Billy Joel, Prophet Muhammad, And The Disconnect From Reality

As a weekend guest from Denmark played Billy Joel music by memory on our living room piano, one of his country's embassies was being burned in a blind rage that is consuming the Islamic world. The stark contrast of his fingers flowing effortlessly over the ivories, while other fingers half a world away-clutched machine guns and flammables, was disconcerting. It was wonderful to get his European perspective each evening as we ate, conversed and laughed; obtaining a broader insight into how America is viewed from overseas. But throughout each evening I could not get over the disconnect from reality that is in over-drive in the Middle East as Islamic fundamentalists with no grasp over the meaning of a free press went berserk with the publication of political cartoons that depicted their faith in a way they felt improper.

Denmark first printed the cartoons in one of their newspapers, once again proving the weight and impact of a satirical idea. What a 2,000-word column could never so pointedly convey was summed-up in a series of simple political cartoons. In solidarity, France and other European papers did the same through news stories. Riots, kidnappings, and burning embassies have resulted in an orgy of craziness.

There is clearly a huge divide between two cultures, but let us be honest here. Freedom of the press, and freedom of expression must, and will, triumph over the 'requirement' that the whole world treat any particular religion with any more reverence than any other. The world will not and should not, bow to any religion who is hell-bent on molding the planet to meet tortured reasoning. Those who draw political commentary should not let their ink dry up, but continue to push the envelope of ideas.

I have deep feelings for the Arab world and the people who reside in that most historic region. I also have a rather good foundation of understanding the Islamic religion and know that those depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are considered by followers of Islam to be 'wrong'. In the age of technology and interconnectedness, which makes the whole world neighbors of sorts, it is ridiculous however to assume that everything is not on the table for discussion and interpretation. To expect anything else is backwardness in the full context of the word.