FREEDOMS

Submitted by aisha (Saudi Arabia), Feb 5, 2006 at 07:39

The letters from Danish citizens commenting on the muslim reaction to the publication of cartoons on the prophet ( peace be upon him ) clearly show that most of them were surprised by the hurt and anger the cartoons caused in muslim minds.

I am not familiar with the Danish media and hence cannot comment on what they say about the absolute freedom they have to make fun of anything others hold sacred. They make fun even of Christ, they say. May be they do. But I cant accept the suggestion that since they hold their prophet in contempt, Muslims should also hold their Prophet in contempt.

The fact is that - with all the respect I have for them, their freedoms, their right to treat others with contempt and the quality of their milk products---- I dont consider them models in treating prophets. We dont mention the names of prophets, who include Moses and Jesus, without adding "May peace be upon him" while they do not refer to them without exercising their freedom. We will have to accept these attitudes. We have to realize that the Danes will consider as fanatics if we do not accept their way of treating prophets.

That may go also for the way of treating, say, mothers or fathers or whoever else. I am sure that the Danes treat them with great respect. But that is a guess because, as i have already made clear, i know nothing about them. In case they dont, and treat them the way they treat their prophets--- and adding a kick to prove their freedom to kick ---- we better be prepared to do that too or get ready to called fanatics.

The point that most of the writers made was about the Dane's freedom of expression. I concede that right. But what about our freedom not to buy? That, some of the Danes seem to feel, is barbaric. One letter writer asked, "Why did you burn Danish flags?" Good question, in normal circumstances. Nobody should insult symbols others hold in respect. But these are hardly normal circumstances, are they? These are the days of absolute freedoms. What about our freedom to burn?

I concede the point that the Danish prime minister did not have the right to tell the media how to behave. But the impression i am getting is that somebody has that power. Who, if not the prime minister? The companies whose products are being boycotted? Or the "minority" who feel that freedoms go with responsibility?

An afterthought: Do the Danish have the same freedom to draw a cartoon about the Holocaust?

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