Madam, - Freedom of speech is not a licence for blatant provocation of those with whom we might disagree, not does it give us the right to abuse and insult those whose religious beliefs and cultures differ from ours. It is well known that those who profess the Islamic faith take their religion very seriously, and they are perfectly entitled to do so. Have we forgotten how seriously we took our Christianity here in Ireland up to relatively recently?
It should be obvious to all but the most stupid that publication of cartoons denigrating Muhammad would be provocative at any time, but especially so now, given the precarious political situation in the Near and Middle East. Now newspaper people are hardly stupid, which leads one to question the agenda behind the various publications of the offensive cartoons.
It is clear that hardline hawks within Islam, worldwide, have seized upon this gratuitous opportunity, presented to them by a cynical and irresponsible European media, to further their own political ends. The flames of racial and religious hatred which were lit last September and which have been fanned ever since threaten to plunge our fragile world into a full-scale global war.
As I write, 11 people have already died as a result of the ill-judged and irresponsible pursuit of a spurious "freedom of speech". Who is responsible for those deaths? Newspaper proprietors and editors must surely bear a heavy weight of responsibility to ensure that their publications are used in the interests of harmony and peace, rather than hatred and conflict. - Yours, etc,
GEAROID KILGALLEN, Crosthwaite Park South, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The cartoons published in the name of "freedom of speech" are totally unacceptable to Muslims for many reasons.
Firstly, the Muslim religion does not allow drawing pictures of prophets and the media should respect that. After all there are more than a billion people holding this view.
Secondly, the person shown as the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not "him". His true picture does not exist. It would be wrong to show him as someone he is not.
Thirdly, the pictures show him with a bomb on his turban and other things. This is completely untrue. These actions were never practised or taught by him.
I am deeply hurt by the pictures and am at a loss to understand what the Western media is trying to achieve by these irresponsible acts.
I fully agree that the reaction to this incident has been violent in some areas and I do not think that is the right way of protesting. People need to be educated, not infuriated. - Yours, etc,
M. M. ANWAR, Hermitage Road, Lucan, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Where is the politically correct brigade in all of this controversy? Or is religion fair game for attack in our "enlightened", secularist Europe? Would the Danes publish offensive cartoons concerning immigrants, Africans, Asians, homosexuals or any other section of society? I doubt it.
While I do not condone violent reaction, Europeans should be much more sensitive to the deeply held beliefs of other races and nations. Just because secularist Europeans do not have such profound belief or values other than those which are trendy, this does not shelter them from showing respect. - Yours, etc,
PETER McDONAGH, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The famous American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes Jnr once said: "Freedom of speech dose not entitle one to shout 'FIRE' in a crowded theatre."
Perhaps, if the publishers had paused to reflect on this wise man's observation, the cartoons might not have been published and the widespread violence recently unleashed would have been avoided. - Yours, etc,
M.D. KENNEDY, Glenageary, Co Dublin.