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Dear Editor,
Many may recall a few years ago the conflagration over an art exhibit of a crucifix submerged in a jar of urine (the artist and venue elude me). There were condemnations, a lot of hand wringing by Christians and political threats (mostly over art funding). But not one person died, no fatwas were instigated and the museum was not burned to the ground.
This is obsessively the result of living in a secular society (though one that is quickly eroding under the aegis of the fundamentalist junta currently running it). Civil liberties-- in this case freedom of speak and expression-- take precedent over whatever violent impulses their fundamentalist detractors may have towards the artist. This is called civilization. It doesn’t always work this way in the U.S. or Europe but at least it’s the stated goal of our systems.
However this is not how it works in theocratic societies or societies dominated by religious factions; factions, I might add, whose scriptures state emphatically that the breaking of religious law warrants violence.
Therein lies the rub.
I’m surprised that the author would poo-poo the Danish government or the paper in question over their lack of judgment in publishing a series of political cartoons. Satire, no matter how puerile or stupid it may be must be protected by a free and vibrant society (Larry Flint is a good case in point). The laughable assertion that “Mohammad is so beautiful that no hand can adequately depict him” has no place in western democracy. Any kowtowing to Muslim sentiments in this arena is counterproductive to the furthering of secular civilization.
I am not a Muslim, Christian or Jew so I am not being biased in a religious sense. I am a secular humanist that believes that religious sentiments should be tolerated only insofar as they guarantee and actively support the liberties that all humans have a right to share. Mohamed, though over a billion people revere him is not a sacred cow to me and as a lover of liberty I reserve the right depict him in any way I wish—without violent reprisals. It’s embarrassing to see mea culpas coming from seemingly rational western apologists over this incident.
Chad Bagley
Shanghai, China
