Exploiting the Prophet: We Are Pawns in a Politcal (Not Religious) Battle

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Nicholas Kristoff, Sunday Times

“PISS CHRIST,” a famous photograph partly financed by taxpayers, depicted a crucifix immersed in what the artist said was his own urine. But conservative Christians did not riot on the Washington Mall. “The Book of Mormon,” a huge hit on Broadway, mocks the church’s beliefs as hocus-pocus. But Mormons haven’t burned down any theaters. So why do parts of the Islamic world erupt in violence over insults to the Prophet Muhammad? I think a few things are going on. The first is that many Muslim countries lack a tradition of free speech, and see ridicule of the prophet as part of a larger narrative of the West’s invading or humiliating the Islamic world. More broadly, this is less about offensive videos than about a political war unfolding in the Muslim world. This is a political struggle, not just a religious battle — and we’re pawns. [link]