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Why Monday Morning created Co-existence of Civilizations

The decision of a Danish media to publish 12 drawings of the Prophet Mohammed triggered in the spring 2006 a politic crisis of international dimensions, which placed Denmark in the eye of the storm.

The crisis, also known as The Cartoon Conflict, were cited as an example of the ’clash of civilizations’. This because the driving force was not a conflict between states and governments, but between religions and freedom of speech – a linguistic and cultural field of tension, which crosses traditional political and cultural conditions.

The debate has domestically as well as internationally been influenced by much different approaches to understand and explain the conflict. Religious, political, nationalistic and secularized groups a.o. have each contributed with their version of why the crisis could occur. Thus, the debate itself illustrates one of the greatest challenges of our time: To bridge and constructively resolve between the very different perceptions, convictions and attitudes, which exist in today’s global society.

Now the worst crisis has phased out. But the need to understand the cause of the conflict is more urgent than ever. National issues, which precisely illustrate cultural clashes, are influencing the agenda – a development, which demands an entirely new way of understanding and practise of integration. Internationally the latest events in the Middle East merely emphasizes the need for a cross-cultural dialogue, which enables the bridging and creation of greater understanding and tolerance between nations, regions, cultures, religions etc.

As an agenda setting media Monday Morning sees it as its conclusive duty to lead the way in starting this dialogue and create an international movement in the interest of global tolerance and understanding of diversities. It is our opinion that freedom of speech is not alone nurtured through provocation. Dialogue, empathy and respect are decisive elements, if we wish to preserve and strengthen a global, peaceful co-existence.