Robert Tracinski Publish Or Perish Summary

The Danish Cartoon Incident is not the only one of its kind; there have been several occurrences in the past that have revolved around the concept of prophet illustrations being forbidden. Although this incidence in particular included the Muslim prophet, Mohammed, the overall theme is similar to the Christine concept of Iconoclasm. Now, this topic is quite a sensitive topic which most definitely offends many individuals, because religion is a red line to many. Even though, in my opinion, Robert Tracinski was very harsh and aggressive in his article “Publish or Perish,” I still agree that the dictatorship in countries, such as Israel and Syria, are an issue. Yet, I don’t believe that it is the only issue that has triggered incidents like this …show more content…
I understand how offensive these pieces make Muslims, because in Islam it is believed that God is the creator of the world and is greater than anyone; therefore, God cannot be drawn into a limited figure. At the same time, their moral views clash with the freedom of speech principle that is embedded into our amendments. This is why the situation is uncomfortable, there are two sides who feel passionate about their religion and their country’s foundations. Who should sacrifice? This is a question that I don’t think has an obvious or easy solution to. A part of me can’t help but argue that respect must be given and that all reporters, or anyone for that matter, should respect others feelings. At the same time, no one can make everyone happy. There are reporters, images, media, and comedians who say offensive or critical statements constantly, it’s a part of these jobs’ nature. Therefore, trying to take into account every single group’s beliefs and the audiences’ feelings is challenging and a tedious task. As John Cleese commented in the video, people should be able to control their emotions. However, do such illustrations go beyond just