A newspaper published (admittedly distateful) cartoons that offended Muslims by linking Mohammad to acts of violence.
And Muslims defended Mohammad's honor by... committing acts of violence. And calling for less freedom of expression.
Frankly, the fact that the Muslim world's reaction is seen here as "defend[ing] their beliefs loudly and clearly" makes me lose a lot of respect for Muslim beliefs. It really weakened my faith in the idea that Islam and modernity/democracy are at all compatible, because clearly when there is conflict between freedom and piety, everyone is eager to throw freedom out the window.
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A newspaper published (admittedly distateful) cartoons that offended Muslims by linking Mohammad to acts of violence.
And Muslims defended Mohammad's honor by... committing acts of violence. And calling for less freedom of expression.
Frankly, the fact that the Muslim world's reaction is seen here as "defend[ing] their beliefs loudly and clearly" makes me lose a lot of respect for Muslim beliefs. It really weakened my faith in the idea that Islam and modernity/democracy are at all compatible, because clearly when there is conflict between freedom and piety, everyone is eager to throw freedom out the window.