February 3, 2006
A Norwegian evangelical newspaper prints a cartoon depicting Mohammad. A Dutch newspaper prints another cartoon depicting Mohammad in a negative way.
These two incidents make the Islamic world go nuts. An apology is demanded and some Arab nations boycott Dutch products.
A Dutch diplomat apologizes for the offense in the Dutch newspaper. The evangelical newspaper, so far, defends itself based on freedom of speech.
Meanwhile, cartoons and editorial throughout the Islamic world depict Jews as money-hungry, hooked-nose, blood-dripping hags. Do they apologize? They do not.
State-run television in the Arab world run the most anti-Semitic programs in which it is claimed Jews are responsible for the world’s problems and deserve to die. Are there apologies for this? More importantly, do state officials demand the TV stations and newspapers not run such things? They do not.
Someone should tell these people to clean up the mess in their own houses before demanding others conform to a form of behavior they avoid.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
