Reflection 1

How much power can something seemingly insignificant have? Had americans seen the video before the riots in Libya and  Egypt , their reaction would most likely had been little more than some disgust for the makers, and even humor from some misguided people. However now that they know what such ignorance and cruelty has incited, Americans are filled with a great sorrow and rush of furiousness at the video. Only AFTER the video caused riots were Americans able to see how hateful and callous and affective the bashing of the Prophet Mohammed was. The video easily could have been used as an act of war. After the riots in Libya ended in the deaths of four americans, President Obama mobilized Warships and Marines to the region. Although there was no cause for attack,  how easy would it have been for this to become another war for America and the Middle East? If something caused Libyans to become even more infuriated and they started making way for US ships or troops, how long would it have taken for the ships to release their missiles. If the Libyan President decided not to make a statement on the matter, would our diplomatic relations with the country have been hurt?

A weekly newspaper in France published a cartoon depicting Mohammed negatively. A nation with a rather sizable and growing Muslim population (about 10 % of the country), France was forced to shut down it's schools and embassies in at least 20 countries in fear of a similar attack as seen in the past week. If riots had not happened so recently, would France still have taken action? Or would they see the publication as insignificant?


The comic was clearly in retaliation to the violence the past week, but one has to wonder what the goal of the film makers from California were. Perhaps they were just ignorant people filled with hatred and thought it was funny. However, with support from people like Pastor Terry Jones, it's more likely a political statement aimed towards Muslim people across the globe, including those residing in the US. Whether they wanted to cause violence or not is unclear. However as their message was one of hate, violence would probably be seen as a bonus. More violence from Arabic nations could cause people to think of them even more as violent, savage, dangerous people. Although this is clearly not the case (if nothing else evidenced by the numerous videos emerged of Libyans trying to help the ambassador and apologizing for the violence of their fellow citizens), it's not a reaction unheard of in the states. If nothing else, to me, the past week has shown me not how Muslims can be full of hate, but how Americans can be. Fueled by ignorance as ever.