Saudi Arabia - Denmark, a love story?

[TransformX]

Good to know the Danish people have a real backbone, unlike some other Europeans

[DukeP]

I think in general we are amazed about the reaction.

At first, we didnt believe the publisher of a childrens education book about religion, when he said that it was impossible to get anybody to illustrate the book.

Then we thought: Ok, now this paper shows that its really redicilous to threaten people, just because of drawings - everybody must be able to understand this...

But no. Now we find the entire country is supposde to appologize for something that one newspaper did. An action, that the newspaper was accused of, and for which the judical system cleared it.

Freedom of press, as well as the ability to express ones oppinions etc. Thats more or less the only thing that we hold sacred. Its the base of our democracy.

To think that WE should appologize for a bunch of clearly satirical (and also self satirical) drawings, to a bunch of people that we can now see burning our flag, attacking our inhabitants and threatening with this and that.


Its plainly insane. We will not bend. The politicians might feel the heat (mostly from the businesspeople, who fears and feels the boycot), but the inhabitants will not bend.

Its simply insane to think so.

~~DukeP~~

[Umfriend]

At times like these I want to become activistic again and start a rally to demand apologies from SA to all who hold freedom of speech dearly. This is an outrage.

[Tjalfe]

Chokolade trekanter are pretty universal in Denmark. Saw them in just about every bakery ... and god knows I was in a lot of them. They are large triangles, about 25cm x 25cm x 30cm big, made with a filo style pastry dough, filled with a creamy sugary filling (along the lines of a bavarian cream, but not really that creamy, and more sugary) and covered in a thick chocolate icing/frosting. Mmmmm... I'm drooling now.

As for the Norwegian flag burning. I doubt there's a single person in Scandinavia, let alone Norway, that cares whether Muslims in Gaza burned a Norwegian flag with a footprint on it. Fake or real. Please. How silly.

not sure if this sub-conversation really belongs here, but I think I know which ones you are talking about, but I must admit, I never actually bothered learning names for individual pastries, I usually just pointed at the ones I wanted and asked for one of those

[jms]

As for the Norwegian flag burning. I doubt there's a single person in Scandinavia, let alone Norway, that cares whether Muslims in Gaza burned a Norwegian flag with a footprint on it. Fake or real. Please. How silly.

I think most people in Norway find this disgusting. The flag is a very strong symbol of our identity and culture. Remember, Norwegians are very patriotic. Why do you think we are still not a member of the EU?

[Jammrock]

I think most people in Norway find this disgusting. The flag is a very strong symbol of our identity and culture. Remember, Norwegians are very patriotic. Why do you think we are still not a member of the EU?

Hmmm... my relatives in Norway never seemed like the type who would get upset at a flag burning. Not questioning whether they were patriotic, just that they would get disgusted by it. Guess you learn something new every day.

[Umfriend]

Maybe it;s the thought that counts: a Dutch may burn the flag AFAIAConcerned but an outsider, well.......may be a bit touchy. Especially if it is about one of the values I hold very dear.

Is this worthwhile starting an online petition over? Any volunteers?

[KvHagedorn]

Local grocery stores don't stock Danish items.

No Danish ham.. Havarti cheese was from Finland.. no Carlsberg or Tuborg beer.

[Tjalfe]

Local grocery stores don't stock Danish items.

No Danish ham.. Havarti cheese was from Finland.. no Carlsberg or Tuborg beer.

Funny, here, in a small farming community outside of Toronto, at least 25% the cheeses are from Denmark

[schmosef]

I just had a sandwich of salami and Danish Havarti cheese.

Yummi! I think I'll go make myself another.

[schmosef]

Mohammed Image Archive

"Depictions of Mohammed Throughout History"

http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/

[schmosef]

http://www.jp.dk/meninger/ncartikel:aid=3527646

This may just be the official translation of that letter from the editor that was translated here before.

It comes across as an almost apology but not a complete apology. He's apologizing for offending anybody, but not for actually publishing the cartoons. Still, he doesn't get on a soap box and annouced his right to have published them in the first place.

The result is that they'll likely never publish such images again.

I can't help but feeling that the Islamists won.

[DukeP]

Its not over yet.

Anyhow I would like to say THANK YOU to the US people.
Thanks for your support. Its not the US government (they havent said anything yet, although Clinton supported the Arab side in pretty strong words).

But the US people have started their own support, and on the national networks news this morning, the only support that went out to the Danish people was from the "Danish Beer Through the Bowl" movement. Thats just awsome.

~~DukeP~~

[schmosef]

Clinton's a dick! I can't believe what he said. I'm beside myself. I'm so happy that I'm not an American right now and that he's not part of my legacy. What a complete ****ole. It's like he doesn't know what free speech is! It's like he doesn't understand the issue. For a former American president to take a stand against free speech it just mind boggling. The Dems have lost it! I can't believe that he's comparing the Danish exercise of free speech to the vilification of Jews by the Nazis. And he did it in a part of the world that practises the worse vifification of every other culture on a daily basis; the Arab Middle East.

I have to admit though, if Jean Cretien, a former PM of ours, was ever asked to comment, I'm sure he's say something even more stupid. But it's not like anyone would ever ask him. We already know that he's a dick.

[KvHagedorn]

Clinton is scum, always was scum, and always will be scum.