Unconfirmed Reports

I am guessing that one of the biggest topics in the blogosphere at the moment must be the Mohammed cartoons. They are certainly the hot topic in newspaper editorials over here, anyway. For what it’s worth (nothing?), I would like to register my opinion.

At first, I thought, ’stupid bloody Danes… French… oh everyone in Europe now - why is insulting Islam and breaking one of its fundamental rules such an achievement. Come on, let’s have some cultural sensitivity here’.

But now I have changed my mind. I think I was suffering from a Leftist anxiety that designates all other cultures as more sacred than your own. Because the thing is, I actually hold the publishing of insulting, rude and insensitive material very dear. I am glad of the Sex Pistols, because they systematically insulted as much of English culture as they could. And I would like to see this service extended to all cultures, if possible. Why do some muslims think their culture is so fucking special, that everyone, all over the world, even in Denmark, should have to tip-toe around their beliefs?

As it happens, I haven’t got anything against Mr Mohammed. But I have got something against anyone who thinks that their own code of conduct should be adhered to everyone, all over the world, under threat of violence. Wankers.

… Though on the other hand, I’m not sure if the protests are really against the printing of the cartoons, or if the cartoons are just a vague excuse to release other frustrations. For example, youths in Tehran have been throwing stones at the British embassy in protest. Yet no British press has published the cartoons, and no official has said anything in support of them, or even in condemnation of the attacks on embassies etc.

Seems like the real protest going on here is a general protest against imperialism, with some silly cartoons providing the requisite spark. The muslim world was in a moment when it was ready to get angry.