UPDATED: The Cartoon War: A Collision of Values
Nope, it’s not a “row.” It’s a war.
At first take the name The Cartoon War may suggest something comic, exaggerated, or surreal. Those elements are in play– definitely in play. Cartoon and War are a collision, words that should not appear in the same serious sentence. They are a collision of values. But that’s the core of this, isn’t it? Likewise, the very real violence and anger add a heavy, instructive irony. The war between open and closed societies is not superficial, exaggerated, or surreal. The imagination is a battlefield. On a “technologically-compressed planet” the small and mundane –the cartoon– can quickly inflame; in a world of unfiltered, borderless information “the imagined” can have extraordinary conzequences.
Perhaps it should not be, but it is. Perhaps 9/11 should not have occurred, but it did.
Islamists are using the cartoons as a propaganda vehicle, but then they used Newsweek’s “Koran flushing” article. An implacable, unappeaseable enemy can use anything and everything as propaganda.
The Cartoon War is complex. It pits free speech against violent mobs. It also pits provocation against faith.
The conflict once again reveals the peculiar arrogance of some European Muslim immigrants: they cannot be criticized or satirized, though they freely critique and satirize Christians, Jews, and secularists.
UPDATE: “Islamist” is used in the sense The Economist uses the word– a “political” and “ideological” hijacking of Islam. I think The Economist coined it over a decade ago, with Bin Laden-types (Salafists) in mind. I suspect tyrants of various secular and sectarian stripes are using the photos as well– Syria as an example. I noted there is an ugly component that implicates the “free speech” advocates — that of provocation contra faith. All too many western “free speech extremists” lack any sense of reverence.
UPDATE 2: A fine post at New Criterion’s web log on this subject.
UPDATE 3: Please review the rules for posts on this blog. Your comment won’t appear if you use the usual DailyKos obscenities — I’ll never see it since the spam filter takes them out.
A few mere cartoons? Little do these poor naifs know of of the heavy weapons of ridicule available to the West. How long is it until we get jokes that start: “Have you heard the one about the Rabbi, the Priest and the Imam…?” or “How many terrorists does it take to blow up…?” or “Why could you do…? There was a fatwa against it!” Or maybe “The Satanic Verses” done off-Broadway… as a transvestite musical! Blasphemy? The West has not even *begun* to mock! And while killing comedians may *seem* like a good idea, they will, of course, just make jokes of *that*.
Comment by ajacksonian — 2/5/2006 @ 8:54 am
This could be a clash of values if Muslims had civilized values. But of course they would have to have a civilization first, at least one not stuck in the middle ages.
Comment by Jeff — 2/5/2006 @ 8:58 am
Its unfortunate that this is happening. The truth is that a majority of the protestors are not protesting merely the 12 cartoons. 95% or more of them have not seen the cartoons. They have no idea how offensive the cartoons really are. They are merely responding to generic muslim outrage at the rumor that their prophet has been humiliated by the west. They are protesting against the 3 fake cartoons (which were drawn by muslims to create outrage and are truly offensive) that they believe to be true. They are protesting the korans that they believe are being burnt in the streets of Copenhagen. They are protesting the blatant abuse of islam and the prophet that they have heard is appearing all over the west. They are protesting the masses of westerners that they hear are screaming and rejoicing in the streets as they dance around the ashes of a humiliated Koran. They are protesting the pigheads being tossed in mosques. Do you not believe me? Ive been there in the past and seen this happen. The protests you see are not protests against 12 mere cartoons. They are protests against a far greater insults that they now believe to have happened. This isnt about a billion people vs. cartoons. Its about ignorance and human tendency to magnify things far beyond their original purport. Its about rabblerousers and benighted imams and mullahs stoking the fires of passion with falsehoods. Its about many many things. Not merely cartoons. The cartoons only began it. They wont end it.
