What began as a quiet discussion about a controversial 2005 Danish editorial cartoon featuring the Islamic prophet Muhammad turned into a heated debate Monday night in the Art and Journalism Building.
The cartoon, which featured Muhammad with a bomb sticking out of his head, still symbolizes a European lack of respect for Muslims, some Ball State University students, faculty and Muncie residents said. But to others, the cartoon that caused violent protests nationwide was an example of free speech.
The panel discussion sponsored by the Muslim Student Association, called "The Truth Behind the Controversy: The Cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad," allowed five panelists and almost 40 audience members to dissect the cartoon that resulted in several riot deaths - deaths that were unnecessary, senior Kyal Vongunten said.
"A lot of people lost their heads for freedom of expression, so there is no reason to take two steps backward," said Vongunten, who got up in front of the audience to make his point.
Sophomore Khalid Sajjad, biology major and president of the Muslim Student Association, explained how the violent protests were not in line with Muhammad's call for forgiveness and kindness but were the only way to capture the Danish government's attention after the editorial cartoons were published in the Jyllands-Posten last September.
"Most of the Muslims acted peacefully, and the media obviously only shows the ones that acted violently," Sajjad said.
George Wolfe, director for the Center of Peace and Conflict Studies, said the protests did not need to be violent and that publishing the cartoon was not so much a matter of free speech but one of respect. Sajjad said Muslims discouraged drawings of Muhammad because they could easily become attached to them and begin to worship them as idols.
"(Newspapers) need to understand their culture," Wolfe said. "They need to understand their religious tradition and respect those traditions and not create a situation where they are constantly pushing the envelope."
Senior panelist Nada Al-Amro, vice president for the Muslim Student Association, said she believed the stereotypical Muhammad cartoon represented all Muslims and basically implied that all Muslims were terrorists.
Dave Studinski, editor-in-chief of the Ball State Daily News, said the conflict raised the issue of the need for more responsible journalism.
"It's about knowing what you can get away with," Studinski said. "It's something you have to sit down and contemplate before you end up running something like this."
But many American newspapers refused to run the cartoon for fear of the repercussions, not out of respect for Muslims, Vongunten said. A difference exists between being respectful and being submissive, he said.
"I'm not saying be irresponsible in journalism," Vongunten said. "It's very sad this response happened, but on the positive side, it's good that people are willing to stand up for their liberty."
Senior Jared Phillips said as a white Christian man, he was one of the majority, but the majority needed to pay more attention to the concerns of minorities such as Muslims.
"Since this is a minority issue, I have to take into account the privilege that I and many of the people around me have," Phillips said. "This privilege should insinuate that I should take more responsibilities in minority issues."
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