[Conscience of a Conservative]

I think the lunch counter example is weak. Blacks weren't doing that to annoy white people, but to insist on their right to be treated without discrimination.

Geller's event was a provocation, and of a different order from simply criticizing Islam.

I agree, Geller's event was intended to insult whereas the lunch counter protests were not. Not that there was anything wrong with Geller's event - the right to insult and offend is at the heart of the First Amendment (inoffensive, popular speech doesn't need protection) - but they are very different situations.

[camle]

nazi’s marching thru skokie illinois was meant to insult. and the media, the courts, and the left all demanded that the jews accept this calculated insult. nobody shot at the nazis. seems like islam is so immature that they can’t handle a little criticism.

maybe what’s needed is for them to change their diapers and grow up a little.

[Enterprise]

Ok, so what Geller did was provocative. Who fired the first shot? Tell me which is worse? Which action was Constitutionally protected?

"And I am not against cartoons dealing with Islam per se (several very good ones have appeared in FR over the years), but for staging an event in which creating offensive cartoons is the primary purpose."

Oh good grief!

"Geller did what she did SOLELY to provoke. She didn’t just insult a religion, she insulted the one religion who responds with violence. What was her point, and what had she planned if someone got hurt?"

Because Geller had the lawful right to do what she did, and the shooters did not have the lawful right to do what they did. Yaelle is using the argumentative logic of blaming the rape victim for wearing provocative clothing.