Comment by Bstar — 2/5/2006 @ 9:18 am
The emotional immaturity of trowing a tantrum over cartoons shows the Muslim society at its worst. It also shows one of its vulnerabilities. During the major combat operations phase of the Iraq war, the enemy could be prevoked into making suicidal attacks on US forces by psyops insults. In this case the words of another famous Dane come to mind. “… It is a tale told by and idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” How long can a regional tantrum be sustained? Note that the tantrum does not occur where there is adequate force to suppress it. The Syrian and Lebanon violence is just another example of state sponsored terrorism used to distract from the problems of the Assad entity in Damascus.
Comment by Merv Benson — 2/5/2006 @ 9:40 am
If people in the free world give in to this and bow at the knee to these monsters then half the battle is won for them. Everywhere these muslims go people must make exceptions for them. Or defer to there sensibilities while they practice no such restraint when it come to jews or christians
Comment by Jack Hamilton — 2/5/2006 @ 9:49 am
The Cartoon War: A Collision of Values HT Austin Bay Rocketsbrain has said all along the GWOT is a class of ideologies, cultures, and civilizations. The ultimate question and which will prevail, is that ideology which meets the needs and wants of its people without becoming re…
Trackback by Rocket's Brain Trust — 2/5/2006 @ 10:18 am
if critique was all they did…they also feel free to kidnap, torment, and behead them.
Comment by Kirk — 2/5/2006 @ 10:42 am
The bottom line of all of this is very simple and very obvious. When it comes to Islamism and Freedom, you can have one or the other on this planet. You can’t have both.
Comment by CosmicConservative — 2/5/2006 @ 10:47 am
Yes Austin, it is a war. From the first molotov that was hurled at the Emabassy. Anyone in the world media biz knows these Mussies are looking back to the 7th Century Caliphate and Sharia law. I saw a post comment this morning that said “I wasn’t freed from Communism to serve under Sharia.” Welps, that about says it all. Many will agree that this is outlandishly absurd and the Muslims need to be held accountable. This is ‘Rodney King’ on the international level. And their answer is “No. We can’t all get along.” So break out that new zap micro wave ray the Pentagon just got and we’ll see you on the other side. Score another one for the religion of peace.
Comment by AUSPatriotman — 2/5/2006 @ 10:55 am
[…] olitics, Middle East/Terrorism at 9:12 am by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton Courtesy of Austin Bay: Nope, it’s not a “row.†It’s a war. At first take the name The Cartoon War may suggest som […]
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You got that right. Remember that the left has its own standard for blasphamy in political correctness that, ironically, invites the attack it means to deflect. The Islamic jihadists and the communists have much in common and we must treat both equally, with a “whiff of the grape”.
Comment by Terry Baker — 2/5/2006 @ 11:16 am
You’re right, Austin, this is a declaration of war (one of many) by radical Islamists who want to kill us and destroy our way of life. This is not an issue of “free speech,” no matter how much effete, cowardly intellectuals and politicians in the West want to make it so. When someone threatens to kills me and my neighbors, to inflict a “holocaust” on my society, then there is not much left to talk about, is there? Seems to me that active self-defense is what is called for, commensurate with the nature of the threat. Here, radical islamists have demonstrated, repeatedly, that they are deadly serious about killing us and disrupting our political and economic institutions. This clear and present danger should be met with firm resistance, not criticism for the exercise of free speech by westerners or sympathy for the “offense” taken by Muslims. We know who the enemy are — they are marching openly in support of terrorists in downtown London. It amazes, and saddens, me that the British people would tolerate such outrageous behavior.
Comment by Steven M. Warshawsky — 2/5/2006 @ 11:21 am
Mr. Bay uses word Islamist: “Islamists are using the cartoons as a propaganda vehicle” Virtually all Moslem goverments condemned cartoons and demanded action by Danish goverment. All “moderate moslem govs” demanded it, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, our creation and biggest “friend” Irag, as well as our less-then-moderate “friends” Paki, Saudis, Egypt. I’m a bit confused, Mr. Bay. Are you saying all Moslem govs have to play to their Islamists majorities? Or you don’t see any difference between Islamists and all Moslems? So far ‘toons’ affair generated a letter from 80 (www.sappho.dk/Den%20loebende/ekstremister_english.htm), that’s right, 80! - moderates Moslems condemning Moslem over-reaction. While hundreds of thousands demonstrate in rage. Perhaps we can say that there is 1 moderate Moslem for every million Islamists. What do you say about it Mr. Bay? ED NOTE: I hope my update answers your question. Thank you for taking the time to post this comment.
