UCLA CARTOON UNVEILING HIGHLIGHTS ONGOING TENSION.Byline: Brad A. Greenberg Staff Writer A UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX student group will display the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad tonight that have incited deadly protests throughout the Muslim world The term Muslim world (or Islamic world) has several meanings. In a cultural sense it refers to the worldwide community of Muslims, adherents of Islam. This community numbers about 1.5-2 billion people, about one-fourth of the world. . The cartoons will be shown at a free-speech forum hosted by L.O.G.I.C. - Liberty, Objectivity, Greed, Individualism and Capitalism. ``Self-censorship is becoming a real big problem. People are censoring themselves out of, quote-unquote, religious sensitivities,'' said Arthur Lechtholz-Zey, the club's founder and president. ``The Western government and media have done freedom of speech harm by being apologists.'' The 12 controversial cartoons, which first appeared in a Danish newspaper, include one depicting Muhammad with a bomb and fuse for a turban. Islamic tradition prohibits images of Allah, Muhammad, Islam's holiest prophet. The Muslim Student Association at UCLA plans to hold its own forum tonight to talk about the prophet and discuss why it finds the cartoons, which will not be displayed, offensive. ``They want us to react very strongly. We are not going to give them that publicity,'' said Ghayth Adhami, the association's program director. Since the cartoons were republished in some Western media in January, hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets in the Mideast in often militant protests. Rioting has left some 50 dead, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. news reports. Denmark temporarily closed embassies in Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan and Syria. In the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , the discourse has been more civil, although several hundred students gathered last month to protest a display of the cartoons at the University of California The University of California has a combined student body of more than 191,000 students, over 1,340,000 living alumni, and a combined systemwide and campus endowment of just over $7.3 billion (8th largest in the United States). , Irvine. Authorities do not expect any problems will arise from the event at UCLA, police spokeswoman Nancy Greenstein said. ``People basically respect the exchange of ideas,'' she said. ``But of course you are always prepared.'' The L.O.G.I.C. event is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Dodd Hall and will feature a panel that includes Kevin James Kevin James (born April 26, 1965) is an American comedian and Emmy Award-nominated actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of lead character Doug Heffernan on the television sitcom The King of Queens. , host of KABC-AM's (790) Red Eye Radio, and Yaron Brook Yaron Brook (born 1961) is the current president and executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute, an educational non-profit organization in Irvine, California, whose mission is to promote the novels of Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism. , president and executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute
Local Muslim leaders were upset that another student group wants to display the cartoons under the premise of free speech and open dialogue. ``This is disgusting, frankly, and childish,'' said Shakeel Syed, director of Islamic Shura Council, which overseas Southland mosques. Brad A. Greenberg, (818) 713-3634 brad.greenberg(at)dailynews.com |
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