By Remi Kanazi
"ICH" -- -- Picture this: A cartoon of Jesus, with his pants down,
smiling, raping a little boy. The caption above it reads "Got
Catholicism?" Or how about a picture of a Rabbi with blood dripping
from his mouth after bludgeoning a small Palestinian boy with a knife
shaped like the Star of David-the caption reads "The Devil's Chosen
Ones."
I wonder if people around the world would just consider this free
speech? Of course, some would condone or agree with one, two or all
three, while others would say "it's free speech," although they "find
it offensive and in poor taste." But do you honestly think media
outlets such as the BBC, Le Monde, or any media outlet in Copenhagen
would pick up these cartoons? The outrage would begin instantly and
advertisers would pullout. Yet, those in Denmark and their supporters
around Europe call it freedom of speech to have a cartoon of the
prophet Mohammed-who is not supposed be depicted to prevent idolatry
according to clerical interpretation of the Koran-with a turban shaped
like a bomb on his head.
The double standard the West has set for the rest of the world is
disgusting. We live in a foolish bubble where we think we are free to
say or do whatever we want without consequence. I remember watching
Saturday Night Live when Sinead O'Connor ripped up a picture of the
Pope. The furor was enormous, which led to NBC receiving a 2.5 million
dollar fine by the Federal Communications Commission. Imagine if it
was a picture of Jesus-the US Congress would have made the Teri
Schiavo intervention look like a joke.
Where are the pictures of the dead soldiers, the dead women and
children in the Western media? Some governments won't allow it and
other media outlets just fear the backlash. When I need journalistic
honesty, I have to turn to Al Jazeera, why is that? One cannot even
deny the Holocaust in Europe, question 9/11 in America (unless you
want the Ward Churchill treatment), but the West claims they're all
about free speech.
It is no coincidence the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is grossly pro-
Israeli. It is no coincidence that you never heard the full quotes of
Iranian president Ahmadinejad's comments on Israel and the Holocaust-
no matter the basis. And it is no coincidence that Arab analysts who
are against the war in Iraq, the occupation of Palestine, and
America's "war on terror" are insufficiently represented in the
European press.
So what are Muslims to do? Violence is out of the question-that would
be "an overreaction." So why not boycott? That would be a mistake as
well, according to the European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini
who stated, "Calls for boycotts or for restraints on the freedom of
the press are completely unacceptable." What Frattini meant to say is
that Muslims should choose capitalism over faith. Maybe the European
Union will clarify through a cartoon-Mohammed selling the Koran for
ten bucks in a Danish pawn shop. But boycotting is a friend of the
West. However, they more conveniently title it "sanctions." I'm sure
we all remember the 500,000 Iraqi women and children that died because
of the UN boycotts on Iraq after the first Gulf War.
Is Europe is willing to continue this new trend against boycotts? Will
the European community call on Israel to show Paradise Now in non-
independent theatres? It's the only way to stop the boycott of
Palestinian freedom of speech. Will the European Union resume aide to
the Hamas-led Palestinian government tomorrow? Since Hamas' call for
the destruction of Israel is protected under the clause of freedom of
speech and the group stopped suicide attacks 18 months ago, it only
seems logical.
If Denmark, Norway, France, Germany and the rest of Europe believe in
the freedom of speech, it should include all instances and all
religions. These nations are carelessly defending their hypocrisy and
reinforcing the double standard that alienates Muslims and desecrates
the Muslim faith, under the guise of free speech. I guess only one
question remains for small Norwegian Christian newspapers like
Magazinet that reprinted the cartoons: What would Jesus do?
*** Remi Kanazi is the primary writer for the political website
www.PoeticInjustice.net. He lives in New York City as a Palestinian
American freelance writer
Preemptive war, air strikes an' missile launches
No weapons of mass destruction, only spin an' lies
While Saddam's ghost haunt's Iraq
No matter how hard the spin machine tries
You can't bring all them dead soldiers back
Caskets, graves and mothers cries
Hundred's of thousands Iraqis dead
No weapons of mass destruction, only spin an' lies
Starvation rampant, no water, no bread
Saddam's ghost watches babies die
Refused the hang man's hood, over his head
Knowin' he was bein' hung, for spin an' lies
His ghost haunts Iraq, cuz he ain't dead
Saddam's last word's were
Iraq is now Hell
His hangin' a travesty, of this I am sure
America replaced him, gonna treat Iraqis well
While Saddam's ghost watches
For Iraq is now Hell
Depleted uranium, bombs an' tanks
Shock and awe, world wide TV horror show
While War profiteers fill their pockets and banks
Brave pilots shout hurray, go bombs go
Lies an' spin was that Iraqis would say thanks
Win their hearts and minds, country was told
Abu Dhabi, Iraqis ordered to walk naked on planks
Raped, tortured, beaten, humiliated, then sold
As an isolated incident, Iraqis saw lies from Yanks
War is an insider's industry, makes lots of gold
Iraq's infrastructure destroyed, water smells rank
We'll rebuild it, did it last time, more money to hold
Taxpayers expense, rotting corpses turnin' to mold
Saddam's last word's were
Iraq is now Hell
His hangin' a travesty, of this I am sure
America replaced him, gonna treat Iraqis well
While Saddam's ghost watches
For Iraq is now Hell.
Mirelle
I'm famous.