Comment by mik — 2/5/2006 @ 11:50 am
[…] nsequences“ David Warren: “The Rage“ Austin Bay: It’s not a row. It’s a war. Instapundit’s Glenn and Helen podcast is up: Timely and excellent as usual. Guests are […]
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Each attempt to expose the violent intolerance of Islam for what it is succeeds wildly, and yet few in the West can really believe what they see with their own eyes. It is widely assumed that there must be some other underlying motivation at work here, because such virulent reactions to seemingly innocuous provocations are simply too surreal to accept at face value. What the doubters need to realize is that, throughout history, Islamic aggressors have never minced words regarding their objectives. It is time to truly listen to what they say and understand that this is what we will surely get. The war is being televised around the world; will the West realize it time?
Comment by Jay Inman — 2/5/2006 @ 12:23 pm
For a start, America and Europe should deport ALL its Islamonazis, whether they hold citizenship or not. Muslims who accept OUR culture should be allowed to stay and be welcomed. Those who don’t can get the hell out and live in 7′th century violence, ignorance, and squalor. A 100 megaton air burst over Damascus would be welcome.
Comment by Mark McGilvray — 2/5/2006 @ 1:36 pm
Muslim Cartoon War — Austin Bay Comments Austin Bay has an interesting review of Syria’s Assad clan rulers and the “secret” religion they practice, Alawite. The Alawites are usually described as a Shia sect. Note this reference (at absoluteastronomy) says the Alawites origin is “in …
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Pingback by CaNN :: We started it. — 2/5/2006 @ 2:05 pm
The cartoons are one form of iconography, forbidden under muslim - and some christain faiths also - interpretation, weather good or bad. This is a fault line as old as Moses and the idolterers. In 7 - 8 th century, the Bzyantium empire tore itself apart with the Iconoclastic civil disruptions, while the muslims, enemies of the Byzantines, but more sympathic to the Iconoclastics views, gave iconoclasts santuary and military assistance. So while the east and west christain empires argued about fine points of theology, pictures of saints and leadership, the muslims spread thru formally christian lands and the Eastern Empire had its ass handed to it. But thats ancient history. meleager
Comment by john — 2/5/2006 @ 2:17 pm
May I gently remind everyone that it’s time to oil up the equipment.
Comment by Mike H. — 2/5/2006 @ 3:10 pm
Just deport every last one of them to their country of origin.
Comment by usedtobetolerant — 2/5/2006 @ 4:09 pm
The ability to “rally the troops†with claims of persecution is well used device. Good ole ‘dolf worked it realy well in Germany in the late 20s and early 30s. Matter of fact there are some groups here in the USA that use that same rally cry, “our faith is being persecuted†to rally its members. Watch and see who shows up on say Fox News claiming their faith is subject of persecution. It’s also worked with ethnic groups as well as religious ones. The only saving grace here, so far, is that no one of late has taken to the streets over such perceived persecution.
Comment by Bill Gross — 2/5/2006 @ 4:19 pm
Would The Cartoon War beat out the War of Jenkin’s Ear for most bizarre? Both in name and in the source of conflict?
Comment by Matt — 2/5/2006 @ 4:31 pm
In ‘79, the Iranian Government couldn’t control the “students” who stormed the US Embassy in Tehran. Or at least that was their official line. Despite hundreds of millions in Aids, the Paletinian Authority can’t control “some elements”. It is a very old and tiresome game, everytime Some GOVERNMENT in the Muslim World, doesn’t get it’s way, all of a sudden their populations are “beyond control”. It is nothing more than the negotiating technique 3 year olds use in the candy aisle at the Super Market. Unfortunately, for the most part, it has been working for 25 years.
