If you want to burn something...burn the newspaper

Where are we going to?

We hear about islamic protestants all over the world now...
Let us remember, how everything started: A small newspaper in Denmark published some cartoons, that tried to satirical explain the stupidity of sucide bombing by islamic terrorists...

Now, we seem to have an international conflict.
A clash of cultures between the western and the islamic world.

Maybe I missed something, but, hello...?...What is this all about?

How come, that islamic influenced societies seem so peculiar of what had happened?
I have my own view of that and I want to share it here.

First I want to state, that I am not intending to insult or prejudice anybody.
Just in case I get misunderstood.

1.) Many of these people haven't seen the cartoons ever (I haven't seen them too), but they go to the streets and burn Danish flags, becuase of feeling insulted. Is it just, that they cannot cope with western humour? In islamic countries, cartoons are mainly used to insult people or for political influence to the masses. From that point of view the cartoons are obviously misunderstood. In western civilisations cartoons are used for humour, satire or entertainment. Nothing more or less...

2.) The leaders of these societies are afraid of someting, that seems to have become normal in other social systems: The free choice of cultural identity. This fear has a system in it and presents a mean purpose: Keep your people stupid and poor, than it is easy to influence it and the persistance of your reign will be guaranteed. This was always what propaganda was all about. The rulers and mullahs want to cast into concrete, what they have acieved in using the religious rules to suppress their people:

a.) Blind obedience to secular and spiritual leaders
b.) Violation of human rights against women and children
c.) Legitimation of political structures, that do not allow "normal" citicens to take active influence in political processes or decisions.
d.) Extensive use and love of weapons and the means of violence.

3.) Why does a religion (or the God of it or its prophet or who ever...) need to be defensed by their beleivers? If they have an almighty God, let him do the job. (sorry to say it just so plain).
The violent mission techniques in the beginning of the islamic religion is no excuse for recommending these means today. Why don't you just relax and let the better win? We will see who is right in the end anyway...

4.) Why are islamic societies expect western countries to respect their religious feelings?
Just try to become a christian in an islamic country like Pakistan, Afghanistan etc...
You will get HELL form your family, the society around you, and the fanatics. You will be mobbed, hijacked, tortured, murdered. This is common social conscent to give hell to anybody who freely decides to change his religious aims.
With this poor image of tolerance in mind... How come, that there is the claim to totally change the habits of our societies? Cartoons always have been a tool of humour who did them. And all who had the honour to be the aim of the humour needed to cope with that. Even the leaders of christianity had to face that and it took the christian religion (for example) approx. 2000 years to start accepting these facts. In middle age the oppoents were tortured and burned to.

5.) It is a shame, to where the islamic religion has come. In its best times it was known for scientific interest and tolerance (apart from times, when it was violently spread). Why isn't this possible today? (see point 2 for that)

6.) What are we westerns do with these words form the iranian Prime minister about the "fairy tale of the holocaust". Where is the collective protest from the western people? Do we burn the Iranian embassy now? The lack of protest or publically taking distance in islamic countries to such statements makes me beleive, that we are already at the edge of our cultures clashing again... This is a pain for me.

7.) Why should western countries change their habits of humour or social behavior, just because some islamic people living in their countries. Why is it to so expected to silently accept the oriental social systems. We do not harrass or torture islamic beleivers, just because their belief is different. If you live here and are convinced of your islamic or other religion: Show respect to one of our most important cultural achievements that we have in the western world: Tolerance. This grew in at least 2000 years and is not to be negotiated about (Although it sometimes seems to be a small weak plat growing there...) In fact: If you move here to make your living, get prepared, that once your second generation comes to get contact with our values, they may want to decide themselves wich values they want to respect in their lives. If you think you can avoid that: Forget it! Young people always are open and want to go different ways.

I do not want to be misunderstood: I do not agree with any of the attemps the US government shows with the interference it takes in the oriental world. Personally; I think, that the war in Irak had made this all worse. But isn't that ridiculous? We live in the 21st century and loooks like the next wars fought, will possibly be because of religious reasons (if not for water or oil).

This is just so sad...sad...sad...

What disturbs me the most, is that mankind does not seem to learn anything from history.

Personally, I must say, I like the idea of a final court case that is being told of in the christian religion. Then, I believe, all these guys who f***ed this world up, will get their share in that space, what they tried to transform the world to because of their hunger for power and money.
But even those who feel secure to get their award, because of feeling like lifetime members in the christian club may end up being surprised with what they get...We'll see...

So, folks... if you want to burn something... fly to Denmark, buy this newspaper (that keeps tourism, air transport and publishers happy), Read it...smile or be angry and burn...the paper. Take it to light your fire with and warm your home. Then it has a "real" purpose. Nothing is less important, than the newspaper from yesterday. So is your anger and rage. This is nothing to anger about, hurt anybody, destroy assets or even die for. Just imagine the words on your tombstone: "Died for a cartoon..."

C'mon islamic countries! Just move on and stop bothering about such shit.

And you westerns...stay respectful, but have no fear...