European offices shut down in Gaza City

[Wounds Within]

Yesterday gunmen shut down the European Union's offices in Gaza City. Palestinian security sources said, in an escalating controversy over newspapers in Europe (Germany, France, and Norway among others) that printed cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad. The gunmen demanded an apology from the European Union and threaten to kidnap and maybe even kill European workers. The controversy is portrayed as a battle between freedom of speech and respect for religious beliefs.

The gunmen left a notice on the European office's doors that the building would remain closed until Europeans apologize to Muslims, many of whom consider the cartoons offensive.

Anyway on a positive note Congress sent President Bush a second five week extension of the Patriot Act as Senate negotiators worked to close the deal with the White House on renewing the antiterrorism law with some new civil liberties protections. Just in time for the SuperBowl.

[Wounds Within]

I was able to find some of the actual cartoons that has caused so many problems in the middle east in recent weeks. Here they are:

This all actually started last September, a Danish newspaper sent out a challenge to 25 cartoonist asking them to draw Muhammed as they saw him. The newspaper recieved 12 responses. The newspaper then published the cartoons, and Laban, a Muslim leader in Copenhagen, Denmark saw them. He was extremely upset by the images due to the fact that it is against Muslim law for the prophet Muhammed to be depicted in anyway. Laban was so upset by the drawings that he called together 11 other Muslim leaders, and they in turn alerted the people in the Middle East who have now rallied together to form one of the largest protests in recent times.

Muslims are extremely angry about the cartoons and have been having increasingly violent protests. Embassies have been attacked, and several people have died and many more have been injured. Danish goods have been boycotted and now in response to the Muhammed cartoons, the Middle East is running a contest. They are asking all artists to send in Holocaust cartoons that mock the events of World War II and the Jewish people. They feel that if countries can protect the Muhammed cartoons due to freedom of speech, that they can express themselves in the same manner under those same rights.

It is believed by some that the terrorist networks may be fueling the anger about these cartoons and trying to gain support by spreading hate. Western nations fear that this incident will only rally support for the terrorists and cause more attacks on foreign embassies and nations.

[Mikielikesit]

My Goodness all over a cartoon hmmm.........when all you have in your life is your religion everything you know and everything in your world hinges on that religion I could see how alarming this would be to you. These people learn everything they know from their KURAN, their reading and writing. well not all of them but a good portion do and to poke fun at their religion is blasphamy on a international level. I am not saying what they are doing is right but these people have very little in thier lives from no money to no housing to no jobs and very little education. They feel they have no voice against the western culture and its influences and this is the only way they see to make a difference. We all sit here thinking what they are doing is terrible but If using force serves our purpose we have no problem using it against whomever may be in our way(especially with this administration).

It is a sad state of affairs when such a trivil thing causes so much destruction and furthers the worsening view of the western culture........ :confused

Just an opinion

[EvilDivaEva]

It is a sad state of affairs when such a trivil thing causes so much destruction and furthers the worsening view of the western culture

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Homicidalheathen]

The power of the pen is a great thing and it does make a difference that is why it scares them so much.

Now about that first pic.

Ha! And F*cking ha! Hee hee! Oooh that looked funny.

[EvilDivaEva]

So now we have found ourselves in a holy war with the middle east?

[Crazed Vampyress]

Holy Crap... I dont even know what to say

[Wounds Within]

So now we have found ourselves in a holy war with the middle east?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not that this would be anything new.

I can perhaps understand why Muslims would be upset over these cartoons and Mikielikesit hit it right on the nose. It is a whole different world over there.

Muslims have long since expressed how they have a very peaceful religion. some even say it is the most peaceful in the world, however many of these Muslims are now contradicting themselves (yet again) with these violent protests.

I am sure that this was not the newspaper intentions to cause this huge problem. it sure wasn't in their best interest, but whether it was meant to be a joke or not these cartoons threw more fuel into an already raging inferno and who knows what will become of this.

[The_Dark]

um... The Middle east has been in a Holy War against the west for some time now... something like 1800 years...

[EvilDivaEva]

Well I meant more of the USA being involved, but according to Local 4 news the protests are chanting "destroy denmark, destroy Norway, destroy America" so that pretty much answered my question. Funny how America had nothing to do with this mess, yet blame is passed onto us anyway.

[Wounds Within]

Well you see the USA is pretty much known as the symbol/poster of free speech since we just love to promote democracy and freedom all through out the world. It is only fitting that they go after and somewhat blame the leader of the free world since this was a freedom of speech issue. However this is nothing new and as Dark said, it has been a Holy War since the beginning of time. The cartoons just sparked a new argument, but did not cause the on-going Holy War.