Comment by Soldier's Dad — 2/5/2006 @ 5:15 pm
Everything old is new again - for a little historical perspective, I recommend this brief article on Iconoclasm - the 8th and 9th Century controversey over the display of religious imagery in the Christian Church. The movement was launched by the Byzantine Emperor Leo III (716-741), who seems to have been unduly influenced by Islamic beliefs on this matter. The good news is that it only took a century or so to resolve the issue!
Comment by Gary — 2/5/2006 @ 10:22 pm
” Islamists are using the cartoons as a propaganda vehicle, but then they used Newsweek’s “Koran flushing†article. An implacable, unappeaseable enemy can use anything and everything as propaganda. ” If you’re comparing the quality of Newsweek’s articles to cartoons, I concur.
Comment by Tom — 2/6/2006 @ 8:01 am
I am glad our state department didn’t come out and support the cartoonist. Heck, we all know that Americans are behind the cartoonist, but let’s face it– our soldiers would suffer. The MSM had no trouble throwing gasoline on the fire when they showed the Abu Ghraib photos that caused an uproar, but have picked sides and not published the cartoons. They hate the military, but are petrified over political correctness and suicide bombers in their own children’s schools. They have lost their spine. THe double standard is sickening. Our government did not want the Abu Ghraib photos published because they knew the soldiers would be harmed in the name of the photos, and they are right that support of the cartoonists PUBLICLY, would hurt our soldiers.
Comment by Karen — 2/6/2006 @ 8:17 am
Daniel Pipes, in his book of essays “Militant Islam Reaches America,” writes that Iran, having lived under radical Islam for 25 years while their economic was wrecked, may reject Islam completely once they throw off the mullahs. The battle going on is within Islam. When I was in Istanbul, I learned that the mosaics in Hagia Sophia, the great cathedral converted by the Ottomans into a mosque , were supposed to be destroyed as idolatrous. Instead, the architect commissioned by the Sultan, a Muslim convert from Christianity, covered them carefully and plastered over with calligraphy. The original mosaics are now being rediscovered as the cathedral is restored for a tourist attraction. That architect, hundreds of years ago, assumed that Christianity would return to the city. He probably didn’t realize how long it would be but he did his work well. We see the radicals but they know they are doomed if they do not win.
Comment by Mike K — 2/6/2006 @ 8:34 am
Since freedom as we exercise it here in the west is unacceptable to Islam, then somebody must go. Whether it’s upright on the next flight out or laying stiff 6′ feet under is one to me.
Comment by chickenhawklittle — 2/6/2006 @ 8:46 am
There is a petition to restore Hagia Sophia to its original use, at Hagia Sophia Blog. Here is the relevant passage:
Comment by Lola Lee Beno — 2/6/2006 @ 8:53 am
I’m sure that somewhere, we have GPS coordinates on these protest sites. One can only imagine their reaction to a few hundred square meters of molten glass. Just sayin’s all.
Comment by Tim Smith — 2/6/2006 @ 9:19 am
Seems to me, we are splitting hairs about govt reactions to criminal and war like events. People are being attacked who should be protected. Yet we and govt. are pandering to the attackers, rather than prosecuting them. European citizenry do not have the means or the stomach to defend themselves. I suspect here in the US when this all reaches us, citizenry under attack will not sit idle waiting to die if our government dawdles. The spirit of “lets roll” will return, I suspect because the average guy on the street is not willing to scarifice him/herself for governmental noble causes aimed at appeasing neandrathal sensitivities.
Comment by vile nylons — 2/6/2006 @ 9:28 am
Okay, to a rabbi, a priest and an imam walk into a bar…….. KABOOM!
Comment by Tom — 2/6/2006 @ 9:35 am
side with freedom Remember all those art museums that militant Christians torched after the showing of Piss Christ? Neither do I. In the real world, when you disagree with an editorial cartoon, you write a letter to the editor. Or organize a boycott.
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What no one is addressing is the fact that the Danish newspaper published the cartoons to make a point about the tendency of those in the West to self-censor when dealing with issues related to Islam. That salient point was certainly lost on the Islamist fanatics. Even more disturbing, however, is the fact that the point has been lost on much of the Western media. CNN has even gone so far to insist that the delicate sensibilities of the fascist Islamic cause need to be protected, thus siding with the enemies of freedom.
