We who have open minds believe in freedom of speech and expression, but we also strongly dislike sheer rudeness.
It is therefore sick and sad that a Danish newspaper should have published a series of cartoons, in the worst of taste, deliberately insulting Islam and every single Muslim.
What is worse is that papers in other countries, including France Soir here in France, should have reproduced them.
This is not a matter of freedom, but a case of sheer vulgarity on the part of evil minded persons who are only too eager to stir up discord between the spiritual heirs of Abraham.
Each of us who is a genuine (and I refuse to apologise for using this word) Jew, Christian or Muslim will consider this nastiness as being another attempt by the neo-fascists (in the U.S.A., neo cons) to stir up trouble between us.
I beg all concerned to think of the agenda of these neo-fascists and to eschew all support for the right to vulgar rudeness on the part of the cartoonists who have deliberately started this trouble.
Good taste should enable all to work together to end such vile insults to our brothers and sisters. It has nothing to do with freedom of expression, and we should recognise this.
© Copyright 2006 by AxisofLogic.com
Robert Thompson's analyses and writing on Axis of Logic can be found in the Axis section, Letters from France. He offers refreshing perspectives on international relations with a European perspective. He is a French citizen and a retired Avocat (Trial Lawyer) at the Boulogne-sur-Mer Bar, living with his wife in a small village in Northern France. He was born at Leek (North Staffordshire, England) in 1931, and, after reading Jurisprudence at Oxford University, he became an English Solicitor. He later went to work at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. There he was Director in charge of the Legal Department and also Secretary General of the Court of Arbitration, the most important international commercial arbitration centre on the world. While there, he became the I.C.C. Director in charge of relations with the Arab states, where he travelled for professional reasons, and he worked towards legal cooperation with the countries then within the Comecon. Robert can be reached via e-mail at: robert@axisoflogic.com
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