Amardeep Singh, a Lehigh University English professor, asks the question: "Are we really in the midst of a major diplomatic incident over cartoons?"
It sure looks like it. But maybe not. There is a theory floating around The Internets that what's really going on is someone is giving us an on-going test throughout the year on the subject of "self-evident truths" our Founding Fathers proclaimed. (If you haven't heard that rumor, it's because we just started it.)
Today's pop quiz is part of that continuing test. This quiz focuses on Freedom of Speech and Press. Is it a valued liberty we should cherish? Or, is it an inhibition to effective government that has outlived its usefulness in a "Post 9-11 world," as someone might put it.
Put away your books and notes, children. Here's the quiz. For each of the two questions, circle the one correct answer on your monitor with a crayon.
1. It is claimed that the cartoon image labeled "Toon A" is of the Prophet Muhammed, himself. The cartoonist is trying to make fun of Muslim terrorists who claim to act in his name when they slaughter people.
2. The cartoonist who drew "Toon B" claims he was making fun of Donald Rumsfeld's assertion that injuries suffered by our troops in Iraq have made them "battle hardened." His immediate subordinates at the Pentagon, however, objected in a letter to the newspaper publisher that this cartoon is "a callous depiction of those who have volunteered to defend this nation, and, as a result, have suffered traumatic and life-altering wounds."
It sure looks like it. But maybe not. There is a theory floating around The Internets that what's really going on is someone is giving us an on-going test throughout the year on the subject of "self-evident truths" our Founding Fathers proclaimed. (If you haven't heard that rumor, it's because we just started it.)
Today's pop quiz is part of that continuing test. This quiz focuses on Freedom of Speech and Press. Is it a valued liberty we should cherish? Or, is it an inhibition to effective government that has outlived its usefulness in a "Post 9-11 world," as someone might put it.
Put away your books and notes, children. Here's the quiz. For each of the two questions, circle the one correct answer on your monitor with a crayon.
'Toon "A"
1. It is claimed that the cartoon image labeled "Toon A" is of the Prophet Muhammed, himself. The cartoonist is trying to make fun of Muslim terrorists who claim to act in his name when they slaughter people.
a) The little bomb on Muhammed's head makes a good, patriotic point. Therefore, the cartoonist is only excercising his free speech rights. Leave him alone.
b) The cartoon is a blasphemy of one of the world's great religions and its publication is causing millions to riot around the world, putting our troops and other innocents in great danger. Therefore, the Government should have prohibited it from being published.
c) Since this cartoon depicts Muhammed, it is a graven idol. To publish it would be a sin against the First Commandment and therefore the Government should punish any who publishes it. Chop off their arms.
d) Some would agree the cartoonist was making a good point. Some would disagree. The majority should decide whether it can be published.
e) None of the above.
'Toon "B"
2. The cartoonist who drew "Toon B" claims he was making fun of Donald Rumsfeld's assertion that injuries suffered by our troops in Iraq have made them "battle hardened." His immediate subordinates at the Pentagon, however, objected in a letter to the newspaper publisher that this cartoon is "a callous depiction of those who have volunteered to defend this nation, and, as a result, have suffered traumatic and life-altering wounds."a) This cartoon is deeply offensive and it hurts our country. It should never have been published without prior approval of military leaders at the Pentagon.
b) The image of the soldier is horrible and it will hurt the morale of our troops. Therefore, the Pentagon is within its rights to ban it from being seen on any domestic or foreign military base.
c) This cartoon is critical of Bush administration policies and, therefore, traitorous. The Government should be able to prohibit publication of all cartoons like this in the future and punish anyone who circulates them. Chop off their arms.
d) Some would agree the cartoonist was making a good point. Some would disagree. The majority should decide whether it can be published.
e) None of the above.Answers1. e
2. e
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