Posted on 02/04/2006 12:47:52 PM PST by bboop
THERE'S a difference between a piece of journalism that unavoidably provokes and one that is merely provocative. So which were the cartoon caricatures of Muhammad published in European newspapers from Bulgaria to Madrid this week?
The cartoons, which really are rather mild little doodles, first were published in a Danish newspaper last fall. Outraged Muslims in the Persian Gulf states launched a boycott of Danish goods that lead the government in Copenhagen to express regret for the offense, but to defend the paper's right to publish. By this week, the Danes were facing not only violent protests in the Islamic streets but also mounting demands from governments in the Mideast and elsewhere that they apologize and do something to the paper.
By week's end, papers and magazines across Europe had republished some or all of the cartoons in a gesture of solidarity with their Danish colleagues and in defense of their refusal to be intimidated out of free expression. Muslim outrage mounted. Palestinian gunmen surrounded the European Union mission in Gaza and others threatened to kidnap Westerners in reprisal. Violence spread and Western diplomats including Kofi Annan and the British foreign secretary began falling all over themselves to apologize for their news media's insensitivity.
All this would be slightly more edifying if it didn't reflect the destructive and dangerous double standard that the Western nations routinely observe when it comes to the government-controlled media in Islamic states. There the media is routinely rife with the vilest sort of hate directed at Jews and, less often, Christians. The "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" remain widely available in countries where nothing is published without government permission, and quotations from that infamous forgery are a staple of commentaries published across the Middle East.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
OUTSTANDING!
They're editorializing in this fashion because it threatens a media outlet that they like.
If it was Fox News or the Washington Times, you'd see something different.
It IS the LA Times. I was amazed too. That's why I posted it.
WOW. Incredible editorial from LA Times.
Thanks!
The LA SLIMES still S^ck.
They have only contempt for the idea of freedom of the press/freedom of religion.
or perhaps thay are waking up to the fact that we are all - lib or conservative - infidels in the crosshairs of Islam...?
Excellent, informative read.
Thank you for posting it.
:) yes of course, glad to post it. I was stunned to see it in the LA Slimes.
There are a lot of liberals getting mugged by reality this week, I think. If they look to Europe as THE way to be civilized, then if Europe is attacked and if Europe draws a line and stands firm, what does it do to liberal thinking?
It will be interesting to watch.
I just read this in the paper today. It is very good and should get more attention.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.