| CARTOON WARS An cartoon presentation delivered by Terry Mosher to The Ottawa Press Club on the occasion of World Press Freedom day Ottawa -- May 3, 2006 |
The bad news in terms of press freedom, has been the general response of our
newspapers. They are very, very nervous about this issue. My own newspaper,
The Montreal Gazette, has been the target of demonstrations over cartoons of
mine on the subject of radical Islam.
Fine words were written, mind you.
The Economist observed that “freedom of expression is a pillar of western
democracy, as sacred in its own way as Mohammed is to pious Muslims.�
The Globe and Mail in an excellent editorial wrote that “the best cartoons hurt.
In democracies worthy of the name, authorities grit their teeth and leave
cartoonists alone. It would be tragic if the controversy over the Danish cartoons
placed a chill on this most necessary of art forms.�
Well, indeed. For, despite the noble intent, The Economist, The Globe and Mail
and an overwhelming majority of other newspapers refused to print the offending
cartoons. They got out of the kitchen!
I didn’t even bother submitting this one to my editors…
newspapers. They are very, very nervous about this issue. My own newspaper,
The Montreal Gazette, has been the target of demonstrations over cartoons of
mine on the subject of radical Islam.
Fine words were written, mind you.
The Economist observed that “freedom of expression is a pillar of western
democracy, as sacred in its own way as Mohammed is to pious Muslims.�
The Globe and Mail in an excellent editorial wrote that “the best cartoons hurt.
In democracies worthy of the name, authorities grit their teeth and leave
cartoonists alone. It would be tragic if the controversy over the Danish cartoons
placed a chill on this most necessary of art forms.�
Well, indeed. For, despite the noble intent, The Economist, The Globe and Mail
and an overwhelming majority of other newspapers refused to print the offending
cartoons. They got out of the kitchen!
I didn’t even bother submitting this one to my editors…
All the dirty dozen in full living colour. We got the real news on the Internet, not in
our newspapers!
However, back to the main dilemma facing us presently in terms of press freedom,
summed up in this cartoon by Guy Badeaux for Le Droit here in Ottawa…
our newspapers!
However, back to the main dilemma facing us presently in terms of press freedom,
summed up in this cartoon by Guy Badeaux for Le Droit here in Ottawa…
And what next? Two erasers?
Will the nonsense continue? Will there be demonstrations in Copenhagen…
Will the nonsense continue? Will there be demonstrations in Copenhagen…
Now it’s no secret that newspapers are in trouble, losing the war to the
Internet on many fronts. How ironic is it is then that the newspapers refusing to
print the offending cartoons was not really a problem?
Go to GOOGLE again and type Mohammed and Cartoons into image search and
what do you get?
Internet on many fronts. How ironic is it is then that the newspapers refusing to
print the offending cartoons was not really a problem?
Go to GOOGLE again and type Mohammed and Cartoons into image search and
what do you get?
…demanding that the Little Mermaid must now wear a Burqa?
Bob Krieger in The Vancouver Province has asked how Mohammed himself might
have responded to all this.
Bob Krieger in The Vancouver Province has asked how Mohammed himself might
have responded to all this.
I’d like to close with a cartoon drawn by Bruce MacKinnon back when a Jihad
was declared against author Salman Rushdie.
An Iman is passing on a message to Khomeni from the paradise hotline saying…
was declared against author Salman Rushdie.
An Iman is passing on a message to Khomeni from the paradise hotline saying…
It’s Allah. He wants you to lighten up.
Thank you.
Thank you.
