The Cartoon Controversy

By

Bolade Wade

I told myself I was not going to contribute to any online Nigerian site on the problems of Nigeria and the world because it is just a waste of time and as much as I tried to shy away from breaking this principle, I have sent private objections to articles and point of views to the different contributors via their emails. On this fiery issue of the Danish cartoons (though I don’t really see what the fuss is about). I just really think it all just crazy. The reality to me is that the annoyance and the violence is really all about politics and power. It has nothing to do with abhorrence of what the cartoons portray or respect for religion. Come on, the Danish publish do not deny that they wanted to test the boundaries of freedom of expression but I do not get what the ‘violent protests’ hope to express. I cannot understand why in my home country people protest and kill Christians who have had nothing to do with the publication as well as violence against anybody who has had nothing to do with cartoons. The violent Nigerian Muslims in Maiduguri, Nigeria are showing again their insecurities and non- comprehension of anything taking place in the real world. It’s just bizarre to me and beyond explanation as to how someone will kill others and destroy properties of innocent people over cartoons that were portrayed in a newspaper in Europe by white journalists. There just cannot be any link even by the longest and most exaggerated thoughts.

Muslims have always claimed that Islam is a peaceful religion and as a reader of the Koran of myself, I have not really seen what advocates this kind of violence against innocent people.  It brings to my mind that Islam truly is peaceful in real practice. Infact, I would say Islam has just lost one of its ardent supporters due to the ‘madness of some violent few.’

The absolute madness we see in the world today goes on to show that rational people are too quiet. If we were all to react to feeling of hurt brought upon our various faiths by the dominant faiths today, I wonder if we would survive the next two hours. Yes, the cartoons might have been offensive, yes, Muslims have the right to protest and boycott but I will never agree and cannot find reason to understand why they have to kill innocent Christian in Nigeria for cartoons drawn in the faraway Europe. This is completely IRRATIONAL and I hope all those who have consistently said that they can understand the Arab and Muslims anger would cover their eyes in shame now that they can see how irrational the anger has become. People looking for excuses to maim innocent victims have just taken advantage of this whole cartoon row, which was also started by someone who was looking attention and further inflamed by an imam looking for attention.

I hope the likes of Paul Adujie and other writers in Gamji and Nigeriaworld websites can understand why innocent Maiduguri citizens are maimed as they stated in their articles.

What’s most amusing now is that the Muslims wanted to make people aware that a blasphemy had been committed against Islam but have in turn done the reverse. You need to visit web logs and videoblogs and see variants of nasty “Mohammed cartoons” currently swimming around on the net. Instead of making the situation better the evil elements in the Muslim community have made it worse. A barrage of Islamic cartoons is all over the net.  Islam has again shot herself in the toe because of some irresponsible elements in her fold.

What I need my Moslem comrades to understand is that this is not the first and this will not be the last of the so-called insults to major religions. These religions are like pop-stars in today’s world. If you are the mainstream, expect criticisms and be ready to reply to them in a dignified way like the Moslem world did at first. The boycotts were effective, you did not have to allow the weirdo’s spoil that beautiful, calm reaction by the violence which the west labelled Islam as and which they claim set the idea for a cartoon contest in motion.

The next time something like this happens, Africans should remind themselves, how many times they put down other people’s religion, how many times you tell traditionalists who worship Sango or others gods , that they are worshipping dead gods and how many time on Sunday the Christians sing “Down Down Satan” (when they know Satanism is a religion with followers, though small but they still can get explosives and blow up embassies and stuff) and how many time the Muslims do the same by putting down traditional African beliefs.

WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER. If you want your religion to exist, then allows others to let theirs exist, if you don’t want anyone to blaspheme against your religion do not do so to others.

Finally, to peaceful Muslims which are a majority like the London protest showed, you need to speak up against these bad elements you have amongst you, they do you more harm than good. Stop blaming America and the west for al the evils of the world it is an escapist view of seeing the world.

I would like Paul Adujie’s and his likes who were saying, “if it were the Christians what would they do….?” To read the Reuben Abati interview http://odili.net/news/source/2006/feb/17/5.html and publish what they think about the interview and also remember that a majority of those who are burning down things did not set eyes on the cartoons and if that’s how we all will start reacting to hear say, then BYE BYE  PLANET EARTH.

Bolade Wade

St. Petersburg Russia