Flemming Rose, the cultural editor of Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper that first published cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, discusses the reasons why they were published and the international reaction, including the violence, that has followed.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the chronology of events involving the cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed? Why did the global reaction come several months after the publication? What was his purpose in publishing them?
2. What are the two predominant opposing viewpoints about their publication? Who is protesting? Do you agree with the editor’s interpretation of the cartoon showing Mohammed with a bomb in his turban? Explain.
3. How are cartoons different from or similar to a written editorial? Does the principal of freedom of speech have limits? Should the principal be applied internationally in the same way it is interpreted in the U.S.? What principles about this freedom should be universal and applied across national borders? Were limits crossed in this case?
4. What should the U.S. reaction be? What should U.S. policy makers engaged in foreign policy with predominantly Muslim countries learn from these events? Can you draw a conclusion about whether or not Mr. Rose would run the cartoons if he had a chance to do it all over again? What would you have done?