Meanwhile, a country slightly smaller than Vermont and New Hampshire combined, with a population of 5.4 million, about the size of Miami, carries the flag for an uncensored, independent media.
Rasmussen has refused to support an idea floated by top EU officials that the EU should adopt a voluntary code of conduct for the press. And, he takes in stride the fact that he has been the subject of unflattering cartoons and altered photos. “I don’t feel offended– that’s part of the game. As a politician, I am used to caricatures.”
He was less cheerful about the economic boycott that has damaged many Danish companies with significant business in the Middle East. According to a New York Times News Service story, Rasmussen said, “attempts to gain commercial advantage at Denmark’s expense had struck at the heart of all Danes.” Preliminary estimates suggest that Danish industries have lost more than $55 million in sales in the Middle East in the opening week of the cartoon controversy.
A Washington Post story indicated that Danish dairy industries which have spent decades establishing themselves in the Middle East are seeing their businesses collapse. Arla Food, a dairy company which produces cheeses and flavored yogurt drinks in Riyadh, estimates that they have lost about $1.7 million per day since January 28.
Even children come into stores in the Middle East and ask whether something is a Danish product. “We can’t bear anybody cursing our prophet,” one sixth-grader was quoted as saying. A store owner who supports the boycott, even though he has lost about 5% of his revenue, said, “The problem these European countries have now is with the Islamic giant, and they should think about who they mess with.”
Ooo! I’m scared now. Some little shopkeeper in the West Bank has me shivering. The Islamic world is gigantic only in terms of numbers of people willing to go out into the street making fools of themselves. If you’re looking for an economic boycott, I don’t think I’ll get too worried about losing the vast purchasing power the Muslim world, kept impoverished by their corrupt leaders.
Last I checked, Americans buy things also. We should show some support for our Danish friends who are sticking their necks out for an uncensored media. We might not be able to help a local Danish dairy that is set up to do business in the Middle East. But we can check the labels in our own supermarkets and make a point of buying Danish cheese, yogurt, hams and those little butter cookies that come in the blue tins.
And we could have American children asking for what is probably their favorite Danish product of all: Legos. That’s right. Lego is a Danish family-held company. Were you thinking of donating a set of Duplos to your children’s pre-school? Now would be a good time. Could your office use a Lego Table for the waiting room? Now would be a good time. Can your kids use another Lego set? (And honestly, can’t they always use more Legos?) Now would be a good time. As for me, I’ll be looking for an excuse to take the kids to LegoLand soon.
And we can call, write or e-mail the Danish embassy in Washington D.C. to show our solidarity with the Danish people.
We are all Danes now.
You can contact the Embassy of Denmark, here:
3200 Whitehaven St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: +1 (202) 234-4300
Fax: +1 (202) 328-1470
Email: wasamb@um.dk