Cartoons and double-standards

Submitted by Gabriel Grosso (Italy), Feb 7, 2006 at 18:25

I don't always agree with Daniel Pipes and I don't agree with his views on pre-emptive wars. But, this time, I have got to agree with him. I am a European and I am disappointed to see that some of my fellow Europeans are betraying our values. Some Europeans have turned their backs on freedom of expression.

Daniel Pipes mentions the Anglosphere. I agree with what he says. Let's take the example of the British press. The London Independent has now condemned the cartoons. That is the same newspaper which published anti-Jewish cartoons three years ago. If those cartoons were about Jesus Christ, the British press would take a completely different approach.

In Europe, Catholics, Protestants and Jews are ridiculed on a daily basis. Do you want to know my opinion? If it is wrong to insult a religion, then it should be wrong to insult all religions. Europe is the most secular continent in the world. In the European constitution, the word "God" is not mentioned and the word "pray" is not mentioned. No European politician would ever mention the Bible. Maybe, we got it all wrong, and the cartoon controversy proves it. Maybe, it is time for Europe to stand up for its culture and stop apologizing.

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