Posted on 02/04/2006 6:40:55 AM PST by doctora
February 4, 2006 -- Why did the Bush administration need to insert itself into the increasingly violent worldwide protests by Muslims upset by the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed?
And, having chosen to issue an opinion, why did the administration take a position that is, frankly, shameful and wholly antithetical to the basic freedoms that Americans hold dear?
Even as European and Asian leaders appealed for calm and understanding in the wake of escalating violence, the State Department yesterday came out foursquare in support of the demonstrators — and condemned the "offensive" cartoons.
"These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims," said department spokesman Kurtis Cooper. "We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression, but it must be coupled with press responsibility."
He'd have done better to call instead for respect for freedom of the press, rather than kowtow to rampaging mobs attempting to intimidate newspapers worldwide.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
the infowarrior
Your post sure doesn't match the quote next to your name- "NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace". That "call for common sense" crap is kinda like ole Neville Chamberlain's rhetoric!!! I emailed the state dept. thru the link provided in one of yesterday's posts on this subject and told them to quit their crying on behalf of radical Islam (is there another kind?)
BUSH needs to "cowboy up!" This dribble from the state dept. is disgusting!
I didn't call you a coward, I merely pointed out what a cowardly and pathetic position you take on this subject. It seems that you agree with the condemnation of newspapers that have run these cartoons, thus appeasing those muslims who advocate violence over their publication. A line has to be drawn, and free speech should not be trampled by those who threaten violence every time their own tendency for violence is pointed out.
Oh, and I am very impressed with your implied invitation to a physical confrontation. That is very brave on an internet forum.
"When did I mention the government? "We" are the people. And it is up to us to defend our values against Sharia maniacs. I agree the government should not have injected itself into this."
No argument then. Thought you meant 'we' the Republicans since the article on which the thread was based is about the State Dept.
I think I know where you are coming from, samtheman. Our military men and women sure don't need a cartoonist riling up our enemies. Not a cartoonist from the U.S. or Denmark, or anywhere else for that matter. Lord knows the world has enough trouble right now without some cartoonist deciding to stir the pot a bit. Oh yes, I am a firm believer in free speech, but I was also taught that free speech was not a free pass to go about willy-nilly insulting other people(s)just because I'm free to do so.
The person who created the "Islamic cartoons" has the freedom to do so. I will defend that person's freedom. However, that doesn't mean I think that person was acting in a way that was right, helpful, nor responsible.
Liberals and Dems have the right to free speech and oh boy, they sure use it. They make statements that we all know have and will continue to hurt our military men and women, if not get them killed! I do find it ironic that when a Dem/Lib abuses their right to free speech, we become furious because they are putting us all, especially our troops, in danger. But now when someone in Denmark enflames our enemies, it's all about "free speech" and we should applaud them?
Go figure....
I have to agree with the Post editorial writer.
If we keep on caving in to these insane Islamicists, we can kiss every democracy in Europe goodbye. The non-reproducing Europeans will be outnumbered in ten years by the influx of Islamic aliens and their numerous offspring.
Well said.
They also don't need our own State Department validating the violent response our enemies give to the cartoons. No matter how much State protests that it really does condemn the violence, the very fact that it has decided to single out these cartoons for condemnation, when there are cartoons and other offensive displays all over the world that defame Christians and Christianity and Jews and Judaism, shows an implicit acceptance of the notion that violent responses are the proper way to draw attention to an issue. Not the way to fight terrorism.
a). We didn't print them and b). in case you haven't noticed, we already have trouble we didn't ask for. Meekly submitting to intimidation by savages is not common-sense, in my book. If we go down that road we're done--let a bunch of ignoramuses dictate our press policies and what's left?
It's a stupid cartoon! Muslims are just looking for anything to get upset about, if not cartoons, it will be something else. They will manufacture an excuse, like the Koran flushing. Better the world know about the true nature of our enemies.
Exactly so. It will be duly noted in the various dens of moslem evil known as mosques that in the first chance they had, The US government cowered before Allah. This craven whimper by State will embolden the murderers. In the long run, this statement will cost American lives.
We will know they are true allies when they speak out in defense of the Danish cartoonist and against the murderers who want to behead him.--until then only suckers will believe otherwise.
It goes back a lot farther than that. Harry Truman had to fight and overcome what he called "the striped-pants boys" in the state department in 1948 to enable the creation of Israel. But for Truman, State would have opposed and defeated Israel before it was even allowed to exist, and saved the arabs the trouble.
Maybe, maybe not. if so, then we better watch our back there every day already because what you are saying is, we have no allies there. In any case, if somehow there is a chance you might be right, then State should have kept their yaps shut on the issue altogether.
Oh, did the Post publish the cartoons too? That's freedom of speech too.
I will accept your analogy when I read that Jerry Falwell is burning down foreign embassies and calling for the beheading of the writers and artists.
Refresh my memory. In the recent riots in France, what did the State Dept/Bush, have to say to the Muslim world then?
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