I know it’s been ages since I’ve put anything here. And this doesn’t seem like much after such a gap. But I thought I’d share my latest bit of political incorrectness, and let you know that, in the wake of the Danish Mohammed cartoons, I decided to show my support the other day with a pointed serving of Danish cheese. (Not a cheese Danish, as a point of clarification.) It wasn’t anything terribly deep, but it was a nice helping of the stuff.
The way I see it, and I’m probably not saying anything new, I am very privileged to live here in the
And before someone accuses me of being religiously insensitive, I’ll support the “punishment” of the cartoonists and editors, the moment I see some punishment, or apologies or any other acknowledgement from our offended friends around the world for the offenses in cartoons, on the TV, in the press, and art galleries toward Christians and Jews that have occurred over a much longer duration and with far greater frequency, not to mention a mea culpa or two for 9/11.
Here’s a really basic example of how this all strikes me. Many years ago, I was joining a line of passengers about to board an airplane. A man near me and I were approaching the line about the same time, and to get along, and in a gesture of friendly courtesy, I waved him ahead of me and said, “After you.” What has stayed with me, for more than 20 years, was the way that person looked down his nose at me, and said, “Of course.” He communicated in two words and a glance a remarkable arrogance, a complete expectation that moving ahead of me was his absolute privilege, and that it was foolish of me to consider the possibility of things being any other way. In short, he made me completely regret my courtesy that day.
Live has moved on, but until I see a little courteous reciprocity from all those offended people burning, rioting, and killing in their outrage over some cartoons, here’s to the Danes.
