Wow, I am hearing this interpreted as a clash of civilizations. What does it say about how these civilizations view the world?
The contrast is protrayed in the media I've read as freedom of speech v. religious zeal.
I see more contrast between individualism and collectivism.
Muslims cannot understand how western societies can allow denigrating portrayals of Islam. Westerners look at individual freedom of expression as integral to human rights, and cannot understand how individuals in collective societies can allow political oppression of those individual freedoms.
Could it be that exporting individualism is what the west means by spreading democracy?
And could it be that people in collective cultures are not willing to trade away the security and other benefits they enjoy in their societies for the freedoms of expression that westerners cherish and want them to accept?
"'Neither the Danish government nor the Danish nation as such can be held responsible for drawings published in a Danish newspaper,' Rasmussen said following the meeting with envoys. 'A Danish government can never apologize on behalf of a free and independent newspaper This is basically a dispute between some Muslims and a newspaper.'
The prime minister added there could be 'unpredictable repercussions' if the protests escalate.
The Egyptian ambassador to Denmark, Mona Omar Attiah, indicated that Rasmussen should do more to diffuse passions. 'I want the prime minister to speak with Jyllands-Posten about getting them to give a real apology,' she said after the meeting."
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