Sydney, Australia
September 14, 2012
Wrote about how demonstrations against insults to Islam seem to reflect a very insecure religion. One would think that such sentiments would be tempered by exposures to other religions and their reactions to insults, particularly in a pluralistic democracy. Particularly when in coming from one country to another, there is a general expectation that those permitted to enter will share the values of the new home country.
Not so in Australia, as of yesterday, as reported by CNN:
Protesters, police clash in Australia
Australia became the latest nation to cope with protests as hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police Saturday outside the U.S. consulate in Sydney.
Carrying signs that read: “Obama, Obama, we like Osama” and “Behead All Those Who Insult the Prophet,” protesters gathered on the steps of the consulate.
The demonstration turned violent after protesters were pushed back from the building by police.
Authorities used tear gas and police dogs to disperse protesters who threw bottles and shoes — considered a grave insult among Muslims, according to witnesses and police video.
At least four people were injured, including a police officer who was hit in the face with a bottle, according to witnesses and authorities.
Quite apart from the demonstrated religious insecurity is the complete lack of logic in such protests. It is one filmmaker, not one nation, that is the source of objection.
That this could happen in Australia, similar to comparatively recent events in England, where Muslims disrupted commemorative services on the 10th anniversary of 9/11…well, maybe time to make adherence to pluralistic democratic values an essential precondition to citizenship and immigration, in pluralistic democracies. For those Muslims who refuse to share or adopt such values, there are always welcoming Islamic states, to emigrate or return to.
brucelarochelle 