested at Copenhagen Central Station. Here's som pictures of it taking at Angentyrs hjørne:
http://angantyr.blogspot.com/2006/02/gadens-parlament-p-hovedbanegrden.html

Also yesterday, there was mass-demonstrations with both nazi/nationalistic parties and anti-racial autonomes in Hillerød. Danish News:
http://www.ekstrabladet.dk/VisArtikel.iasp?PageID=333555

100-150 arrested. Both riots relate to the cartoons. But the Danish muslim community is very, very quite about all this.

I haven't seen anyone really been able to see what's going on. But some people are beginning to wake up. Most people begins to dislike the arabic countries. That's at least a start :)

Pastorius said...

DS,
Please post on these goings-on, from you view/perspective.

Anonymous said...

Why Muslim Answer like this
plz visit this link
http://milyani.com/2006/02/06/forgive-us-danish/

DS said...

I'll probably post something about that link, it's just too easy :)

Anonymous said...

Leave Denmark NOW!!!!