As the row over the cartoons intensifies, there are a variety of things that Kosacks can do to show their support for Freedom of Press and Freedom of Speech.
- Many moderate and progressive Islamic Websites like the fantastic and brave site, Muslim Wakeup, are publishing the cartoons and calling for an end to repressive, fundamentalist repression. You can support them by sending emails and funds!!
- An incredibly brave Jordanian Newspaper,al-Shihan, has now reprinted the cartoons calling upon their readers to be "reasonable". Support their editors!!
- France Soir's editor, Jacques Lefranc, was dismissed by the paper's French-Egyptian owner in response to criticism from Muslim groups. But journalists at France Soir stood by their editor's decision on Thursday, printing a front page picture and editorial in which they strongly defended the right to free speech (From BBC). Support the Jacques Lefranc by writing to the paper!!! click here
- BUY DANISH-- As Denmark has always stood tall and proud against tyranny and fundamentalism such as during Nazi Repression and successfully evacuated most of their gays, Jews and other persecuted minorities out of the country before the Nazis could get them, we must now rush to their side and buy all things Danish. (Plus the Crown Prince married a nice Aussie girl and Karen Blixen comes from there and furthermore all things Danish taste good)!!!
- Publish these cartoons anywhere and everywhere!!
For those few people who responded to my diary yesterday, saying that the cartoons were bigoted and an affront to all Islam, I say this:
Islam is a great religion, that throughout much of its history has been a positive force for modernism and progressive change across a wide area, but like Christianity (as well as Hinduism and Buddhism in many places) the religion has become hijacked by a tiny minority of fundamentalists that bully the majority into silence.
We work with Muslims throughout Asia, and most of them are rolling on the ground in laughter at these cartoons as they are poignant and funny. They have pointed out that there is no prohibition of caricature in the Koran, but it is simply a practice that came in later. My Muslim friends spent most of the last few days supporting these cartoons and publishing them widely. For a few people here on Kos to write that they are an affront to all Muslims shows how little some people understand about how much the majority of Muslims long in their hearts to break free from the stereotypical image that the Fundamentalists have bullied their way into making predominant.
Support Progressive Islam and Free Speech and Freedom of the Press by supporting the cartoons!!! FUNDAMENTALISM OF ANY KIND IS A SCOURGE OF THE WORST KIND!!
To see the cartoons:
click here.