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First they came for the funny ones
OrlandoSentinel ^ | February 1, 2006 | Kathleen Parker

Posted on 02/01/2006 8:16:27 AM PST by nuconvert

First they came for the funny ones

Published February 1, 2006

Kathleen Parker

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of political cartoonists.

Not this time for the ones losing newspaper jobs, but for those whose lives are literally on the line thanks to outraged Islamists offering a bounty for their heads.

The cartoonists in question are a dozen Danish artists who drew Muhammad-themed cartoons last September for the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten during an exercise to test the limits of free speech. The cartoon-a-thon was conceived in response to complaints from a Danish author who couldn't find anyone to illustrate her Muhammad children's book.

Although the book itself was not controversial, the Muslim faith considers it blasphemy to depict the Prophet in any way. Thus, in December, the youth branch of Pakistan's largest religious party, Jamaat-e-Islami, offered a bounty for murdered cartoonists.

One could make a quick argument against publishing some of the cartoons for being mediocre, but free speech makes no demand for quality. More to the point, the Danish cartoon controversy proves the larger truth that those groups most vocal in demanding tolerance from others are usually themselves the least tolerant.

Denmark is a cautionary tale for those who doubt the insidious and serious nature of our enemies and illustrates the deep schism between believers in democratic ideals and many of those we hope to convert. In the relaxed parlance of our uniquely Western attitude toward irreverence, they don't get it.

Until Muslim nations and peoples do get the idea that free expression means freedom to offend as well as the necessary correlative -- to be offended -- we have a problem. And people like former President Bill Clinton, who essentially sided with jihadists with his recent comments on the cartoon controversy,

(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; canyouhearmenow; cartoonist; cartoonists; cartoons; censorship; clinton; comic; comics; deaththreat; denmark; editorialcartoons; firstamendment; freedomofspeech; freespeech; hillary; humor; islam; jihad; joecool; kathleenparker; mohambone; muhammad; muslim; parker; peanuts; religionofpeacetm; toons
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1 posted on 02/01/2006 8:16:29 AM PST by nuconvert
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To: AdmSmith

pong


2 posted on 02/01/2006 8:17:56 AM PST by nuconvert ([there's a lot of bad people in the pistachio business])
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To: nuconvert
the Muslim faith considers it blasphemy to depict the Prophet in any way.

He's that sacred huh? That's like "you shall not make unto thee any graven image and bow down to it." So... he's a god to them then? He must be, he had all kinds of different moral standards for himself as opposed to the 'regular' people. I guess I don't recall that being true of other prophets who were supposed to be examples of righteousness.

3 posted on 02/01/2006 8:19:33 AM PST by Terriergal ("My conscience is captive to the word of God...here I stand. I can do no other. So help me God." ML)
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To: nuconvert
offered a bounty for murdered cartoonists.

Ya know, when I hear Rick Warren calling 'Fundamentalists' (Islamic, Christian, and Jewish) a big enemy that we will face this century, I'm having a hard time lumping the fundamentalists in those three religions into the same 'kind' the way he seems to.

See here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1555425/posts

4 posted on 02/01/2006 8:21:28 AM PST by Terriergal ("My conscience is captive to the word of God...here I stand. I can do no other. So help me God." ML)
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To: pcottraux

ping


5 posted on 02/01/2006 8:22:26 AM PST by Dark Skies
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To: nuconvert

Kathleen Parker is pretty.


6 posted on 02/01/2006 8:23:47 AM PST by GOP_Party_Animal
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To: nuconvert

Funny how the Antique Media didn't consider Islamism a real big deal until some of their own (the Danish cartoonists) suddenly found themselves on the receiving end of the threats and fatwas. Kind of like them only realizing that war is messy after Bob Woodruff gets blown up.

}:-)4


7 posted on 02/01/2006 8:24:25 AM PST by Moose4 ("I will shoulder my musket and brandish my sword/In defense of this land and the word of the Lord")
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To: nuconvert

Please send this column to your local rag, urging them to show testicular fortitude by reprinting the danish cartoons.


8 posted on 02/01/2006 8:25:45 AM PST by dynachrome ("Where am I? Where am I going? Why am I in a handbasket?")
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To: nuconvert

9 posted on 02/01/2006 8:29:42 AM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: nuconvert
The Arabs continue to turn out the most vile cartoons about Jews but see no similarity to these mild examples.

They also continue to burn Bibles while raging over perceived insults to the Koran.

Get over it, you pig slime.

10 posted on 02/01/2006 8:31:05 AM PST by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: nuconvert

I consider it blasphemy for people to use God's name in vain. However, my job is to pray for them. God will administer justice and mercy as he sees fit.


11 posted on 02/01/2006 8:33:25 AM PST by Drawsing (The fool shows his annoyance at once. The prudent man overlooks an insult. (Proverbs 12:16))
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To: dynachrome

Here is what I sent:


Below is a link to an Orlando Sentinal column by Kathleen Parker about the cartoons of muhammad published in Denmark. The islamonazis have threatened the newspaper and recalled some ambassadors. I urge you and the Denver Post to reprint these cartoons and stand up to the thugs. German and French newspapers have done so. Where do you stand? Churchill or Chamberlain?

signed, Dynachrome




12 posted on 02/01/2006 8:36:11 AM PST by dynachrome ("Where am I? Where am I going? Why am I in a handbasket?")
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To: dynachrome
Churchill or Chamberlain?

Great line dynachrome. Gotta remember that one.

13 posted on 02/01/2006 8:39:01 AM PST by getitright (Liberalism is irresponsible.)
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To: Terriergal

It depends on his definition of fundamentalists. Does fundamentalist = radical? He didn't define it in that article.


14 posted on 02/01/2006 8:42:03 AM PST by nuconvert ([there's a lot of bad people in the pistachio business])
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To: nuconvert

15 posted on 02/01/2006 8:42:11 AM PST by AdmSmith
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To: nuconvert
Dr. Seuss, Political Cartoonist


16 posted on 02/01/2006 8:46:29 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: getitright

Thanks. Kinda comes under the heading: "even a blind pig finds an acorn now and then." :)


17 posted on 02/01/2006 8:47:18 AM PST by dynachrome ("Where am I? Where am I going? Why am I in a handbasket?")
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To: GOP_Party_Animal
Kathleen Parker is pretty.

Prove it.

18 posted on 02/01/2006 8:49:23 AM PST by Moonman62 (Federal creed: If it moves tax it. If it keeps moving regulate it. If it stops moving subsidize it)
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To: nuconvert
"Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings."

- Heinrich Heine -
Almansor: A Tragedy

19 posted on 02/01/2006 8:50:41 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum.)
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To: devolve

I think I hear your niche calling


20 posted on 02/01/2006 8:51:47 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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