D.C. Watson discusses some implications of cartoon rage:
Congratulations to every Muslim around the world who has expressed his anger over the now famous Muhammad cartoon row by calling for the beheading of those who insult Islam, torching the embassies of the nations that published the cartoons, burning the national flags of these nations, pelting other people’s property with rocks, and, of course, carrying out senseless attacks on people who had nothing to do with the publication of the cartoons.
These fanatical nuts have finally assisted in accomplishing a goal. Perhaps not a goal of theirs, or of their leaders, but certainly a goal of those who advocate human rights.
For several years, Robert Spencer, Hugh Fitzgerald, Ali Sina, Oriana Fallaci, Bat Ye’or, Ibn Warraq, Rebecca Bynum, Michael Savage, and a substantial number of other writers, radio talk show hosts, and website directors have been consistent with one simple message: That Muslims who do this kind of thing are simply following what has been ordered in the Qur’an.
It is true that not all Muslims in the world want to live under the rule of a dominant Islam. Nor do they want to live under Islamic law. Many Muslims have no beef with the West and love the freedoms that Western life brings. But Muslim rioters are showing the world that what the authors and speakers above, who have had the courage and foresight to point out to anyone who would look, listen, and learn about where these violent tendencies come from, were right all along. And now it seems that much more of the world, in particular the West, is having its eyes opened for them.
If these Islamists and their dishonest leaders were attempting to intimidate everyone into respecting Islam, they have made a gross miscalculation. The reimbursement for their savagery is ridicule — well-earned ridicule.
Because of this latest Islamic outburst and the dedicated work of those who speak out against this senseless vandalism and violence, Islamic groups that have been claiming that Islam is pluralistic and benign have been knocked backward. Now they are attempting to control what could turn out to be irreparable damage.
It has become clear that these groups will be forced to switch from offense to defense. All of the personal attacks they have engaged in against those who have spoken the truth about Islam are now going to fly back at them, because what their opponents have said and predicted has all come true in front of the world.
The rioters have also sent the message that since these cartoons have been published, and continue to be re-published, that the West shouldn’t blame Muslims for their actions. They appear to be indicating that they feel they have a legitimate excuse to destroy all that they survey over this issue, and that it’s just not their fault.
Ridiculous as this is, this is how they think, or are told to think by their “leaders.” So be it. Remarks like these are declarations of war and should be treated as such — not only militarily, but by every citizen in the West. Has the time finally arrived for the citizens of free societies around the world to require those Muslims who have immigrated to Western countries to abide by the laws and mores of their new countries — if they wish to stay?
These cartoon riots may well go down as one of the most self-defeating events in a long list of self-defeating events in Islamic history. What Muslims who throw rocks and commit arson over issues like the cartoon row need to understand is that protesting depictions of Islam as violent with violent, barbaric behavior is not only living up to the stereotype, it’s just plain stupid. Stupid, and revealing.
These riots also stink of extensive planning and organization. After all, the cartoons of Muhammad were published months ago. Why would Muslims wait so long to go berserk, in so many areas of the world, all at the same time — were it not for the time it takes to orchestrate the unrest we have seen?
Is it not finally time for all citizens in the West to communicate to their elected officials that the importation of people like this does nothing to improve our societies?
More importantly, is it not time for Westerners to stop blaming themselves for the Muslims who will riot over such trivial matters?
If these extremists are such a “tiny minority” of Muslims worldwide, then why hasn’t the majority of Muslims taken any concrete steps against them? The Imams who are supposed to be the “voice of reason” for Muslims have all too often turned out to be nothing more than the instigators of violence. Even if that requires lying to their followers, they haven’t hesitated.
Before the current cartoon row riots, and the French Muslim riots in 2005, polls taken in India, Russia, Germany, Spain, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, Poland, France, and the United States, revealed that an average of 70% of citizens in those nations are concerned about Islamic extremism.
Figures about this concern after the cartoon riots are not yet available. However, it is safe to say that the concern will be much higher. The whole cartoon rage incident shows again the hollowness of accusations of “Islamophobia” and bigotry that are so regularly made against critics of Islamic violence and intimidation.
No matter how this cartoon controversy ends, the Western Muslim advocacy organizations that claim that Islam is a peaceful, vilified religion have been made fools of by the very people they have been determined to defend. While the rioting Muslims have opened many eyes, this is far from over with. The work to expose these deceivers will continue. Those deceivers are tireless and relentless; therefore, so must we be also.