Ecample of writing for my class

7 April 2011
Professor Blackburn
How twelve cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed triggered an internation incident.

Overview

The Newspaper, Jyllansds-Posten, in response to a perceived reluctance of writers and artists to depict the Prophet Mohammad in any form of drawing or icon, decided to publish a series of cartoons. Twelve cartoons from writers, artists, and publishers were received and published.
The cartoons were not well received in the Muslim world, with protests, killings, and demonstrations in Arab countries. The Paper eventually apologized for the effort, but other individuals, politicians and institutes have offered a response with most not accepting the reactions of the followers of Mohammad.

Newspaper

The goal of Jyllansds-Posten actions to publish appears to create a conscious awareness to raise the level of discussion based on how Muslims acted in their country, their community, life-style, and interaction with Danish citizens, as well as push the point in the public arena that a secular society allows and tolerates challenges, criticism and discussion of other sects and religions. The fallout from the faithful began about two months after publication of the cartoons. While some expectation of reprisal may have been expected, the aftermath of demonstrations, burnings and killings seems excessive and uncalled for in the view of most secular societies. Carrying this project forward was raising a flag to signal the enemy that a battle has begun and the troops were charging. (Question: Is it necessary or the job of a publication (a newspaper in this case) to test the limits of a peoples tolerance?)
The reaction of some observers was "childish, irresponsible, hate speech, a PR (public relations) stunt (Why).
The case of the newspaper was subsequently made moot by their apology on 31 January 2006. However the "cause" was taken up by publications in other countries - in a sense of solidarity?

Escalation

We can choose our actions, but we cannot choose the consequences. We can test the limits, but when we go over the limit, we have to accept the responsibility. There is a way to approach any issue in a respectful manner and there is the 'just forge ahead' method. If you have to apologize, then you admit you did something wrong, you made a mistake, you did not think it through, you confused the issue of censorship with the issue of respect.
Danish politicians and analysts want to impose a secular solution on their Muslim countrymen. They feel that the lifestyle of this people is too ancient and restrictive for modern times.
More fuel was added to the fire of resentment from other countries, when re-publication was made for the benefit of solidarity with Jyllansds-Posten and as a reflection of local politics. It did not help when others dismissed the incident of the cartoons and failed to acknowledge the feelings of those hurt by Jyllansds-Posten's actions.

Discussion

One minor factor in the publishing of the cartoons that might be suggested is: since the cartoons were not actually drawn by the newspaper, they represent the values and opinions of the artist. Yes, the newspaper reviewed and printed them, but we many not appreciate the influence of the submitter in these circumstances.
And while many people in institutions attempted to analyze the aftermath and attach their reasoning, they started with an assumption that they were dealing with a less than me culture. For the Arab (Muslim) peoples to not accept the writers values does not relegate the Arabs to a less than human culture and as religious fanatics. When we revisit this issue in a hundred and five hundred years, I wonder what that response will be.....

Media Ethics

Sometimes we look at a subject and just want to stir it up for the sake of reaction. And while that has value in some way, the unintended consequences seem to surprise us. Recently, a radical minister burned a Koran to make a point, but when people died from the over-reaction in Arab lands, he took no blame for the tragedy. He felt it was not his fault that an angry crowd killed Americans for his unwise actions. But he is wrong and will live with the consequences. As average consumers, it is unlikely we can influence media makers to a degree they will be considerate, when broaching a topic to consider or test the possible reaction and weigh the good that a publication might have against the havoc it will reek. Do we all need a bit of sensitivity training?

Works Cited

Why: The Washington Post: Why I Published Those Cartoons, Flemming Rose, 19 Feb. 2006
12 Cartoons: Nordicom Review #28, 2007, Brent N. Bonde