Cartoon flap no joke for resident
By F.A. Krift, The Enterprise
southeasttexaslive.com
BEAUMONT - John Caffery called it an act of cowardice by U.S. newspapers for not publishing controversial Muslim-based cartoons, so the local resident decided to take matters into his own hands.
On the corner of Daisy and Norwood drives, Caffery erected a large sign Sunday afternoon with one of the cartoons. It also carries a message about the subsequent rioting throughout the world caused by the publishing of the cartoons in a Danish newspaper.
Caffery couldn't understand why American newspapers opted to omit the cartoons but write about the rioting. He said newspapers were not giving the public all of the information they needed to understand.
So he decided to be a source of information, he said, because it's a matter of free speech. At the very least, he can let his local community know the rioting, violence and denouncement of the United States is over a cartoon.
"It's cowardly for (a) newspaper giving in to the pressure from the Muslims for these so-called offending cartoons," Caffery said. "Most of the cartoons are pretty silly. The one out there on the sign is probably one of the least offending cartoons."
The sign is four feet by eight feet, according to Caffery's estimation, and was made as "large as it feasibly" could be made, he said. A cartoon of Muhammad's head shaped like a lit bomb is depicted to the left and a statement on the right reads "For This Cartoon In Danish and Nowegian [sic] Newspapers Muslems [sic] Worldwide Have Rioted, and Killed and Now Offer $11 Million Reward to Kill The Cartoonist."
At the beginning of the statement, an arrow points to the cartoon.
Caffery, 67, lists his e-mail address and phone number. He said he encourages people to call or write him to receive information about the cartoons.
"It's not that I'm anti-Islam," he said. "It's that I'm anti-anybody who says you have to do as they insist or they're going to kill you."
Caffery, who is a local Realtor, moved into the ranch-style home a year ago. He paid a local sign company $130 to print it.
"I just want to generate people talking about this issue," Caffery said. "The few people that will probably call me on it, it gives me a chance to bring up the free speech issue and the fact they wouldn't want me to have the right to do anything to them if they offended me. I wouldn't expect the right to fine, imprison or kill them if they did something to offend me.
"It's free speech and the fact a lot of newspapers out of cowardice ... just plain cowardice for not publishing something that is a major news item."
The Philadelphia Inquirer published one cartoon on Feb. 4 and in an editorial two days later explained it did so "to inform our readers, not to inflame them."
The cartoons, initially published in September, have caused protests worldwide and in some cases, violence. According to The Associated Press, about 25,000 people rallied against the cartoons Sunday, chanting "Down with the blasphemer," "Death to America" and "End diplomatic ties with European countries." Other rallies in Pakistan have turned deadly.
"If you published a cartoon poking fun at George Bush, and since I support George Bush, would you want me to be able to say either I'm going to put you in jail for publishing that cartoon against somebody I like or I'm going to kill you?" asked Caffery, who said he owns a copy of the Koran. "You wouldn't like that one bit."
City Planning Manager Steve Richardson said Caffery is within his rights to display the billboard and it doesn't violate any ordinances.
The political message on display across from his residence didn't bother Ray Bradshaw. Caffery's neighbor can't see the sign from his Norwood Drive home and as of Monday afternoon he hadn't walked over to read it.
The 81-year-old man, who's lived in the neighborhood for 22 years, said the sign doesn't bother him.
"Every one of us is entitled to our own belief and opinions," Bradshaw said. "If you've got an opinion about something, well, that's all right by me."
Bradshaw, who admitted he didn't know much about the cartoons in question, noticed the sign when curious drivers stopped their cars to read it, which he thought was kind of odd.
Caffery's next-door neighbor on Norwood, Ernest Hauver, found it odd that Caffery decided to list his occupation as a Realtor. Caffery said when he listed his occupation he preferred not to list the firm.
Hauver said the sign might actually make drivers brake for the stop sign, which they normally don't do.
Imam Muhammad Humayun, a spiritual leader of Beaumont's Islamic Society of the Triplex, said the worldwide protestors, the cartoonist who created the images and the newspapers who published the drawings all have their rights.
But publishing the cartoons was irresponsible, he said. So, too, is putting up upsetting images, and therefore he didn't even discuss the cartoons in religious meetings, he said.
"Freedom doesn't mean you do what you want," Humayun said. "What is the point of putting up something that hurts?"
Caffery said he hasn't heard any complaints and had received about six calls by Monday afternoon. He'd never been so incensed before, he said, and he's "not on a soapbox."
The sign will stay up at least until Caffery's wife takes it down, he said.
"She's not wild about it," Caffery said. "She doesn't generally think I should have done it. ... As long as people want it up, I'll keep it up." |
