| CARTOON WARS A cartoon presentation delivered by Terry Mosher to The Ottawa Press Club on the occasion of World Press Freedom day Ottawa -- May 3, 2006 |
Next, Claus Seidel has drawn Mohammed walking along with no visual satirical
aside whatsoever…
aside whatsoever…
How many of you in this room have actually seen the cartoons? If your
sensibilities would be upset by these cartoons, I’d ask you to leave the room
now, as I’m going to show several of them.
Nine of the twelve cartoons are actually very gentle.
In this one by Annette Carlson, for example, someone is trying to pick Mohammed
out of a lineup…
sensibilities would be upset by these cartoons, I’d ask you to leave the room
now, as I’m going to show several of them.
Nine of the twelve cartoons are actually very gentle.
In this one by Annette Carlson, for example, someone is trying to pick Mohammed
out of a lineup…
And why not? We have no way of knowing what Mohammed looked like back in
the 6th Century.
Next, Lars Refn has not drawn Mohammed himself – but a student named
Mohammed accusing the Danish newspaper people of being provacateurs for
commissioning the cartoons.
the 6th Century.
Next, Lars Refn has not drawn Mohammed himself – but a student named
Mohammed accusing the Danish newspaper people of being provacateurs for
commissioning the cartoons.
Now, three of these works might be considered contentious.
And then, Arne Sorenson drew himself drawing Mohammed behind closed blinds â
€“ as himself!
€“ as himself!
Kurt Westergaard drew Mohammed here with a lit fuse coming out of his turban â
€“
suggesting a tie between Islam and terrorism.
And I suppose he was the first to make this connection, right?
Reflecting on the furor and the death threats against him, Westergaard wondered
out loud as to why, if terrorism is an insult against Islam, these demonstrators donâ
€™t fight terrorism instead of threatening a Danish artist, whose only crime is
pointing out their ostrich-like denial. Why kill the messenger?
Next, Rasmus Sand Høyer drew Mohammed with two fearful women cowering
behind him.
€“
suggesting a tie between Islam and terrorism.
And I suppose he was the first to make this connection, right?
Reflecting on the furor and the death threats against him, Westergaard wondered
out loud as to why, if terrorism is an insult against Islam, these demonstrators donâ
€™t fight terrorism instead of threatening a Danish artist, whose only crime is
pointing out their ostrich-like denial. Why kill the messenger?
Next, Rasmus Sand Høyer drew Mohammed with two fearful women cowering
behind him.
As the cartoonist explained, Mohammed had many wives, all of whom were
required to wear burqas. He is commenting on a legitimate issue: the subservient
role of women in many Muslim societies.
The cartoonist did offer an apology in that he thought the beard could have been
prettier.
Finally, Jens-Julius drew Mohammed telling suicide bombers to stop their attacks
because they have run out of virgins in paradise.
required to wear burqas. He is commenting on a legitimate issue: the subservient
role of women in many Muslim societies.
The cartoonist did offer an apology in that he thought the beard could have been
prettier.
Finally, Jens-Julius drew Mohammed telling suicide bombers to stop their attacks
because they have run out of virgins in paradise.
The cartoonist said that he was pointing out that the real blasphemers are what
he called “the pimps� who, in Allah’s name, promise virgins to the
young suicide bombers.
Most tellingly, all these Danish cartoonists have said that these drawings are
quite mild when compared with their daily cartoons lampooning the Danish Prime
Minister or the Queen of Denmark.
he called “the pimps� who, in Allah’s name, promise virgins to the
young suicide bombers.
Most tellingly, all these Danish cartoonists have said that these drawings are
quite mild when compared with their daily cartoons lampooning the Danish Prime
Minister or the Queen of Denmark.