So Fatwa Me> Politics

I don't know if this is a big story in the States, but there have been some serious riots in the Middle East over the weekend, with two Danish and one Norwegian embassy being torched. These riots were sparked by a cartoon in a Danish newspaper depicting their prophet Mohammed with a bomb in his turban. First off, this cartoon was printed in September. Delayed rage of this nature looks awful silly. Second, everyday in newpapers across the Muslim world, cartoons are published that demonize Jews. You don't see us calling for a "jewhad" or burning embassies. That's not how we roll. Third, do they understand the point of the cartoon? Are they trying to be ironic by resorting violence and destruction? Fourth, do they know how charitable, cute and harmless the Scandinavians are?

This is another clear indicator that we are heading for, if we are not already in, a clash of civilizations between the West and Muslims. This is coming from a Dovish Democrat too. They simply don't have the same values we have for tolerance of other view points. We can keep making excuses for them. But...Lets face it, they are in need of an enlightenment or they are going to keep spiraling downward in a hate filled collapse and may take the modern world with them.

They can blame America, Israel and I guess now Denmark for their misfortune all they want, but that won't cure their ills. Where are the riots when an Iraqi Shiite wedding is blown apart by a suicide bomber? Where are the riots when journalists are beheaded? I used to feel that the problem was just with extremists within their religion and countries, but I think it is foolish to only blame extremists when the solution, and the only solution, is the Muslim society as a whole turning their backs on these Jihadis. Until ordinary Muslims condemn violence, the extremists will always feel they represent the interests of the mainstream. I know, we must use soft power to change their hearts and minds, but I feel they must take responsibility for the menace that the Muslim world has become. Get it together!

Side note: Do you think Danish travelers have started to wear big Swedish flags on their backpacks? Have they started to use the Swedish equivalent of "eh" (An extra u when saying Hygge) when speaking to locals? Or will they pretend to be Germans instead?