Comment by Nine — 2/6/2006 @ 11:12 am
Will the “military gains” of the Islamists and Islamofacists be limited to the destruction of Embassy’s of small countries or will the extortion be allowed to escalate further? Is the destruction of an Embassy not an act of war? In the greater scheme of things, self censorship will lead to the self destuction of Western Civilization. The ideology of Islamism is not congruent with that of the Western Tradition.
Comment by gymnast — 2/6/2006 @ 12:10 pm
Europe has gone to bed with the devil and now must pay the price. We are at the beginning of a very long conflict. If and when the Cartoon War is resolved, it will be something else. The fact is that Muslims are very sensitive people, at least when it comes to things in the West that offends them. In fact, even being alive and having an opinion may offend them. Too bad the injustices, oppression and hate in the Quran and Muslim world don’t offend them at all. Think about this: Islamic accounts tell us that Mohammed made war upon unbelievers, attacked villages and caravans by surprise, took slaves, ordered brutal torture of captives, gave permission to his men to rape captives, had old men and women with children killed for criticizing him, defamed women and even beat his favorite wife. Now these things are written by his friends and followers in the hadiths, not Islam’s enemies. And Mohammad is considered a great moral example, and Muslims are encouraged to be like him. This pretty much explains everything…. When is someone going to go on national / international TV and ask some Muslim scholar or Imam about these things? It would be a very interesting show. John Kactuz
Comment by John Arthur — 2/6/2006 @ 12:13 pm
“All too many western “free speech extremists†lack any sense of reverence.” That’s an interesting thread running through this whole fiasco. The more I think about this, the more I think that lack of reverence played a huge role.
Comment by The Hedgehog — 2/6/2006 @ 1:02 pm
Just A Quick Thought on “Provocative” Cartoons Given the now-abundant evidence, as noted by Austin Bay, that much of the violent “outrage” in Islamic countries is orchestrated by self-serving interests (read: Syrian government), perhaps it is time for commentators in the West (to use an excessive…
Trackback by The Hedgehog Blog — 2/6/2006 @ 1:05 pm
If the Islamo-nutters are mad enough already, let me provoke them a little further. “Hard America”, those who see the Angry Muslim Street ™ and think: “Then quit with the racist caricatures of Jews in your OFFICIAL GOVT MEDIA already” takes these people at their word, and are not surprised. Those of us who’ve read a little Bernard Lewis recognize the Arab Muslim world for what it is, a remnant of the former self which once conquered from Poitiers to Persepolis, built the Alhambra, and invented Algegra. The mindset of the Arab Ummah is one of envy and rage and self-pity — envy at the West’s openness and prosperity; rage that such will NEVER occur in their own benighted, retrograde culture as it currently exists; and self-pity in that all of the above is someone else’s (Jews’) fault. Their sense of martyrdom is no different than that of the embittered ex-husband who murders his wife, his children, and then himself. (otherwise known as Bill Maher’s concept of “courage”). “Soft America”, bless their naive, trusting hearts, may finally realize that the Angry Muslim Steet(tm) hates them just as much as they do the rest of modernity, despite all the Softies’ helpful excuse-making and Israel-blaming on their behalf. I mean, my g-d, they’re angrier at the free-healthcare-loving Danes and Norwegians than they are at Chimpy McHitlerburton? After the Norwegians conferred a Nobel Prize on bloody-handed Arafat?? Why do they hate us so??? Absent a wave of democratization and opening ala’ Eastern Europe, or, g-d forbid, the smuggling of Iranian nukes to Western cities, the Arab Ummah is doomed to devolve further into the mindless carnage and darkness that afflicts much of Africa. We are already seeing the war of all-against-all playing out in walled-off Gaza and the West Bank. Which reminds me of a joke: Why are there no Arab characters on Star Trek? Because it’s set in the future. Put that up your placards and smoke it! –furious
Comment by furious — 2/6/2006 @ 1:38 pm
The Cartoon War The whole Muslim outrage over the cartoons of Mohammed is really getting beaten to death in the blogosphere but I think it’s mainly because many in the West are simply aghast at the level of violence that is being perpetrated
Trackback by Vae-Victus — 2/6/2006 @ 7:07 pm
ajacksonian sez: “Little do these poor naifs know of of the heavy weapons of ridicule available to the West.” Have you heard about the new product in the sex shops? The Palestinian love doll … it blows itself up!
