"Risking the wrath of Muslims" and defending core Western principles of free inquiry.
From the Telegraph (thanks to all who sent this in):
Denmark's Royal Library is risking the wrath of Muslims with plans to display controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that sparked violent protest throughout the Islamic world two years ago.The 12 caricatures of Islam's founder were published in Danish newspapers in September 2005 triggering riots and violence which claimed the lives of over 50 people.
Copenhagen's Royal Library – founded by King Frederik III in 17th century – is courting a new controversy by classifying the cartoons as “historic” objects alongside other Danish treasures, such as original manuscripts by Martin Luther.
"We hope we can secure all of the works to preserve them for the future.
The caricatures have become a part of Danish history,” Royal Library spokesperson Jytte Kjaergaard told the UK's Art Newspaper. But the images are likely to remain locked away from the public gaze.
"We are not interested in an exhibition, we are interested in them being kept safe for future generations,” the Royal Library spokeswoman said.
"This is the obvious place to keep them because we have all the security measures in place. It would be very difficult for a private person to come in and sabotage them because to see them for research purposes you will need a letter of consent from your university professor. They will be treated like any rare book.”...
"Denmark's Royal Library is risking the wrath of Muslims with plans to display controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that sparked violent protest throughout the Islamic world two years ago."
That says it all right there, wrath over a cartoon which in the end validated the message of the cartoon.
uh oh. 2 words spring to mind. Fire & bomb. This is gonna end in tears
...can you say RPG....
...is Suicide Bomber Vest a term spoken in Demark
...is the RIOT squad preparing for action....
...are contingency plans for a military callup being made...
....inquiring minds want to know....
""Risking the wrath of Muslims" and defending core Western principles of free inquiry..."
....more like expecting the wrath of Muslims....expect it and prepare for it and then deal with it....
Ban Muslim Immigration...
Over Sixty years ago we applauded the courage of those soldiers who landed on the Normandy beaches on D-Day.
Now we (quite rightly) applaud the courage of a Librarian for displaying a few cartoons.
Is this how far we've fallen?
What else might be in the Royal Danish Libarary?
An immaculate copy of Flora Danica, with all the plates.
Early Icelandic epics.
Manuscripts by Hans Christian Andersen, including letters to the Melchior family.
And many, not as valuable on the market as those Andersen first editions and copies of Flora Danica, but invaluable for their testiimony, such as these:
Mentze E. 5 Years. The Occupation of Denmark in Pictures. Sweden. 1946.
Michelsen K. They Died For Us. In Memory of Allied airmen who lost their lives in Denmark during the Second World War. The Scandinavian Pub. Co. 1946 Covers the British Graves and memorials for fallen British airmen over Denmark in WWII.
Flender H. Rescue in Denmark. How occupied Denmark rose as a nation to save the Danish Jews from Nazi extermination.
Petrow R. The Bitter Years. The Invasion and Occupation of Denmark and Norway. April 1940- May 1945.
And about that "They Died For Us" book -- can you imagine anyone in Iraq, or Afghanistan, or any other Muslim country, ever putting out a book dedicated to the memory of American, British, NATO or "Coalition" forces, with expressions of heartfelt gratitude for being rescued from the Taliban, or from Saddam Hussein, or any other lords of Muslim misrule?
No? Why not?
"It would be very difficult for a private person to come in and sabotage them because to see them for research purposes you will need a letter of consent from your university professor.”
Were I a Muslim bent on translating myself to Paradise through the rubble of the library, I would simply ask for a letter of consent from my Edward Said-influenced professor at the University of Copenhagen; oh say, someone perhaps like recently appointed professor at the Faculty of Theology, Dr. Jørgen S. Nielsen*, who last year coordinated a joint seminar with six other leading scholars, to give a presentation of their views on "Shari’a as Discourse".
Then I would don my full Islamic garb and walk proudly up to the appropriate desk clerk, daring them to show the slightest "Islamophobic" and "racist" suspicion at me by, say, asking to search my massive Danish-Arabic dictionary which I had hollowed out and filled with explosive gel.
* Prof. Nielsen on the problem of Muslims assimilating secularism:
"On the so-called Arab street, secularism is more often than not seen as a foreign import. It was brought in by foreign colonial powers as a way of limiting the power of Muslim religious institutions which often were at the forefront of resistance against the colonial powers. Many modern Muslim states are regarded as the heirs of the colonial powers by their people.
"Secular politics are associated with secular military dictatorships that were established during the years of the Cold War, and supported by one or the other of the secular superpowers. Today, the only effective challenge to this inheritance, many Muslims believe, comes from Islamist movements, and people arguing for a secular perspective run the constant danger of being accused of collaboration with the West. It is this that makes it more likely that many will tilt away from modern, pluralistic secularism toward a religious political system".
