Why I Published the Muhammad Cartoons

The furor and violence over the infamous Danish cartoons of the prophet Mohammad died down, yet crucial issues have not been resolved. “Jyllands – Posten” was the newspaper that originally published the cartoons. Editor Flemming Rose explains his motivation as well as the challenges arising from Europe’s unsuccessful attempts at multiculturalism. In the wake of the cartoon crisis, Rose argues that Europe faces a “moment of truth.” Tracing his own political and intellectual journey from the turbulent 1960s and the Cold War to the cartoon crisis, he crafts a compelling position that outlines how fictions of victimization and bias as well as the European welfare system contribute to the non-assimilation of Muslim immigrants. European policies and attitudes are based, to a large extent, on experiences with homogenous cultures. Rose suggests that Europe follow the US example, broadening the definition of belonging in European culture to encourage assimilation. In the end, Muslims and other citizens must accept satire as part of belonging and exclude the violence that speaks of irreconcilable differences. – YaleGlobal