A sensible commentary

Finally, a balanced, sensible view on the cartoon crisis.

We are at a crossroads. The time has come for women and men who reject this
dangerous division of people into two worlds to start building bridges based on
common values. They must assert the inalienable right to freedom of expression
and, at the same time, demand measured exercise of it. We need to promote an
open, self-critical approach, to repudiate exclusive truths and narrow-minded,
binary visions of the world.

We are in dire need of mutual trust. The crises provoked by these
cartoons shows us how, out of "seemingly nothing", two universes of reference
can become deaf to each other and be seduced by defining themselves against each
other - with the worst possible consequences. Disasters threaten that extremists
on both sides would not fail to use for their own agendas. If people who cherish
freedom, who know the importance of mutual respect and are aware of the
imperative necessity to establish a constructive and critical debate, if these
people are not ready to speak out, to be more committed and visible, then we can
expect sad, painful tomorrows. The choice is ours.