In the article below (of which I have posted excerpts), Hitchens asks why no one will rally for Denmark, though clearly massive American sentiment is behind them. However, it seems there is in fact a pro-Danish rally planned at the Embassy, "3200 Whitehaven Street off Massachusetts Avenue) between noon and 1 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 24" Are Americans suddenly becoming unapathetic? And what, pray tell, should we call this new word? "Interested"? That can't be it. I do suggest you read the article, however: yes, even you, Brian. Geoff Stand up for Denmark! Why are we not defending our ally? By Christopher Hitchens Posted Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, at 12:29 PM ET Put the case that we knew of a highly paranoid religious cult organization with a secretive leader. Now put the case that this cult, if criticized in the press, would take immediate revenge by kidnapping a child. Put the case that, if the secretive leader were also to be lampooned, two further children would be killed at random. Would the press be guilty of "self-censorship" if it declined to publish anything that would inflame the said cult? Well, yes it would be guilty, but very few people would insist on the full exertion of the First Amendment right. However, the consequences for the cult and its leader would be severe as well. All civilized people would regard it as hateful and dangerous, and steps would be taken to circumscribe its influence, and to ensure that no precedent was set. ... Could things become any more sordid and cynical? By all means. In a mindless attempt at a tu quoque, various Islamist groups and regimes have dug deep into their sense of wit and irony and proposed a trade-off. You make fun of "our" prophet and we will deny "your" Holocaust. Even if there were any equivalence, and Jewish mobs were now engaged in trashing Muslim shops and embassies, it would feel degrading even to engage with such a low and cheap stunt. I suppose that one should be grateful that the Shoah is only to be denied rather than, as in some Islamist propaganda, enthusiastically affirmed and set out as a model for emulation. [NB: The "trade-off" idea does indeed seem entrenched in the minds of many, even some on this site who "aren't sure" about the existence of the Holocaust because they "weren't there". I might also add that the ban on Mohammed's illustration doesn't seem to be absolute: http://www.slate.com/id/2135661/. So what's the key issue behind the protests, then? - Geoff] ... Update, Feb. 22: Thank you all who've written. Please be outside the Embassy of Denmark, 3200 Whitehaven Street (off Massachusetts Avenue) between noon and 1 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 24. Quietness and calm are the necessities, plus cheerful conversation. Danish flags are good, or posters reading "Stand By Denmark" and any variation on this theme (such as "Buy Carlsberg/ Havarti/ Lego") The response has been astonishing and I know that the Danes are appreciative. But they are an embassy and thus do not of course endorse or comment on any demonstration. Let us hope, however, to set a precedent for other cities and countries. Please pass on this message to friends and colleagues. http://www.slate.com/id/2136714/#ContinueArticle
