Islamist won because no one will say ...

Submitted by Jason Pappas (United States), Feb 10, 2006 at 13:20

Islamist won because no one will dare say the obvious: the cartoons are true, or as true as a cartoon can be. Mohammad is portrayed as violent and indeed he and his merry band of raiders were violent. Should we review the attacks on the caravans? Should we review that battles he fought? How about critics, like a Poetess who skewered Mohammad verbally—what happened to her?

OK, cartoons tend to caricatures. In that sense they will be inaccuracies. There were no bombs in his day; they used swords. You might say the cartoons are the equivalent of showing Jesus crucified in an electric chair. Indeed, I can imagine an opponent of the death penalty using such a cartoon. And some would get offended. But it would provoke debate of the issue instead of a debate of whether we can talk about the issue.

The Islamic response has turned the debate from the nature of Islam & its founder to whether we in the West can address such issues. If we are to defend free speech it is best that we start talking about Islam and the example set by its founder. … And let it be known that we won't be intimidated from critical assessment of Islam.

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