Comment by ralph phelan — 2/6/2006 @ 9:39 pm
Is it lack of reverence or extremism (on every side) that leads to such misunderstandings? If everyone were to understand the other’s point of view (including “Jyllands-Postens’sâ€), wouldn’t things be much less volatile, vehement and violent?? Ed note: A quick elaboration here: A lack of reverence is part of the problem; the lack of reverence I see is a lack of respect for the existence of others. Liberty’s decadence is libertinism — narcissism. The tyrant is the Big Man, the Libertine the Big Me. In that sense there is a “free speech” extremism. There are people who are offended by others’ faith, so they mock it. Has zip to do with civil rights, etc.–I think the case I describe usually has to do with the mocker’s own spiritual or psychological issues. I recomend Paul Woodruff’s Reverence: Renewing a forgotten virtue.” It’s available from Oxford University Press.
Comment by RTinPE — 2/7/2006 @ 6:59 am
all this furor just exposes Islam for what it is. A death cult hiding behind the cloak of religion to entice feeble minded fanatics to kill themselves and others for the power hungry Imams who are trying to turn the world back to biblical times.
Comment by bn — 2/8/2006 @ 1:05 pm
Take a look at this video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1752302134548724932&q=jezus Maybe a few of us Christians should go out there and burn down a couple of embassies…right after we stop laughing. What makes us different from the Muslim hordes is that we have a sense of humour!
Comment by Vince DC — 2/8/2006 @ 3:41 pm
I found the jesus video funny and then offensive. But its a freee country. No if you made a video like that about Mohamoud, y ou’d be in for it. Of course the mosloms overreacted but the danish artist should have kn own from history tha thewas stirring u ptrouble.
Comment by james zuchelli — 2/10/2006 @ 2:46 am
My church is recruiting cartoonists for the Cartoon Crusades. If you have any available cartoonists who would prefer to avoid eternal damnation, please let me know.
Comment by OneEar — 2/11/2006 @ 2:39 am
Flemming Rose born 3/14/1956 into a Jewish family in the Ukraine has a major in Russian language and literature from University of Copenhagen. From 1990 to 1996 he was the Moscow correspondent for the newspaper Berlingske Tidende. Between 1996 and 1999 he was the correspondent for the same newspaper in Washington, D.C.. In 1999 he became Moscow correspondent for the newspaper Jyllands-Posten and January 2005 the cultural editor of that paper (KulturWeekend). He fled Denmark where he was under police protection to Miami, Florida in fear for his life where he is currently in hiding.
Comment by John Smith — 2/11/2006 @ 4:02 pm
Thoughts on an Islamic Prophet… I respect Muslims and any religion that acknowledges there is just but one God. I also have respect for free speech and not letting free speech be controlled by terror. I believe the Danish people should be proud to freely speak their minds, and I ho…
Trackback by Thought Leadership — 2/13/2006 @ 4:57 am
first of all i would like to say that its all a strategy of u.s.a,u.k n israel govt,now they are sitting behined the scenes n other european nation are in trouble …the most important thing is respect,when will the so called civilization of europe n u.s.a will learn that?muslims can not make fun of jeuses n moses cause we in HOLY QURAN it is clear that they were prophets from GOD(ALLAH) so no offence to them ….n if this is so called freedom of speech and expressions tell me honestly what happened with prince harry the poor kid cannot wear the nazist or fascist uniform in a funky fancy party…why?its a free world …but oh people of england are so senstive they got hurt easily …there is only 1 think if u are “civilized”then respect others the constitution of united nations based on the teachings of MOHAMMAD PEACE BE UPON HIM actually its a copy paste constitution.
Comment by sherry — 2/14/2006 @ 3:50 am
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