Comments - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Debate

Oscar

Oscar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

yes they need to if world is serious about preventing a religious fallout or yet another heated round of condemnation, resentment, gesturing right and left, and the odd fire-starting... world is already full of the conflicts and we really don’t want more Keep it there and stop stoking the flames of conflict.

Robert

Robert — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

No!!! why should Danes apologize??? there is no good reason for that. this will simply mean killing or putting a big question mark on the freedom of the Press. And the Muslim community world over should know that art is for art sake. it shouldn’t be misunderstood a religious caricature and making hell out of the things meager.

Steve

Steve — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

hats off to Danes!!! they are really brave ppl having tremendous spirit to allow the truth to be curtailed through fear of “offending” one or more religious faiths like the Britishers who avoided publishing the caricatures for being too scared. The Danes have shown that secular law is primary in Western Europe. they have done it bravely and there should be no looking back now.

Keith

Keith — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

this is a good effort by the Denmark Govt. who supports free speech. the very act is the proof of it. even if Danes does not agree with it, they support the free speech. this is the first step to build a secular state. this spirit should not go down anyway.

Shazil

Shazil — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Danes should apologize for printing the Mohammad caricature. this is not a way after all to offend the religious sentiments. And please don’t support it with the freedom of speech. Because freedom of speech never means you offend other religions. They did it twice. Once there were protests on it, was there really a need go again while adding fuel to the fire one more time. they should apologize and put the conflict to an end. that’s it.

Steven

Steven — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

for fools rush in where angels fear to tread. it seems true with the Danes who knowingly commit the mistake twice. printing the caricature again was not only premature, but is an unnecessary provocation at a time when tensions are running high in the world.

This issue is not about freedom of speech or about democracy — it is going abrupt once again vilify the Muslims of Europe and that will now, I hope not, work as a powder keg for yet another religious conflict. just put an end to the conflict, we just couldn’t afford to manage one more.

Karpagam Kannan

Karpagam Kannan — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

No ,Denmark need not apologize for their act,for gods sake its a cartoon,not an atom bomb.Why should one opt a violent act against a cartoon.An artist can express his thought the way he thinks its right,how can some one judge on it.

Jared

Jared — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, of course. And as soon as it is possible, at least before the bigots start crawling out from their hidey-holes. Acts like the Danes did will give them the life giving Oxygen and one more agenda to fight for. I don’t want the common Dane to pay for something they did not know or do anything wrong to.

Prabhunarayan

Prabhunarayan — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Karpagam Kannan

Yu, r rigt that an artist can express his thought the way he thinks, however, only to the extent if it is concerned to the individual only and not to the society. don’t yu think there should be some thought before you give expression to your thought in your writing or paintings. A pen is mightier than a sword and here is the averse example. One should think before doing any such thing that it should not provoke a vital conflict as it is in the present case.

Manoj J

Manoj J — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

A cartoon isn’t funny if it hurts someone. Yes Denmark should apologize. It’s not a question of curtailing your freedom of speech and expression. It’s about respecting the religious sentiments of the Muslim population. I am surprised when people talk about freedom of expression without considering the responsibilities that come with it.

Ali

Ali — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

this is strange and I question everyone who is arguing against danish apology. Freedom! this is a contrast between someone’s freedom and others insult. I wonder if you can differentiate between someone who makes fun of you and someone who insult you! If someone humiliated you or your family in the newspaper, would you be happy or file a defamation complaint?

Colin

Colin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Do you believe that God wants you to be violent over cartoons? Any one that took part or is threatening with violence if Danish govt. will not file apology, s/he obviously does not truly understand religion. Do you think it makes you a more faithful or religious person? So you say it disrespects your religion, your prophet. If you believe in God and love then, you would not be part of such violent, childish reactions.

It seems ironic that printing cartoons can be compared to burning down embassies and thousands of supposed religious individuals taking to the streets in violent protests. Do you think that Muhammad or Jesus or Buddah would advocated such reactions? Do you believe that any religious leader would support violent protests including burning down buildings and racial violence because of some cartoons?

