Arab Voices of Sanity: Some Blogging, Some Jailed ... There are voices of sanity from the Muslim world:

Nas, from Jordan, wonders if perhaps this is some conspiracy to make all Muslims look bad. SHe writes in BlackIris, title link:

Yesterday while watching the news I became furious. And I mean out of my mind mad with what I saw. Protesters in London holding up signs calling for beheadings, warning Britain of another 9/11, warning them of an upcoming “holocaust” and the most ironic one: condemning freedom of speech.

Who the hell are these people and are they on any form of medication? I’ve actually been wondering if perhaps this is some conspiracy to make us all look bad; a group of people decided to dress as Muslims and protest. Of course this is unlikely but it baffles me how any sane Muslim living in London could actually march through the streets holding up such a sign. You might as well buy a gun and shoot yourself in the foot. These protesters to me were honestly much more offensive to my religion than all of these cartoons combined. (and she goes on to point out that while Jordan does not have a free press, there are laws against insulting the religion -- FB)

And, across the pond, in London, Jamal writes in Opinionated Voices:

We were right to disagree with the cartoons, we were right to protest our disdain towards them. Although it is now time to move on, if the media did not start this row and then perpetuate it by reprinting the cartoons, things would not be as they are. But due to the actions of the extremist minority, this controversy has shifted to turn the focus of negativity back onto all Muslims, enabling even comparisons with Nazi’s to be made. Sunny at Pickled Politics suggests; “If all religions were companies, Islam would be the one with the worst public relations department”.

Unfortunately, two voices of sanity in the Middle East got arrested in Jordan. The newspaper Al-Mehwar, and the tabloid Shihan published the photo's. Both editors were arrested yesterday.

Jihad Momani of the Shihan published the cartoons, along with this editorial comment: Muslims of the world be reasonable ...

From the BBC:

"Muslims of the world be reasonable," wrote Mr Momani.

"What brings more prejudice against Islam, these caricatures or pictures of a hostage-taker slashing the throat of his victim in front of the cameras or a suicide bomber who blows himself up during a wedding ceremony in Amman?"

Mr Khalidi, whose al-Mehwar newspaper had also reprinted the cartoons, was detained late on Saturday. Al-Mehwar had reproduced the cartoons over a week ago to accompany an article on the condemnation they had sparked

Now, Shihad, presumably under pressure, published an apology, and was fired on Friday - but King Abdullah had him arrested on Saturday anyway. (which makes me wonder again how much good an apology really does in the Arab world ...)

Actually, it looks to me like the Middle Eastern governments are fanning the flames of rioting. The Saudi's were the ones that originally started the boycotts. The new Arab League Minister of information has denounced the cartoons, and called on the UN to pass a resolution that incriminates anyone who disrespects religions.

The Syrian government made no move to protect the embassy that was burned -- nor has the Lebanese government try to protect the Danish embassy in Beirut. And, of course, we've all seen the images of how the new Palestinian government has reacted.

Iran has recalled its ambassador from Denmark, and according to ZeeNews: Oil giant Iran said yesterday it was forming a committee to review trade ties with the countries that printed the cartoons.

And, good old President AllMyJihad has said he might link the publication of the cartoons to the nuclear crisis.

The honor roll includes now Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway and Poland. (The NewYorkSun apparently wimped out)

Nas asks: “Can the press use these images in the midst of this crisis if its intentions are honest?”

So, here's my question: It's a fact that it's insensitive to publish images of Mohammed. Yet -- if Islamofascists, and their buds in Arab government succeed in muzzling the Western press -- what's their next demand going to be?

I've always felt it's important to select your struggles; in life, not every battle is worth fighting. However, free speech is the life-blood of the Western world, and if we have to go to war to protect it, most of us would be willing to. Remember, our forefathers spilled blood to win the right to say precisely what they pleased.

(trackback at Cao'sBlog)  ¶ 7:45 AM