by Shavana Abruzzo
Not so little by little, the world is becoming familiarized with the savagery of a unilateral mindset, which little – or nothing – can mollify or moderate. Not so little by little, the world is becoming habituated to a pious indignation bordering on the perverse. Not so little by little, the world is becoming acquainted with the torrid psyche of the raging Muslim. That a dozen cartoons about a religious prophet – questionably blasphemous or hilarious – would ignite such bloodlust for revenge is a tardy eye-opener for those of us who live in a world where a difference of cheeky opinion is not only embraced but expected. The irony is not lost as mainstream and fundamental Muslims unite across the globe in anger, hatred and retribution in an apparent attempt to legitimize their peeves and seize their pound of western flesh. And how. The caricatures, which made their maiden voyage in a Danish newspaper and depicted Muhammad in an assortment of guises, including one in which he wears a turban fashioned out of a bomb, have sparked the outrage of Muslim protestors around the world, causing untold injuries and indiscriminate arson by rioters, and (at press time) the death of five people – and mounting. So aggrieved are the Muslims that death decrees and demands for heads to literally roll are flying across the oceans to target you, me – and everyone and anyone – who dares to… Who dares to… Who dares to… Who dares to… Even though it correctly asserts that religion does not hold court in the free press of a secular society, the Danish newspaper has offered an apology. However, it does not seem to be a good enough one for the offended Muslims. Nor a formal enough one. Nor an extravagant enough one. Nor an apologetic enough one. Too flaming bad. Freudian slip, or intentional baiting, clearly, the drawings are a non-violent protest to the unchecked terrorism proliferating in the Islamic world. By reprinting the cartoons in their newspapers, more than 20 of the world’s nations have spoken out against terrorism and its supporters. Instead of getting their knickers in a violent twist – and calling for a new and possibly more mutated version of their unholy Jihad – moderate Muslims should view the drawings as a wake-up call and finally realize that the Free World is so tired of Muslim angst that it has reached for the greatest weapon in its arsenal of mass ridicule – laughter. The miffed Iranians can hold a zillion Holocaust contests in protest if they want to test the west’s principle of free expression. That is their prerogative. Make no mistake, the west will pass with flying colors because even malice aforethought has a place in civilized society, as attested to – lately, each and every day – by Islam’s terrorists. E-mail“A Britisher’s View” at BritView@courierlife.net. All letters become the property of Courier-Life Publications and are subject to publication unless otherwise specified; please include your name, address and daytime telephone number for verification.
