The Cartoon Jihad

Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first drive mad. Euripides 480-406 BC

And these must be the maddest of times. For those who wish to see the cartoons, they may be seen here as well as many other places on the net. The Robert Lindsay blog does have an excellent objective summary of the situation with links.

Another interesting point is the other depictions of Mohammed to be seen at the Mohammed Image Archive Islamic Paintings and Miniatures Showing Mohammed in Full

Medieval Muslim artists often created paintings and illuminated manuscripts depicting Mohammed in full. Several examples are presented here. Other artists of the era drew Mohammed but left his face blank so as to technically comply with the Islamic ban on depicting the Prophet; these images are shown in the second section.

Unfortunately the site is busy and broadband is definitely recommended, but the point is well taken. Much ado about nothing, and half the world is bowing down obsequiously.

Here is a painting pointed out by PhilinFl who also added the comment following.

Why hasn't every library between Moscow and Ireland been torched for offering this rather insensitive Gustave Doré picture of the Prophet in HELL (as a "sower of discord")?

I thought the coverage was interesting and different at IRIS, who calls it a Cartoon Intifada, and as always I like Daniel Pipes, who tells us who is standing and who is bowing. Also see Pipes' article here on the Cartoon Jihad, and read the letters at Salon to find out how the Liberals are taking it. Do check out Jihad Against Danish Newspaper from the Brussels Journal, whose motto is "We are all Danes Now" , and who remind us that this is really no laughing matter, as people are being killed, threatened and intimidated. Cartoonists and publishers have been shot in the face in England, arrested in Jordan. Read JustifyThis! for more on the violence and ugliness that isn't in the daily news.

Meanwhile in Brussels a young Muslim immigrant published a poster depicting the Virgin Mary with naked breasts. Though the picture has drawn some protest from Catholics (though not from Western embassies, nor from the bishops), this artist need not fear being murdered in the street. On the contrary, he is being subsidised by the Ministry for Culture. --from the Brussel's Journal

This way madness lies.