The 2005 cartoon controversy of the Holy Prophet Mohammed by Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard
By: Seth Johnson, Max Sassaman and Nouf Alghamdi Seth Johnson (Team leader): Wrote the main points and purpose.
Max Sassaman: Wrote about the viewpoints expressed and what is left out.
Nouf Alghamdi: Wrote about the political reaction and people's reaction.
The Danish cartoon controversy was twelve pictorials published, comically displaying the religion of Islam the prophet Muhammad in an attempt to answer if self-censorship was being used by journalists. This release caused an uproar within the Islamic community and brought attention to the interpretation of free speech and its extent. It brought citizen violence to various places, attacks …show more content…
Years later he stated he was trying to “show that terrorists get their spiritual ammunition from parts of Islam and with this spiritual ammunition, and with dynamite and other explosives, they kill people.” Additionally, he felt Danish immigrants were taking advantage of the society arguing that in return for giving them “everything”, Westergaard wanted to see their respect for democratic values, including freedom of speech. He received the Sappho award from the Danish Free Press Society for his refusal to compromise in the whole …show more content…
The United States is a propagator of free speech and expression, but only to a certain point. It is a core foundation of this country to allow someone to express what they wish, how they wish. However, when religious ideals are being exploited for humor, that is when free expression must be contained. This cartoon was much more than a series of drawings; it was a stab at the Islamic states that have different governmental and societal regulations. Former U.S. president, Bill Clinton, commented on this issue in 2006 by saying, “In Europe, most of the struggles we have had in the past 50 years have been to fight prejudices against Jews, to fight against anti-Semitism...So now what are we going to do?...Replace the anti-Semitic prejudice with anti-Islamic prejudice?”
By: Seth Johnson, Max Sassaman and Nouf Alghamdi Seth Johnson (Team leader): Wrote the main points and purpose.
Max Sassaman: Wrote about the viewpoints expressed and what is left out.
Nouf Alghamdi: Wrote about the political reaction and people's reaction.
The Danish cartoon controversy was twelve pictorials published, comically displaying the religion of Islam the prophet Muhammad in an attempt to answer if self-censorship was being used by journalists. This release caused an uproar within the Islamic community and brought attention to the interpretation of free speech and its extent. It brought citizen violence to various places, attacks …show more content…
Years later he stated he was trying to “show that terrorists get their spiritual ammunition from parts of Islam and with this spiritual ammunition, and with dynamite and other explosives, they kill people.” Additionally, he felt Danish immigrants were taking advantage of the society arguing that in return for giving them “everything”, Westergaard wanted to see their respect for democratic values, including freedom of speech. He received the Sappho award from the Danish Free Press Society for his refusal to compromise in the whole …show more content…
The United States is a propagator of free speech and expression, but only to a certain point. It is a core foundation of this country to allow someone to express what they wish, how they wish. However, when religious ideals are being exploited for humor, that is when free expression must be contained. This cartoon was much more than a series of drawings; it was a stab at the Islamic states that have different governmental and societal regulations. Former U.S. president, Bill Clinton, commented on this issue in 2006 by saying, “In Europe, most of the struggles we have had in the past 50 years have been to fight prejudices against Jews, to fight against anti-Semitism...So now what are we going to do?...Replace the anti-Semitic prejudice with anti-Islamic prejudice?”