In Iran there is a new response to the offensive cartoons that depicted the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper some time back- they are displaying offensive cartoons regarding the Holocaust.
Iran Launches Cartoon Exhibit on Holocaust
The display, showing 204 entries from Iran and abroad, was strongly influenced by the views of Iran's hard-line president, Mahoud Ahmadinejad, who drew widespread condemnation last year for calling the Holocaust a "myth" and saying Israel should be destroyed.
One cartoon by Indonesian Tony Thomdean shows the Statue of Liberty holding a book on the Holocaust in its left hand and giving a Nazi-style salute with the other.
The cartoons in the Danish paper were, without question, offensive. The violent protests that took place in several countries, however, were at least as offensive, and terribly counterproductive. This cartoon exhibit is merely a continuation of that self-defeating strategy of demonstrating outrage.
The differnences between us- Christian, Muslim, Jew, whatever- can be real, but we have common ground as well. Until we begin to consistently emphasize the common ground and attempt to build bridges of love across the differences, we will continue to live in a world plagued by religiously inspired violence.
Iran is developing- after a few years of apparent moderation- into a nation of extreme intolerance. This development turns the wheel in the wrong direction, providing those nations and individuals who wish to see a more peaceful world with greater challenges.
To have peace, we must be peace, Gandhi said. Let us commit ourselves to that mission. Perhaps we can overcome the evil done by those like the people behind the exhibit in Iran.
GP
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