The Cartoon Controversy: A Test of Multicultural Understanding

The Danish cartoons affair has taken an unusual turn with Tony Blair and George Bush siding with leftwing and liberal critics of the drawings' publication. This stance stands in contrast to those who claim that fear is driving western newspapers to silence potentially offending content. Flemming Rose, the cultural editor of Jyllands-Posten, aimed to challenge Denmark's "self-censorship" in the face of Islam, but the stunt was met with widespread offense and misguided solidarity from European papers.

Key Takeaways:

• Tony Blair and George Bush have taken a pragmatic stance on the cartoon controversy, recognizing the drawings' in poor taste and deliberately provocative nature.
• The duo's reaction shows that Americans have a better understanding of multiculturalism than many Europeans, with a long history of mass immigration and a constitution emphasizing individual rights.
• Britain lies somewhere near the middle of the tolerance spectrum, with Jack Straw being the first minister to denounce the cartoons due to their potential to offend his moderate Muslim constituents.
• Denmark is stuck at the prejudiced end of the spectrum, with a traditionally mono-ethnic culture struggling to accept new cultures and critics accusing it of "self-censorship" in the face of Islam.
• The cartoons' issue has been seized upon by people with various agendas, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Iranian politicians who are using the crisis to divert attention from their own failures.
• Mainstream European media has a huge responsibility in accurately portraying the views of moderate Muslim leaders and condemning extremist slogans carried during protests.

Statistics:

• Over 300 Muslim leaders in western Europe have been interviewed by Jytte Klausen, a Danish political scientist, over the past five years.
• The Danish government's refusal to receive a protest delegation of Danish Islamic leaders and ambassadors from Muslim countries was a major point of contention in the crisis.
• Only a portion of European papers in "solidarity" with Jyllands-Posten explicitly stated their reasons, while others merely claimed to be standing up for free speech.
• According to Jytte Klausen, "religious tolerance and respect for human rights have been sorely lacking in Denmark."
• Investors hold back on new projects in Iran due to fear of war with the United States, and Iranian capital flees the country as a result.

Sources:

• Jonathan Steele, "The Cartoon Controversy: A Test of Multicultural Understanding"
• Jytte Klausen, article in Der Spiegel
• Flemming Rose, cultural editor of Jyllands-Posten
• Tony Blair and George Bush statements on the cartoon controversy
• Jytte Klausen's interviews with over 300 Muslim leaders in western Europe