Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Prophet Protest and Boycott Update
Wizbang Bomb Squad has a quick look at the effects of the boycott of Danish products:
Foreign Exchange, a blog written by a Cairo-based political economics instructor, also has some good analysis of the ongoing boycott. He's got a lot of interesting posts and I recommend having a look around when you're there.
Even though the concensus is that the boycotts aren't likely to have the effect desired by the boycotters, still remember to buy danish when you have a chance. We need to protect others who still might be hurt, and show that people need not curb their freedom of speech for fear of being abandoned to violent protests and boycotts in the future.
While the latest in cartoon riot styles and fashions may not be as prominent in the media as last month, Elder of Ziyon is keeping his eye on things and finding there's always something new.
Random Platitudes, a Danish historian, is taking a very level-headed look at the whole incident, including background on Danish attitudes and demographics to help put the craziness in context. His series of posts starts here -- the most recent post being here -- but ideally, check out his front page to see the full set of articles he has on the subject. Whether you agree with everything he says or not, it's very informative.
Sadly, I have nothing scholarly of my own to add to the analysis. However, I was overwhelmed with pity on seeing that this is the best the protesters can come up with today:
It's really pathetic when their own signs acknowledge that Condaleeza Rice, a mere woman, is even bigger than Bin Laden and Zarqawi in the sport they themselves invented. If that's the best they can do, then I might have a few suggestions for new slogans they might want to try out while rioting between rampages:
Technorati Tags: cartoon protests, prophet, denmark, boycott, buy danish, infidel pig
If you really, really liked this -- or even really, really hated it -- there's lots more:
He's got more analysis and links, so reading the rest is recommended.
To recap then: while boycotts don't always work, early evidence suggested that this one was hurting specific Danish firms, particularly those making fairly undifferentiated foodstuffs like butter, cheese, and yogurt. Furthermore, local (Arabic) companies making similar products seemed posied to benefit from the Danish companies' misfortune of happening to be Danish at the wrong place and at the wrong time.
Foreign Exchange, a blog written by a Cairo-based political economics instructor, also has some good analysis of the ongoing boycott. He's got a lot of interesting posts and I recommend having a look around when you're there.
Even though the concensus is that the boycotts aren't likely to have the effect desired by the boycotters, still remember to buy danish when you have a chance. We need to protect others who still might be hurt, and show that people need not curb their freedom of speech for fear of being abandoned to violent protests and boycotts in the future.
While the latest in cartoon riot styles and fashions may not be as prominent in the media as last month, Elder of Ziyon is keeping his eye on things and finding there's always something new.
Random Platitudes, a Danish historian, is taking a very level-headed look at the whole incident, including background on Danish attitudes and demographics to help put the craziness in context. His series of posts starts here -- the most recent post being here -- but ideally, check out his front page to see the full set of articles he has on the subject. Whether you agree with everything he says or not, it's very informative.
Sadly, I have nothing scholarly of my own to add to the analysis. However, I was overwhelmed with pity on seeing that this is the best the protesters can come up with today:
Anti-U.S. protesters shout during a protest by several hundred members of various Muslim groups against the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Tuesday, March 14, 2006 in Jakarta. Rice's two-day trip to the world's most populous Muslim nation triggered protests by Islamic hard-liners outside the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy, where hundreds of men and women rallied shouting 'Go to hell, Condi! Go to hell America!' (AP Photo/Irwin Fedriansyiah)
It's really pathetic when their own signs acknowledge that Condaleeza Rice, a mere woman, is even bigger than Bin Laden and Zarqawi in the sport they themselves invented. If that's the best they can do, then I might have a few suggestions for new slogans they might want to try out while rioting between rampages:
- One-two-three-four, this ain't cartoon blood and gore!
- Two-four-six-eight, who should we de-animate?
- Hey hey, ho ho! Cartoon War has got to grow!
Technorati Tags: cartoon protests, prophet, denmark, boycott, buy danish, infidel pig
