On the 4th of February, angry protesters set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in the Syrian capital Damascus. The next day, Lebanese protesters followed their example and torched the Danish consulate in Beirut.
Over what? Twelve cartoons! Madness!! And how does the EU react? Javier Solana, the Union's Foreign Affairs czar, has called for peace and respect. Respect towards religious sensitivities, that is. What is wrong with us Europeans! No country in the world would EVER tolerate an attack on its soil, on its sovereignty!! I'm not saying we should send in the cavalry or anything like that. All I'm saying is that we should not let our fear hold us hostage. Fear for another Paris scenario. Fear for our fellow citizens who happen to be Muslim. I'm saying it's the EU's duty to protect its citizens both at home and abroad.
It's always the same with us. When the US were planning to invade Iraq on the basis of outright lies, what was our reaction? 25 member states, 3 different groups: those in favour, those against and then of course the doubters. Instead of acting as one, we showed the world we were weak. And today we still are. Instead of condemning these vicious attacks on two of our member states, we are just standing by. I can hear Blair and Chirac thinking: "if we say anything, how will our Muslim population react? Well, maybe it's safer to let this whole thing blow over."
Has anyone ever noticed the uncanny likeness between Russian president Wladimir Putin and Montgomery Burns, the rich villain from "The Simpsons"? Well, me and my youngest brother have and we think it's hilarious! Just imagine Putin sitting at his desk in his Kremlin office, plotting his next move. "Chechen terrorists trying to kick my vast, vast army out of their country? Well, we'll see about that!" And after yet another 'overwhelming Russian victory' he'd say "Excellent". Maybe this is a good idea for Danish cartoonists.
Do you know the Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt? Ever read "The velveteen rabbit"? See the connection?
If you can think of other heads of state or heads of government who resemble cartoon characters or funny vegetables, please let me know!
A series of cartoons depicting Mohammed as a terrorist has set off protests in the Muslim world and a boycott of Danish products. Jyske bank of Denmark estimates that about 11,000 people will lose their jobs as a direct result.
Every year, around the time of Passover, well-respected Saudi newspapers publish colums written by well-respected jounalists claiming that Christians and Jews drink the blood of children during Passover rituals.
Ever seen protests sparked by such articles in the streets of Brussels, London, Rome, Paris or Madrid? No. Let me tell you why: because here in Europe, we either don't know about the existence of such articles or we simply don't care. So why do they? Because you cannot just turn everything into a joke? Because you have to show a modicum of respect for other people's religious beliefs? Hmmm ... cartoons depicting Jews and Christians having a blood-tasting party isn't exactly what I call showing respect.
I don't mean to play the blame game because it's certainly no solution to this global climate of intolerance. Is there a solution at all? I strongly believe there is! Let's take a look at medieval Spain. Toledo, Cordoba, Sevilla,etc. These places were home to Christians, Muslims and Jews who all lived there side by side peacefully. How come they could and we can't? The answer is mutual respect. Well, that and the absence of fundamentalism - "introduced" in the late 1400s by the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella.
So, you see, there is a solution to all this fear and hatred. All we have to do is follow the Spanish example. And remember the old saying "there's no time like the present". So when you go out there and you meet a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, a Sikh or even Dave himself, just treat him like a person, without any prejudice or resentment. The world will be a better place for it ... and you a better person.
According to a study conducted by the Dutch government, the so-called 'gabbers' (Lonsdale-wearing, immigrant-harassing, white supremacist skinheads) pose a threat to public order. However, the good news is that they're no threat to the democratic constitutional state. Now isn't that a relief? And although these youths try to provoke by wearing a certain brand of clothes, shaving their heads, 'decorating' the streets with swastikas and waving flags bearing Celtic crosses, they do not form an ultra-right movement. Or at least that's what the Balkenende-administration is trying to sell us.
HELLO!! Not an ultra-right movement??? I mean, what do they have to do more? Build a camp? Round up Jews, gypsies and other "untermenschen"? Start another Holocaust? When are we going to wake up and realize that the 1930s WILL happen all over again if we keep ignoring the facts? Gabbers in Holland, Jean-Marie LePen (Front National) in France, Dewinter & Van Hecke (Vlaams Blok/Belang) in Belgium, etc. Isn't it about time we took our responsibility and weed out this evil that is threatening our society?
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for democracy and people vote however they want. But these farright **** lost the right to participate in a democratic state the moment they slaughtered 15 million men, women and children like cattle.
Just think about it! Do we want this to happen again? I know I don't!
