Although it's history as a colonial power is largely overlooked, Denmark has presided over several territories, most notably on the world's largest island, Greenland. The following passage illustrates some of this history:
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Although it's history as a colonial power is largely overlooked, Denmark has presided over several territories, most notably on the world's largest island, Greenland. The following passage illustrates some of this history:
Danish colonization of Greenland began in 1721 with the establishment of a Danish mission and the conversion and baptism of the population. The Lutheran Protestant missionaries were greatly concerned that the Christian population be able to read the Bible and other religious works, and so schools were established. In 1724, two Greenlanders were sent to Denmark to learn the language and customs of the country.
Like other European colonizers, the Danes had a sense of cultural superiority over the people who had been living on the island (Inuit peoples who migrated from Canada between the Viking colonization in the 10th century, and Danish colonization in the 18th century). The Inuit had their own culture, customs, and language, which the Danes failed to recognize, instead choosing to teach the native people Christianity, the Danish language, and Danish culture. In 1980, Greenland officially became known as Kalaallit Nunaat, and the capitol city Godthaab was renamed Nuuk to reflect the 88% of the population who identify as Greenlanders who are of inuit descent (CIA Factbook, 2/18/06).
The most important current perceptions about Danish culture are revealed by the controversy over the Muhammed cartoons. They appeared in a Danish newspaper in September, 2005, and set off a series of protests against the West among the Muslim world. According to Wikipedia, At least 24 people have since died in these protests.
The controversy stems from a global feeling among Muslim groups that the West (including Denmark and the U.S.) is continually attacking Islam. They feel the cartoons are blasphemous. The newspaper's position was that this is an important expression of free speech. The newpaper in Denmark has issued an apology, however, stating, "In our opinion, the 12 drawings were sober. They were not intended to be offensive, nor were they at variance with Danish law, but they have indisputably offended many Muslims for which we apologize."
Source: Reuters (accessed 2/18/06).
These incidents illustrate two very different views on what is culturally acceptable, and also perhaps a disturbing trend of deep mis-understanding among Western countries and the Muslim world. Danish cultural values stress the importance of free speech, and this includes the right to be 'blasphemous,' however, to the small minority of Danish Muslims this blasphemy is simply another in a long line of insults, and to the larger Muslim world it is another indication of Western hostility to Islam. I think this shows an air of superiority among the Danes, that they are simply being 'Democratic,' while the Muslims are being 'unreasonable.' However, I think there is a reason for this outcry of violent protest, a reason that goes much deeper than a few cartoons. It has built up over a long period of time among the Western world, since they have become targets of a new series of 'Crusades' by the Christian West.
