The "Explosive" Cartoon

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/02/11/MNGRCH6UQK1.DTL
(San Francisco Chronicle)

Every morning, as I sip my coffee before class, I read the local news paper. My first glance is always towards politics and world news, which include my favorite morning treat...POLITICAL CARTOONS! I admit, my excitement is a little much, however, these artful doodles allow for a little release in such a tense world. They make the harsh truths of world happenings and politics slightly more bearable, and allow the inner cinic in myself a little satisfaction and catharsis. Political cartoonists are able to make controversial statements in a safer means than a journalist, because the humor and satire help balance the weightiness of the statement. They are a wonderful means of emotional release for the politically concerned and a true example of our right to free speech.

However, it seems that times are changing. After the re-introduction of the controversial cartoon depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad, the freedom of speech (or illustration in this case) has come into question. This controversial issue is a prime example of how literature effects our world society. This one little cartoon has ignited the wrath of an entire Muslim nation. Riots, fires, and deaths have occured over a few pen strokes on a piece of paper.

The cartoon itself is quite provacative, however, differs very little from many of the political cartoons I have witnessed in the conservative Mobile Register. In a time of such world wide unrest, people need a form of catharsis. The freedom to speek our minds allows us to release our anger verbally. Through un-restrained speech, we can can share our feelings through a non-violent channel. This freedom is important to the well being of the world wide community, and should not be put into question. One may indeed disagree with the statement of another person, however, such disagreement cannot be used as a basis for violence or for taking away that freedom.

On a last note, I do not think the illustrator of this cartoon had the intention of insulting Muhammad. It seems to me that he was simply attemting to make a statement; Muslim extremists seem to forget Muhammad was a man of peace, and commit violent acts in his name. The cartoonist was trying to use his freedom of speech to point out an intersesting and thought provoking irony.