Forbidden cartoons....

Muslims all over the world are fuming mad over the publication by several newspapers of cartoons caricaturizing the Prophet Mohammed.

Mere imagery of the Prophet Mohammed is already forbidden by Islamic law, as it is said to encourages idolatry. Not only do the cartoons violate this law, but it is also considered by many Muslims as insulting and demeaning by the very way they were drawn. One of the drawings even depict the prophet wearing a bomb-shaped turban with a lit fuse, no doubt capitalizing on the stereotype of Muslims popularized in the western world, portraying them radicals, terrorists, and militants. Such a generaliztion is indeed insulting, not that all dissimilar from an international incident several years ago wherein the term Filipina became synonymous with domestic helpers.

The cartoons were first published last September in Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper. They were later reprinted by a Norweigan paper, followed by newspapers from France, Italy, Germany and Jordan, as well as in other countries.

There was so much outrage from the cartoons that their publication sparked a wave of protests in various countries, including Syria, Egypt, Qatar, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Indonesia, Bangladesh various Palestinian territories, and the United Kingdom. In some countries, buildings, businesses and other interests owned by countries who published the cartoons were even attacked.

Those responsible for the publication of the controversial cartoons claim that they are only exercising their freedom of expression. While I may not have any quarrel with that line of reasoning, it has always been my personal belief that such rights are not absolute and should not be exercised to a point wherein it would be offensive to people of other faiths or could be capable of inciting religious hatred. Exercising freedom of expression through the publication of blatantly demeaning imagery is not only socially irresponsible, but potentially extremely dangerous as well. History has shown us that wars have been fought in the past over less provocative things, what more the publication of images deemed an affront to followers of a major religious group?

In other words, freedom of expression guarantees all of us the right to speak out on anything we choose. But we have to be discerning on what subject we choose to express ourselves on. Not everything is appropriate, as this incident clearly demonstrates. We also have to be considerate of the feelings and sentiments of other people.

To those people who think this is a rights issue, it is not. It is an issue of propriety and respect. Just because you can say anything doesn't mean you should say anything without thinking of the consequences.

And not all religions have the same level of tolerance. It's something that just cannot be compared.

I guess I learned to be this way from all the discussions I've had with people of different faiths over the years. Just because people believe in different things or worship differently doesn't mean that they're less, or more of a person than ourselves. We just have different beliefs, and we should make sure that we do not lose respect for each other regardless of whatever faith each of us holds dear.

Some angry Muslims have resorted to violence in voicing out their resentment. While understandable, violence in whatever form as reprisal for the cartoons cannot and should not be justified, more so considering that those victimized had nothing to do with them. The authorities concerned should exhaust all efforts to ensure that no one gets hurt.

The cartoons are the product of the fertile imagination of only a few people. Entire countries, governments, and individual citizens should not be blamed for the irresponsible actions of the few. I'm sure that, given a chance, diplomatic channels can ensure that this issue is resolved peacefully.

Let us hope that the tension and violence does not escalate, and that cooler heads prevail in this barefaced display of social and religious insensitivity.

French newspaper with the offensive cartoons. The picture has been deliberately distorted to prevent displaying the images out of respect for Muslim beliefs.