politics / commentary ::.
Prophet Muhammad Cartoon Was Insult to Islam |
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Today, the Muslim world is up in arms protesting and destroying Danish companies, embassies and burning flags because a Danish newspaper ran a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad. The cartoon of Islam's Prophet Muhammad first published in Danish newspapers and then in newspapers in other countries, have insulted many Muslims. The cartoons invoked anger and may have hurt efforts to create opportunities to mend fences between Islam and Western nations. Many Muslims have denounced the Danish newspapers actions, while others have taken to the streets rioting, vandalizing and creating chaos. Many are arguing that this is a matter of 'Free Speech,' but I have to question this .. I’m reminded of a 1992 Saturday Night Live with featured musical guest Sinead O'Connor (Irish rock singer). After performing the song "War,"a song by Bob Marley once been banned for its apparent advocacy of violence, dressed all in white and surrounded by candles with NBC-TV's cameras rolling, Sinead ended the song by calling to the audience: "fight the real enemy!" and with a slight of hand, she produced and proceeded to shred a print of Pope John Paul II, to the shock and awe of the audience. The station went to a commercial rather quickly ... Of course NBC, host station of Saturday Night Live, was flooded with calls from viewers expressing outrage at what they just saw on live television. Eventually, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fined NBC to the tune of a couple of million dollars. The retaliatory attack against Sinead O'Connor, for exercising her right to free speech, was vicious. The religious-right-wing in America denounced Sinead's "blasphemy" and mobilized all kinds of religious fanatics, television evangelical figures and celebrities. Frank Sinatra is even reported to have said that he wanted to "punch" the singer "right in the mouth." Many Americans wanted Sinead’s head on a platter. It is interesting how the right-wing America (with it's continual failure to lead the opposition of world racism) and Western European nations (with their established racist history towards the Muslim community) defend the actions of the cartoonist's mocking the prophet Muhammad as "free speech", but back then–in Sinead's case–free speech was not even a factor in the debate. Is there a double standard being applied here? If so, will this double standard result in a even broader hatred by the Muslim people for the United States and Western Europe? It appears that there is a growing (anger-fueled) political awakening, on the take, among the Muslim community over this insult. Families never concerned about politics seem very aware of their landscape. Will animosities continue to grow out-of-control futher fueling more unrest and instability? Then, will this negatively impact on the U.S. economy? Will moderate Muslim governments be less inclined to do business with the U.S. in the future, and more likely to engage in commerce with Eastern Europe, Latin American and Asian nations? Has a CARTOON ( yet again) opened the door to political change, and undesired change? There are those who will–conveniently–argue that THIS is a just matter of 'Free Speech,' but I have to question this ... • Miranda is a national award winning columnist, Latino community activist and Editor-in-Chief of the Milwaukee Spanish Journal. Email at: rmiranda@wi.rr.com >>More articles by Robert Miranda |