Where are the Muslim protests about this? How can cartoons be more heinous than murders? By MARK PATINKIN The Providence Journal 21-FEB-06 There was some news out of Iraq late last week you may have missed because it's so routine. Five Muslim children were killed by roadside bombs, one of them planted near a primary school. These were genuine atrocities against the most innocent of Muslims. As far as I could tell, no one in the Muslim world protested. There was similar news early in the week. A suicide bomber, wearing an explosive belt, approached Muslims waiting for government checks in a Shiite section of Baghdad. Ten people were killed, and 40 wounded. Three children and nine women were among the wounded. Again, there were no reports of protesting crowds in the Muslim world. And yet. And yet, last week, furious protests continued over cartoons portraying the Prophet Muhammad. There is certainly cause for Westerners to acknowledge that these cartoons are offensive. But why are such images more offensive than the murder of Muslim children? Let's get back to last week's news. New photographs were released showing U.S. soldiers mistreating prisoners at Abu Ghraib. There were concerns the photos would further stoke Muslim rage and protests. Most Americans, I hope, would agree we should be ashamed at what went on inside Abu Ghraib. But shouldn't there be a moral difference between humiliating suspected terrorists and blowing up innocent Muslims who are awaiting a government check? Why is there so much rage at the U.S. mistreatment of Muslim prisoners and so little at Islamic bombers murdering civilians? In another "typical" news story out of Iraq, kidnappers released a videotape of a young reporter named Jill Carroll, kneeling, forced to read a statement. Earlier, they had released another tape of her, weeping and begging for help. Masked Muslim men with guns stood behind her. Jill Carroll had gone to Iraq, at great peril, to tell the story of common people there. Her captors honor none of that. In the name of Islam, they are threatening her with murder. And yet, as far as I can tell, there have been no crowds of Muslims protesting for her release. Back to the news. An Islamic group in Iraq has been holding four Westerners hostage since November. Last week, they released videotape saying they were offering a "last chance" for various demands to be met. There is an irony here. These four went to Iraq as peace activists, opposing the presence of Western troops. Their Muslim captors don't care. They are threatening to murder them anyway. No one in the Muslim world is protesting. In the same way, no Muslims protested when kidnapped Westerners were shown on tape having their heads sawed off by Islamic extremists crying, "God is Great." Nor did Muslims stage protests in November of 2004, when a militant Muslim attacked Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh and stabbed him to death because he had made a 10-minute movie about violence against women in Islamic countries. But the cartoon protests go on and on. As does the resentment against America, for being in Iraq. In truth, America could easily solve the insurgency. We could crush it the way almost any other conquering army would crush resistance. Can you imagine what Saddam's army would have done? You don't have to, because it's a matter of record. We are too decent a nation to do it that way. Our goal is not to crush, but to help shape a peaceful, stable Iraq. How many armies in history have gone on a mission to liberate instead of conquer? And yet if we make one mistake, humiliate one suspected terrorist prisoner, we are demonized. But let Muslim suicide bombers murder thousands of innocent Muslims in the past year, and there are no protests. I have no problem with there being a double standard between America and Islamic militants. We should be held to a far higher code. It's the double standard in the Muslim world I don't understand. Why are masses on the streets appalled by anti-Muslim cartoons, but not by anti-Muslim suicide bombers? Why is there outrage at captive terrorist suspects being humiliated by Americans, but none at captive civilians having their heads cut off by Muslims? I think I can predict that two things will unfold in the coming days or weeks. One, Islamic militants will blow up more innocent Muslims in Iraq, perhaps dozens, perhaps women and children among them. And two? That's easy. There will be no protests.
The Shi'a represent a much smaller sect of Islam, but... *Tens of thousands of Lebanese Shia Muslims rally in Beirut in protest at the shrine attack *An angry crowd prevents Iraqi Housing Minister Jassem Mohammed's convoy from reaching the bombed shrine in Samarra *The Iraqi government cancels all police and army leave and extends the curfew in Baghdad. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4742188.stm The above were from only one article, do not take this as the only response. Also, view these images. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/4743624.stm
DD, your article asked where are the protests agains the protesters/rioters/murderers. Correct? Lemme put it to you this way, the Muslims that are fanatic enough to protest are the ones in the street. Even some of the less fanatic ones are out there, and may not support the violent methods, but if they support the cause they are out there. The less outgoing ones and the ones that would rather stay at home are at home. Now you expect these passive and stay at home muslims to go protest? You have to understand its not in their nature to protest or to get all rowdy and to go against something, even if they dont believe it. Personally, I doubt I would protest for anything. I think its not too useful. The number of anti war protests I coulda been at in DC is numerous, yet, Im just the type of person that wouldnt go to protests. Now you expect me to go protest something that sure, i dont agree with, but its not my main priority in life. Yes it is a big deal that muslims are doing such horrible acts in the name of islam, Hell ya its a big deal. But the muslims that arent doing anything arent doing so because they condone the actions, its because they are just those type of people. And just to let you know, there are many many things being done other than protests to better deal with the situation of protesters gone wild. And If you even bothered clicking on some of the links provided in the earlier posts, youll find out what they were...