I - Intolerance
S - Slavery
L - Lies
A - Anarchy
M - Murder
ISLAM
Is a lie
Mohammed was a paedophile 6th century warlord who cooked up a false
religion in order to supplement brutality as a means of bringing
people under subjection. It is a documented fact that most of his
religious revelations occurred after a series of epileptic fits, which
eventually killed him.
Vera Perks the mighty Yaako warrior.
I'm famous !!!!!
Mirelle
By Remi Kanazi
"ICH" -- -- Picture this: A cartoon of Jesus, with his pants down,
smiling, raping a little boy. The caption above it reads "Got
Catholicism?" Or how about a picture of a Rabbi with blood dripping
from his mouth after bludgeoning a small Palestinian boy with a knife
shaped like the Star of David--the caption reads "The Devil's Chosen
Ones."
I wonder if people around the world would just consider this free
speech? Of course, some would condone or agree with one, two or all
three, while others would say "it's free speech," although they "find
it offensive and in poor taste." But do you honestly think media
outlets such as the BBC, Le Monde, or any media outlet in Copenhagen
would pick up these cartoons? The outrage would begin instantly and
advertisers would pullout. Yet, those in Denmark and their supporters
around Europe call it freedom of speech to have a cartoon of the
prophet Mohammed--who is not supposed be depicted to prevent idolatry
according to clerical interpretation of the Koran--with a turban shaped
like a bomb on his head.
The double standard the West has set for the rest of the world is
disgusting. We live in a foolish bubble where we think we are free to
say or do whatever we want without consequence. I remember watching
Saturday Night Live when Sinead O'Connor ripped up a picture of the
Pope. The furor was enormous, which led to NBC receiving a 2.5 million
dollar fine by the Federal Communications Commission. Imagine if it
was a picture of Jesus--the US Congress would have made the Teri
Schiavo intervention look like a joke.
Where are the pictures of the dead soldiers, the dead women and
children in the Western media? Some governments won't allow it and
other media outlets just fear the backlash. When I need journalistic
honesty, I have to turn to Al Jazeera, why is that? One cannot even
deny the Holocaust in Europe, question 9/11 in America (unless you
want the Ward Churchill treatment), but the West claims they're all
about free speech.
It is no coincidence the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is grossly pro-
Israeli. It is no coincidence that you never heard the full quotes of
Iranian president Ahmadinejad's comments on Israel and the Holocaust--
no matter the basis. And it is no coincidence that Arab analysts who
are against the war in Iraq, the occupation of Palestine, and
America's "war on terror" are insufficiently represented in the
European press.
So what are Muslims to do? Violence is out of the question--that would
be "an overreaction." So why not boycott? That would be a mistake as
well, according to the European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini
who stated, "Calls for boycotts or for restraints on the freedom of
the press are completely unacceptable." What Frattini meant to say is
that Muslims should choose capitalism over faith. Maybe the European
Union will clarify through a cartoon--Mohammed selling the Koran for
By Remi Kanazi
"ICH" -- -- Picture this: A cartoon of Jesus, with his pants down,
smiling, raping a little boy. The caption above it reads "Got
Catholicism?" Or how about a picture of a Rabbi with blood dripping
from his mouth after bludgeoning a small Palestinian boy with a knife
shaped like the Star of David--the caption reads "The Devil's Chosen
Ones."
I wonder if people around the world would just consider this free
speech? Of course, some would condone or agree with one, two or all
three, while others would say "it's free speech," although they "find
it offensive and in poor taste." But do you honestly think media
outlets such as the BBC, Le Monde, or any media outlet in Copenhagen
would pick up these cartoons? The outrage would begin instantly and
advertisers would pullout. Yet, those in Denmark and their supporters
around Europe call it freedom of speech to have a cartoon of the
prophet Mohammed--who is not supposed be depicted to prevent idolatry
according to clerical interpretation of the Koran--with a turban shaped
like a bomb on his head.
The double standard the West has set for the rest of the world is
disgusting. We live in a foolish bubble where we think we are free to
say or do whatever we want without consequence. I remember watching
Saturday Night Live when Sinead O'Connor ripped up a picture of the
Pope. The furor was enormous, which led to NBC receiving a 2.5 million
dollar fine by the Federal Communications Commission. Imagine if it
was a picture of Jesus--the US Congress would have made the Teri
Schiavo intervention look like a joke.
Where are the pictures of the dead soldiers, the dead women and
children in the Western media? Some governments won't allow it and
other media outlets just fear the backlash. When I need journalistic
honesty, I have to turn to Al Jazeera, why is that? One cannot even
deny the Holocaust in Europe, question 9/11 in America (unless you
want the Ward Churchill treatment), but the West claims they're all
about free speech.
It is no coincidence the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is grossly pro-
Israeli. It is no coincidence that you never heard the full quotes of
Iranian president Ahmadinejad's comments on Israel and the Holocaust--
no matter the basis. And it is no coincidence that Arab analysts who
are against the war in Iraq, the occupation of Palestine, and
America's "war on terror" are insufficiently represented in the
European press.
So what are Muslims to do? Violence is out of the question--that would
be "an overreaction." So why not boycott? That would be a mistake as
well, according to the European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini
who stated, "Calls for boycotts or for restraints on the freedom of
the press are completely unacceptable." What Frattini meant to say is
that Muslims should choose capitalism over faith. Maybe the European
Union will clarify through a cartoon--Mohammed selling the Koran for