Posted on 02/03/2006 9:04:55 AM PST by thesharkboy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington on Friday condemned caricatures in European newspapers of Islam's Prophet Mohammad, siding with Muslims who are outraged that the publications put press freedom over respect for religion.
"These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims," State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in answer to a question.
"We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression but it must be coupled with press responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this manner is not acceptable."
THE ARTICLE:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington on Friday condemned caricatures in European newspapers of Islam's Prophet Mohammad, siding with Muslims who are outraged that the publications put press freedom over respect for religion.
By inserting itself into a dispute that has become a lightning rod for anti-European sentiment across the Muslim world, the United States could help its own battered image among Muslims.
"These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims," State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in answer to a question. "We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression but it must be coupled with press responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this manner is not acceptable."
"We call for tolerance and respect for all communities for their religious beliefs and practices," he added.
Major U.S. publications have not republishing the cartoons, which include depictions of Mohammad as a terrorist. That is in contrast to European media, which responded to the criticism against the original Danish newspaper that printed the caricatures by republishing the offensive images themselves.
But that's the problem--they do.
The State Department talks just like slick willie.. I guess whores sound alike.
hmmmmmm...well Europe didn't want to help the US with the fight against these lunatics so why we should we back Europe now??? :)
Back in those bad ole Jimmy Carter days, I remember B-1 Bob Dornan describing how foreign countries usually met and contrasted U.S. and Soviet representatives.
Dornan said the Russian was usually a fit man with steel blue eyes and a strong handshake. The U.S. rep was usually a flagrant homosexual with a limp handshake and a prissy manner. Thank God Reagan gave us a bit of a cowboy image to make up for the State Dept. flakes who continued on in Reagan's Admin and all the years since then.
Bump!
I can understand your standpoint. Muslims are doubtless offended by the ridicule of their prophet, as I'm sure anyone with religious leanings would be if tables were turned. They are clearly over-reacting, especially since this is 5 months old, but I can empathize with their outrage if not their behavior. Look at the stir caused by the WaPo soldier cartoon, or NBC's Book of Daniel, etc (but obviously the reactions to those items were more measured). All tasteless, but all a right to be out there. However, just because you can say something doesn't mean you should. But even if something is in poor taste, does not give license to the farcical reaction we see before us.
The federal government pays for "art" that is degrading to Christianity but takes sides when the Islaimic cult gets bent out of shape for a cartoon???
It is really getting to the point that being a Christian American has no representation in governemnt.
America should always defend freedom.
Whose State Department? PING!
At least now we may see some US papers publish the cartoons.
HEY STATE DEPT--SHUT THE F UP!!!!
You Wrote: "Islam is not a religion. It is a violent political philosophy that masquerades as a religion. Very similar to Nazism."
- This is worth repeating.
The State Department e.g. Condi Rice? I'm an antiwar libertarian and I take a far harder pro-free press line than the Bush crowd on this.
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