Huff Post: Analysts and researchers have recently begun to study “sacred values” that are basically deeply-rooted ethical or moral precepts that we hold dear regardless of whether they are political, religious or personal. When these values are provoked, even offering incentives to compromise over them is likely to backfire as the victim views an enticement as an affront. The sacred value will inevitably vary person to person but the response to provocation will be equivalent.
An African-American may be offended by the use of “N” word but not by someone excoriating MLK or Malcom X. Likewise, a Jewish person would be rightly outraged if the Holocaust is denied but may not care if Israel is criticized.
Which brings us to the recent Dallas cartoons event, hosted by anti-Islam activist Pamella Geller, that was designed to denigrate the sacred value Muslims attach to Prophet Muhammad. While debate and discussion on the Prophet Muhammad’s life, character and leadership should always be welcome, we need to recognize that Geller first deliberately tried to provoke Muslim sentiments; and when a handful of extremists predictably obliged her, Geller claimed vindication.