This story is another example of what the Arab world should not be doing if it wishes to be thought of as part of the Civilized, Modern World:
In February the Arab League approved a new Arab media charter. This charter was claimed to have been aimed at the Hizbullah channel of al-Manar and at al-Jazeera. Lebanon was the only one who voted against it, Qatar abstained. The charter asks Arab broadcasters "not to damage social harmony, national unity, public order or traditional values," as well as "not to offend the leaders or national and religious symbols" of Arab countries. [Emphasis mine-SW]
The quintessence of civilized behavior is to be able to respond to verbal criticism with verbal responses. Everyday we hear from "spokesmen" for aggrieved Muslims that the Muslim world must be protected against criticism, with a thinly veiled threat of violence for those who do not kowtow to the demands. That is the behavior of an insecure, primitive, and tyrannical culture. It does nothing to promote the idea the Arab world is ready, willing, or able to hold themselves up for scrutiny, a necessary precondition to becoming a fully integrated, a productive part of the global community.
Wretchard adds this, in the context of Arab nations pulling out of a book fair because Israel is being honored:
First it was cartoons in Denmark, then movies in the Netherlands, followed by an art exhibition in Berlin... Now the culture wars have come to a book fair in Paris. The BBC reports:
A book fair in Paris has become the subject of controversy with several Muslim countries announcing boycotts because the guest of honour is Israel. Saudi Arabia has become the latest to withdraw, following Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.
It often seems as if the core of Islam and Islamist ideology, and the only unifying idea within the Muslim world, is anti-Semitism.
Recent Comments