The President of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir, regarded by many as a war criminal, has decided to whip his flock into a frenzy over a re-print of the Danish cartoons . He has banned Danes and Danish products from his ravished country and has brought thousands of Sudanese out in protest into the streets of Khartoum. Don't these people work? Don't they have nothing better to do than march through streets promising to cut Denmark's throat. These are the protestors who marched a few months ago in outrage at a British teacher's innocent naming of a teddy bear. Is this what they do in the Sudan? Sleep in the sand at night and and march during the day?
I am not being funny. Nothing in Sudan is funny. This is the President who said that the Darfur crisis "was caused by the Western media". This is the man who also said that the UN officials were "unwelcome" if they wished to visit Darfur. This is the man who cannot see a Darfur in his problem area but can see Danish butter as a threat to all.
This is a maniac running a country (not uncommon in Africa, however), and promoting hatred against others in the name of Islam. Shhee-iit, what did Islam do for the people in Darfur? President Bashir is at Foggy Bottom.
And what of the Danes? Do they know that Lurpak butter was recently voted as the best brand butter in the World? Do they know that Lurpak is a best-seller in the Middle East? Do they foolishly play with their economy while dallying with re-prints of offensive cartoons? Are they too bloody stupid to know that a little tighter control of their press could result in massive economic input to their economy.
Or don't they care? I shake my head at stupidity whether it happens in Sudan or Denmark. Press freedom is a good thing--handled correctly---but to re-ignite incitement so that fools can take advantage is irresponsible!