Danish PM on the Motoons crisis
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen referred in his New Year’s Speech to the Motoons crisis which engulfed his nation for a few weeks at the beginning on 2006. He made a strong defence of Denmark’s stance during the crisis, saying how “most people found it difficult to understand that 12 drawings in a newspaper could cause fury on such a scale”.
Today, Denmark is looked at with respect. Because we stood firm when our fundamental values came under pressure. We stood guard to protect freedom of expression, which is our most precious fundamental freedom.
The right to publish our thoughts in speech, in writing, in drawings,
– the right to communicate freely our thoughts with earnestness and humour, with seriousness and satire, with facts and caricature,
– the right to speak out freely against those who hold political power, against religious authorities and against established and entrenched mindsets,
This is the very core of democracy.
And it is the driving force of enlightenment, education and development.
I hear there may be a PM vacancy coming up in the UK soon – fancy a job, Anders?
[…] Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen referred to the Muhammed Cartoons Controversy in his New Year Address for 2007 (via). Today, Denmark is looked at with respect. Because we stood firm when our fundamental values came under pressure. We stood guard to protect freedom of expression, which is our most precious fundamental freedom. […]
It must be nice to have a PM with some bollocks and some integrity.
Slightly connected to this (in that religionists like to censor) is whether Green and his cronies (crony? his right hand, probably) will kick up a fuss about the betrayal of Christ, his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension being played out by the characters of Torchwood this week. There are still repeats to be had of the two-episode finale, should anyone be interested.
I’m surprised they didn’t cause a fuss over Perfect Parents on ITV.
(Spoilers for those who haven’t seen it yet!)
Christopher Eccleston rehearsing Communion with some Pringles instead of the host, beating a paedophile priest, bleeding from his side before being laid out in a pieta and calling the Bible “Jew-hating, queer-hating, woman-hating fairy stories” seems like the sort of thing that’s practically designed to get Green’s back up. Maybe the gay characters didn’t get enough screen time to annoy the great man? After all, we all know he doesn’t have much idea about religion – gay-bashing is where it’s at…