Holding the Whole World Hostage

While I'm on the subject of Freedom of Speech and how very precious it is........

The Associated Press is reporting tonight:

Web sites remove video mocking Muhammad

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Videos showing anti-immigrant party members mocking the Prophet Muhammad were pulled from Web sites Monday as two youths seen in the clips were reported in hiding and the Foreign Ministry warned Danes against travel to much of the Middle East.

Muslim clerics from Egypt and Indonesia condemned the video broadcast in Denmark last week showing members of the Danish People's Party youth wing with cartoons of a camel wearing the head of Muhammad and beer cans for humps. A second drawing placed a turbaned, bearded man next to a plus sign and a bomb, all equaling a mushroom cloud.

Citing critical media reports from many Muslim regions, the Foreign Ministry cautioned against travel to Gaza, the West Bank, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey.

"Against that background, we urge Danes to use caution as the matter could possibly lead to negative reactions. The atmosphere and reactions can vary dependent on time and place. Danes should be aware of the local mood," the ministry said.

Here is the problem. This is a genuine clash of cultures. Our western culture prizes free speech, and the use of satire, comedy, sarcasm and parody to make point.

The question is, "Are we going to simply abandon our our thousand year heritage when faced with a closed culture that prohibits free speech (along with most individual rights, especially for women)?"

The Associated Press continues:

The clip was removed from that broadcasters Web site Monday, as well as from a newspaper's site.

The purpose of the original publication was "not to insult Muslims or expose any members ... to any danger," said the paper's editor, David Trads.

A party official reportedly said that two youths seen in the video clips had gone into hiding.

"They are very shaken by the huge reaction the drawings have had," Kenneth Kristensen was quoted as saying on the Web site of the newspaper Politiken.

In Jordan on Monday, a powerful umbrella for some 200,000 professionals including engineers, doctors and journalists, said the video "reveals hatred toward the Prophet who came to the world with a message to enlighten the people."

"We call on all Muslim states to sever relations with Denmark or any other country which harms Islam," the associations said in a statement.

They said the video revealed the "nature of the struggle between Muslims and their enemies which are led by America."

Respect is a two way street. We need to respect and understand Islam in all it's forms and practices. We must respect all cultures.

But all people should also respect our culture, our heritage, our religions, our values and our laws.

TECHNORATI TAGS: MUSLIM ISLAM DENMARK MUHAMMAD RELIGION ISLAMIC FASCIST MUHAMMAD CARTOONS TERRORISM

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