Posted on 02/04/2006 7:00:21 PM PST by FloridianBushFan
The State Department yesterday condemned as "offensive" cartoons in a Danish newspaper depicting the prophet Muhammad but defended the paper's right to publish them as a fundamental principle of democracy. It also urged Muslims, who have been staging mass protests against the cartoons and their reprinting in newspapers in Europe, to express outrage when they see anti-Christian or anti-Semitic publications. "We find them offensive," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said of the cartoons. "While we share the offense that Muslims have taken at these images, we at the same time vigorously defend the right of individuals to express points of view. "Freedom of expression is at the core of our democracy, and it is something that we have shed blood and treasure around the world to defend, and we will continue to do so," he said. Mr. McCormack's remarks at his daily press briefing were more balanced than the department's statement earlier in the day, when it appeared to be siding with the Muslims and said that "inciting religious or ethnic hatred in this manner is not acceptable." He urged Muslims to "speak out with equal vigor" when "they see similar views or images that could be perceived as anti-Semitic or anti-Catholic." "Anti-Muslim images are as unacceptable as anti-Semitic images, as anti-Christian images or any other religious belief," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The State Department leaves much to be desired. I have to agree with you on that.
He urged Muslims to "speak out with equal vigor" when "they see similar views or images that could be perceived as anti-Semitic or anti-Catholic."
Yeah, that'll happen.
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
Yep. Like that's gonna happen.
Hope nobody at Foggy Bottom is holding their breath for that to happen.
Interesting how it took so long for the "outrage" to get cooked up. Takes a lot of work to be "spontaneous". And the protestors are still only hundreds out of over a billion people.
Or what you said while I was typing!
Is this guy serious? This murderous cult calls for death and holocaust when it perceives the slightest offense against its vile beliefs. And this idiot diplomat suggests to these nuts that they widen the scope of what outrages them?
Yeterday's State Department announcement said the cartoons should NOT have been published. - Freedom of the Press, just don't use it - a message from the John Kerry State department
The "offensive" cartoons were published in September of 2005. It is *now* February of 2006, and Iran has hinted at a nuke test next month. Connect the dots.
Coincidence? I don't think so...
the infowarrior
Why should the State Department have said anything about "Piss Christ" when it was an American issue? Just curious.
I'm no supporter of the msm, but it seems like the state dept. "clarified" its position.
Why should the State Department deviate from what was already established US norm in *this* issue? I wouldn't have required the State Department to address "Piss Christ", as it *was* a domestic issue, but some acknowledgement by *both* the NEA, and the IRS at that time would have lent the State Department a ton and a half more credibility here...
the infowarrior
Islam is NOT a "religion" of "peace".
It's a violent and murderous governmental elitist system disguised as a religion that is even more dangerous than communism.
Put it in the bank.
Our war is not against "Islamofacists". It is against Islam. Period.
But ... but didn't the President say it was a religion of peace? And didn't Rice say something like it was beautiful in its heart? Isn't it just those few terrorists that we need to hunt down, smoke out and bring to jussis?
These protesting Muslims have NO idea how frightened, weak and pathetic they look -- for their not being able to tolerate criticism, snubs and non-religious behavior, real OR imagined. Obviously, they do NOT have confidence in their outwardly-professed convictions or their ability to defend them or advocate them intellectually; they must not even believe them themselves, deep down.
Very pitiful, VERY sorry, self-doubting little people are the ones who get obsessed (even frightened by!) what others might think. And their CHOICE of what to get upset about in the face of all the REAL outrages they could have gotten upset over, as everyone here has pointed out, is especially pathetic -- as well as primitive, barbaric and, yes, insane.
The "press" lied to us (by omission of fact, one of their usual approaches) about the context and content of the State Dept's statement.
Surprise, surprise..
I'm beginning to think they may have forgotten the part about the rock. Saying the diplomatic thing is what they should do. But some of the stuff they have been coming out with amounts to gratuitous pandering.
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.