A Final Word On The Cartoons ...

I mean "final" as in our final words on this. We are not backing away from the controversy because of the actual controversy, but more because the rhetoric is running in ghigh gears on both sides. I am reminded of a common saying the Thomas uses frequently:

"With rights comes responsibilities."

We are granted and guaranteed a host of rights in this nation. Anyone with a elementary school education can read them in the Bill Of Rights. But with having those rights comes a responsibility to be true to them. We have spent innumerable hours slamming our own press here in America over their blatant abuse of their "freedom of the press." This critique extends not only towards pundits like Maureen Dowd, Joel Stein, and Michael Hiltzik, but also to the decisions made by editors to run stories like the NSA intercept program, CIA rendition flights, and overblowing abuses at Abu Ghraib.

The press is not one to act with responsibility int heir reporting and their opinions; this much is true and fully documented within the blogosphere.

I do not excuse the Danish cartoonists for their depictions of Mohammed. Though in their eyes, the "opinions" drawn into the papers may be well-founded, I can see how they may be a bit insulting.

Likewise, I also do not excuse the Muslim reaction to these cartoons. It is vaguely reminiscent of the Newsweek story about the "desecration" of Korans at Gitmo that caused such an uproar; only later did we discover that the story was not true. Whoops, Newsweek's bad. Sorry about that. But the apology did not excuse the mistake. And hence the reason why I understand why the Muslims are outraged.

But it still does not excuse the Dark Ages response to a slight.

In the end, neither side is going to win this argument. The Muslims have a legitimate gripe, and now that I am outside the emotional response, I can see that. Do I admonish their response? You bet I do, but I understand. And in like kind, Muslims need to step back and understand where the Danish cartoonists are coming from. This, above all, is where the whole issue is getting befuddled.

I read Thomas' reply to Hugh Hewitt about his chastising those defending the Danish cartoonists. And I have to agree with him, but on one particualr point that no one is discussing, save Cox and Forkum whose cartoon that I just linked to illustrates the point that we have been trying to make.

Islam has an image problem in and of itself, and much of it revolves around the fact that those that privately admonish the militants are not doing so publicly. This is where the bulk of their image problem rests. And when they fly off the handle like this, it only adds fuel to the fire. Much like we knew that Mother Sheehan was going to make a spectacle of herself at the State of the Union address because the Left never disappoints and never changes.

There is where the biggest problem lies. Yes, the Danes were wrong for making the cartoons in the fashion that they did. And yes, the Muslims are wrong--wholly unjustified--for their reaction. When both sides grow up, and can hash this out like civilized people, then we will readdress this matter. Until then, on this site, the subject is closed.

The Bunny ;)