Rajesh

Rajesh — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

No. Denmark need not apologize. Printing cartoons is not such a serious crime against Islam. Even if it is, there are ways to handle it. Bombing embassies is certainly not a counter act.

There can be no excuse for this dastardly act, and to make excuses in the name of religion is height of ignorance. Bombings and suicide attacks based on perverted beliefs and wrong notions is certainly not going to contribute to the peace and progress of muslims.

This cowardly act once again reinforces the fact that Islam’s religious tolerance is next to nothing and the concept of Islamaphobia is only going to grow among the western countries.

The hardline muslims indulge in such stupid act becuase they get the support and respect as few sections of muslims in pakistan and outside consider killing those who voice against Islam is an honor. Historically societies that tolerate hate and violence breed more hate and violence.

Islam hasn’t achieved anything by this bombing incident except adding to the growing disbelief against Islam around the world.

Muhammad Karim

Muhammad Karim — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I find this question a bit polarising... What I can’t understand is why do the Danes keep pushing it? they know that the Extremist elements of Islam are the one’s who are causing this nonsense and not normal Muslims.

what are they achieving with the pictures any way? Is the benefits they gain from publishing the pictures greater than the damage of the extremist elements? If not, then just leave it, why go through all the trouble and so many lives just to make a point? and I don’t think it’s even a worthwhile point to make.

For the record, bombing innocent civilians is the sickest thing I can think of... something the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself would never have done or condoned in his lifetime.

The people committing these acts are clearly misguided and I hope that others understand that their actions do not represent Islam but extremism.

Steve Swint

Steve Swint — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Of course not, What does Denmark have to apologize for? Perhaps the Islamic world that is upset should stop being babies and grow up. I am Mormon, thus belong to an outside the mainstream religion, one that is often considered weird and on the fringe. We get made fun of all the time, we get disparaging remarks made about us, even South Park did a whole offensive episode on Mormonism. What was our response? Most of laughed right along. We are confident enough in our faith to not take it personally. We have the maturity to handle it.

I think most Muslims do as well. I think the Muslims that against Al Qaeda and just want to live their lives don’t advocate the death of people because of a foreign opinion can handle it as well. I don’t blame people for being offended, they should be. I am offended when Mormonism is criticized and made fun of, but I recognize that people have a right to their opinion and no criticism of my faith is worth killing someone over. I will leave that sort of judgement to God.

Balbhadra Rana

Balbhadra Rana — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The Danish government has no need to give an apology. It is not responsible for what it’s citizens do.

It is the Danish cartoonist who should apologise. Making fun of Islam does not come under right to freedon of expression in even the most liberal of democracies.

Imagine someone making unholy remarks about Christ!

Jaiyant Cavale

Jaiyant Cavale — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Nobody has to apologize to anyone unnecessarily... We must first understand that religion... be it christianity, islam, hinduism, judaism etc.. anything... religion is the cause of all modern wars, fightings, violence and death. Do we really need a religion?

R.

R. — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, Denmark should apologize, but so should Muslim radicals who resort to violence instead of peaceful protest.

Balbhadra Rana

Balbhadra Rana — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

French philosopher, Voltaire, had said once that if there is no God, one has to be invented.

Religion may be the opium of the masses but it is on the whole a necessary evil.

R.

R. — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The Bible is the first book of laws. Religion is not evil, people are.

Balbhadra Rana

Balbhadra Rana — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The US is hiking up the number of courses on Islam in American univarsities. The idea is that there is increased understanding of the religion.

This is a welcome step. There is a great ignorance in the west about what is true Islam.

Most westerners think it is the strand propogated by osama Bin Laden. This is a grave error.

Islam does not incite killing believers of other religions. The sad part is Islam has been hijacked by radicals.

What is needed is that the moderates be given prominent coverage in the world media.

The war on Al Qaeda cannot be won by guns alone.