The recent controversy over the cartoons perceived to be ridiculing Islam have stirred a whole volley of posts in India. Pickled Politics makes some important points and rounds up reactions from various other blogs [1]. The Predicate has an excellent roundup of the entire situation and says
The Islamic radical extremists have escalated this issue, literally begging for a backlash and public outcry. Had they just politely asked for an apology, they would have probably gotten it and the issue would have ended there. With bomb threats and boycotting Danish goods and fatwas and other potentially violent means, they have pushed people to respond. Now, many more images of Mohammed will show up, public will be more defiant (as people just love to demolish sacred cows).
Mumbai Girl explores some conflicts surrounding taking a stand [2] in the issue.
The conflict between the right to freedom of speech and the harm that it may cause will always exist as it always has. But the contradictions between the two need to be resolved through dialogue about what it means to have a right, to exercise it and to be offended by it, not by adopting defiant postures as several European newspapers have done, or violence and intolerance as some Muslims have done.
Atanu Dey at Deesha outlines the choice [3] of one makes of being offended
My advice to anyone who is offended by the lawful expression of free speech is simple: don’t watch, hear, or read whatever it is you find offensive. Nobody is forcing you to read or watch you find offensive. Reach for the remote and switch the channel. If you cannot find the channel you want, start your own channel. Or newspaper. Or whatever. But for the sake of sanity, keep your sensibilities to yourself if you find free expression offensive.
Haydur.dot.com says
Why is Al-Jazeera allowed to broadcast beheadings and a European newspaper being slammed around the globe for showing soom sense of humor? I don't see any Muslims protesting against Al-Jazeera by showing all those bloody tapes and tarnishing the image of their religion? Is it because they want their religion to be feared, just like they've been raised to fear God Almighty…
More reactions at Hardly Innovative [4]. Sadiq reiterates that Islam's take on prophets of any religion [5] would mean that a prophet cannot be the object of ridicule. Mezba says [6]
I believe this is a fantastic opportunity for the Arab world. Cancel the boycott. Announce that any European visiting an Arab country will get a free tourist visa, and can live with an Arab family. Start with the Danes. The Arabs are famous for their hospitality, and many locals will line up to have an European family stay with them.