Debbie Schlussel: Why I WON'T Buy Danish: Danes Repent by Paying w/ Jewish Coin
Though I've commented about the Mohammed cartoons, the absurd (but predictable) reaction by Muslims, and the apologists in the State Dept., media, and elsewhere who've condemned the cartoons, you've probably noted that I have NOT plugged buying Danish products, like Michelle Malkin and others have. Nor have I written the "We're All Danes Now" BS like what Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby wrote.
Sorry, but we are NOT all Danes now. No way. I don't support violence in any way, but I see the fire under which Denmark has now come to be something of poetic justice.
Denmark--and ALL of its media, Jyllands Posten included--has long been consistent with the other Scandinavian countries in being a harsh critic of Israel and its meek attempts to respond to Islamic terrorism and Arab anti-Semitism. (The Danes have hardly been staunch supporters of the U.S. War on Terror, either.) Denmark's Channel 2 broadcast a "documentary" about the Israeli "raid" on Jenin that was full of lies and completely defamatory. The "raid" on this terror stronghold (in which less than 25 died) was in response to the blowing up of many Jews peacefully celebrating Passover (the "Passover Massacre"). Denmark re-broadcast this phony "documentary" within the LAST MONTH!
In 2001, Denmark threatened to arrest Israel's Ambassador to Denmark, Carmi Gillon, on charges of torture because he admitted he used "moderate physical pressure" on Arab terror suspects as the head of Israel's Security Services in in the mid-'90s, in order to save innocent lives. There are many other examples. Denmark condemned Israel's raid on a Syrian training camp for Palestinian terrorists (and called on the UN Security Council to investigate), among many other reasonable Israeli actions it has condemned.
In Israel's recent darkest days of multiple homicide bombings, murders, and maimings of its innocent civilians, the Danes withheld even the most basic supplies and refused to sell Israel various items and equipment. Denmark has given tons of money and moral support to the Palestinian cause and the exact opposite treatment to the Israelis. Israel can do no right, Muslims no wrong, as far as the Danes are concerned.
Now the tables are turned, and the Danes--not Israel--are in the eye of the extremist Islamic storm. So how do they respond?
They take it out on Israel.
Many media outlets, including yesterday's USA Today sports section, reported that to appease Muslims, Denmark's soccer federation was considering calling off a March 1st exhibition in Israel. Now the game might go on as scheduled. But what the heck does Israel have to do with Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten's decision to publish anti-Mohammed cartoons? Zilch. Nada. Zip. Zero. Yet, the Danish were, yet again, considering paying the Muslims with Jewish coinage.
The Danes are not tough on Islamic extremism or they would support other countries, like Israel and America, when they do likewise.
So, you tell me? Does Denmark deserve your support and your dollars in response to this decision? It sure does not deserve mine. Period. Islamic violence or not.
Posted by Debbie on February 10, 2006 02:10 PM to Debbie Schlussel