The DomPost and those Cartoons

Today the Dominion Post has published a series of cartoons original published in Danish Newspaper Jutland's Post. The cartoons have sparked outrage in Muslim communities worldwide.

As an aside, the outrage is being expressed in forms counter-productive to improving the western view of Islam - violent protests, storming embassies and flag burning are hardly compatable with a religion that claims to be peaceful. (Yes, I know - I've heard of the medieval crusades.)

While I respect the right of the Newspaper to publish the cartoons (and agree they have the absolute right to do so) I'm a little cynical of the papers reason for doing so. In my mind the cartoon controversy is an issue that can be explored without the cartoons publication. Descriptions of the cartoons and why they are offensive would all that be necessary. Besides, anyone wanting to view the cartoons can just use the internet and see for themselves.

While newspapers and other media often try to be highbrow about their importance in protecting and championing rights in society, I never forget the primary reason why the mass media publish - to sell advertising, magazines and newspapers.

The publication of the cartoons appears to me to be sensationial - the object to sell more copies of the newspaper.