It's the West's fault, as always.
How do you exhibit the cartoons if you will not display them? What "future generations" are you waiting to show them to? Is it that Denmark is locking away the last remnant of its civilisation or is it afraid to confront the demon of its extinction, Mohammed? This doesn't strike me as a courageous act. It would be a courageous act to blow them up and display them on the sides of its largest buildings. If these cartoons are so "precious" a symbol of what Denmark is, an historical artifact, then why not display them for all Danish citizens to see?
"It would be very difficult for a private person to come in and sabotage them because to see them for research purposes you will need a letter of consent from your university professor."
Some fail-safe security barrier that is!
Dear Hugh,
the library might have some original copies of Icelandic epics but the original sagas were sent back to Iceland one page at a time sometime in the late 70s. What would be lost thou if the followers of the religion of peace were to bomb the place would be its massive collection of Incunabula
and for our American readers a copy of General Custers Autobiography signed by the General himself. As for fearing the wrath of the bearded baboons I don't think the Danes give a dam, there has been hardly a peep from the Danish Muslims, not that it would make much difference, as the Danes seem to developed a rather enlarged middle finger which they will display to anyone who is so culturally insensitive as to remark about their rampant Islamophobia.
Go Denmark!
Europe fights back. My friend is the wife of an ambassador in Copenhagen.
I really must pay a visit in the not too distant future.
Yes, Briars, it doesn't sound exactly as though they're going to be on display in a public gallery - even behind triple security glass.
I do like your idea of blowing them up into really big posters for the sides of buildings.
The originals, of course, should be tucked away in a Secure Undisclosed Location.
Meanwhile: since their digital copies have gone viral on the internet and are easily found and downloaded by anyone who knows where to look, fliers and posters with reproductions of the best ones (I suggest the turban bomb Mohammed, and the "sorry, we've run out of virgins!") should be all over Denmark, multiplying faster than fleas and just as impossible for the Mohammedans to catch and get rid of.
The Danes should make more. Lots more, and funnier.
They will, however, have to brace themselves to ruthlessly defend Freedom of Speech - the freedom to poke fun, to mock, to criticise, to question, lampoon and satirise - the moment all the Rage Boys pop up foaming and frothing and making threats and murderous plots.
This Emperor has got no clothes.
The Devil is a proud spirit and cannot abide to be mocked.
So: mock him! Ali Sina counsels the use of mockery and shaming, and he should know, he used to be a Muslim.
If the Danes regard the cartoons as a vital part of their history perhaps they can celebrate "Cartoon Day" every year. We could have children draw their own cartoons or write poems on the beauty of freedom of Speech, Women's equality and Freedom of religion. The Mohammedians will offer thousands of examples throughout the year that could inspire the kids and will surely appear in numbers to help celebrate the day.
Good job by that museum. I just have to wonder what will happen 10-15 years down the line when muslims in Denmark are numerous enough start imposing Sharialaws, cencorship and stuff like that. Surely the Cartoons will be seized and destroyed.
The Danes have the same problem as most of the rest of Europe; They don't make enough children. A few generations from now, Denmark as we know it will be history. All the muslims have to do is to wait.
""Risking the wrath of Muslims" and defending core Western principles of free inquiry..."
Interesting how they are one in the same.
" 'They will be treated like any rare book.'..."
Oh really, like all the books in the library at Alexandria.
Good for them!
What would the comments be if they REFUSED to keep them?
It was the Danish cartoons that lead me to Jihadwatch.
Well actually it was the REACTION to the cartoons that caused me to research Jihad online.
If the muslim shite hits the fan in Denmark I read here and personally believe the Danish army and police forces (basically all the units) would defect to the population in the event of a jihad uprising against their nation.
Can you say military coup?
Due to the fact that most of the Danish army equipment is German produced (Leopard 1 and 2 tanks, Marder APC vehicles, etc) expect Berlin to "offer" military support to Copenhagen in defending Denmark from those muslim gangsters.
It seems something very big may happen soon and Denmark will be what ignites Europe.
This islamic exploitation of the old world must come to an end.
"We are not interested in an exhibition, we are interested in them being kept safe for future generations,” the Royal Library spokeswoman said.
And just how far into the future do you intend on keeping them hidden for future generations?
In other words, you are too chicken to display them now, you must wait for generation X to arrive sometime in the future, so that they can deal with the riots. I don't see too much there to anger muslims. Maybe when generation X gets here...