Harper regrets publication of cartoons (With comments by Ezra Levant)

The Toronto (RED) Star ^ | Feb. 14, 2006. 07:09 PM | CANADIAN PRESS

[fanfan]

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he regrets the publication of controversial editorial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad by some media outlets.

In his first public statement on the controversy since it broke wide open last week, Harper noted Tuesday that Canadians have a right to free speech.

But he added that they "also have the right to voice their opinion on the free speech of others."

"I regret the publication of this material in several media outlets," Harper said in a news release.

"While we understand this issue is divisive, our government wishes that people be respectful of the beliefs of others. I commend the Canadian Muslim community for voicing its opinion peacefully, respectfully and democratically."

The cartoons were first published by a Danish newspaper in September. Papers in other European countries reprinted them, and the latest issue of Calgary-based Western Standard includes some of the offending drawings.

One of the cartoons depicts Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with an ignited detonator string — a shot at Muslim terrorists.

Islamic tradition prohibits depictions of the Prophet.

One Muslim group warned Tuesday that the Western Standard's decision to carry the drawings could threaten Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

Reprinting the drawings could put the soldiers, who have been attacked in Afghanistan numerous times, at further risk, said Riad Saloojee of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"I think the fact that people choose to reprint the cartoons could put our troops in danger," he said.

"That's, I think, one of the reasons why major (Canadian) media outlets have been responsible and chosen not to do that."

Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor expressed similar concerns Monday.

Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant dismissed the criticism.

"In Canada we have freedoms, and our soldiers' and diplomats' job is to protect those freedoms at home and expand those freedoms abroad," Levant said Tuesday.

"I think most of the soldiers get it."

"So when Gordon O'Connor or others say we've got to clamp down on freedom in Canada so our soldiers and diplomats have an easier go of it, I don't think that's what soldiers and diplomats are for."

Levant said terrorists in foreign countries should not be allowed to hold Canadian domestic freedoms hostage.

"If a terrorist is going to attack our troops in Afghanistan, he's going to do it whether . . . he has some fig leaf of an excuse or not. Cartoons don't kill people; terrorists kill people."

The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations has launched an education campaign about Muhammad and the Islamic religion.

As part of the campaign, entitled Explore the Life of Muhammad, the council plans to distribute a DVD version of a PBS documentary on Muhammad, as well as a book.

The council is also calling on mosques to hold open houses to educate non-Muslim Canadians about Islam.

"Any Canadian who wants to learn about the prophet Muhammad and their fellow Canadian Muslim neighbours can visit our website, http://www.caircan.ca, and request a free copy of the DVD or the book," said Saloojee.

[fanfan]

As part of the campaign, entitled Explore the Life of Muhammad, the council plans to distribute a DVD version of a PBS documentary on Muhammad, as well as a book..

Um, hold on a second.....A DVD, with, um, ....pictures?

[fanfan]

Canada Ping!

Please FReepmail me to get on or off this Canada ping list.

[proud_yank]

Explore the Life of Muhammad

Boy, FReepers could have some fun with that one!

[fanfan]

Boy, FReepers could have some fun with that one!


You're right!

Ping!

;-)

[proud_yank]

"Deplore the life of mohammad"

"Explode the life of mohammad"

[Army Air Corps]

Here is a relevant story.

[King Prout]

nah, too easy

[proud_yank]

Explore the life of mohammad: Buy an Allah Brand urinal mint today! May 'peace' be upon him.

[proud_yank]

"Mo-Homo-mad"?

[Das Outsider]

Watch this:

(1) One of the cartoons depicts Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with an ignited detonator string — a shot at Muslim terrorists.

(2) Islamic tradition prohibits depictions of the Prophet.

So they were taking shots at terrorists and all the terrorists got mad? After all, the only violent Muslims are the extremists, like al-Qaida, Hizbollah, and the rest.

I think this sums it up best:

Muslims are the only group who kill because people call them violent.

~Ann Coulter

[Dark Skies]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he regrets the publication of controversial editorial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad by some media outlets.

Now that was a short honeymoon!

[proud_yank]

The council is also calling on mosques to hold open houses to educate non-Muslim Canadians about Islam.

Sponsored by ACME Brand Dynamite and guaranteed to be a blast!

[Das Outsider]

Explore the Life of Muhammad

I do hope that Muhammad's life is given the same scrutiny as that of Saint Paul's over the last twenty years.

If you want to see riots, imagine the scene if Harper Collins released "The Suleyman Code" by Dan Brown or published a book that asks whether or not Muhammad was gay.

And you thought Salman Rushdie had it bad!

[fanfan]

LOLOL!

[proud_yank]

If you want to see riots, imagine the scene if Harper Collins released "The Suleyman Code" by Dan Brown or published a book that asks whether or not Muhammad was gay.

Well..... in this day and age, we have to be politically correct and that means only Christianity can be insulted.

[proud_yank]

Its just too easy! :-)

[Das Outsider]

Well..... in this day and age, we have to be politically correct and that means only Christianity can be insulted.

Orthodox Judaism would be right alongside Christianity on the chopping block, were it not for the Holocaust. Liberals can never explicitly condemn, ridicule, or attack Judaism, since that means attacking Jews--or so the thinking goes. The orthodoxy is that the Holocaust is a reminder that one should never hold to absolutes, perhaps absolutely.

When the rhetoric suggests that one is critical of Judaism (Jews), the term "anti-Semitic" gets thrown out, and we are reminded of Nazi Germany. The last thing a liberal wants is to be called "anti-Semitic," even if they do implicitly support Palestinian Islamic terrorism.

[Snowyman]

Saloojee was on cpac tonight.

He made the statement that he had deliberately sought out the cartoons so he could judge them visually rather than rely on a word description .

A reported asked that if he could view them why was the Western Standard being criticized for publishing the cartoons so that everyone could do as he and judge them visually.

His answer was that he was an individual not a magazine. He could ,they can't.

Which only makes sense if you're deaf , stupid and blind.

There are cartoons out there currently being published in the middle east. One is of Anne Frank in bed with Hitler . I find it offensive to the point I wouldn't post it .
That's just me . But it's out there and I would encourage everyone to seek it out and judge for themselves .

[GMMAC]

Not withstanding the subsequent gross, hypocritical & doubtless opportunistic over-reaction of the Islamofascists within the Muslim community, this all started with a breach of the "The Golden Rule".

Ergo, it's quite consistent & appropriate for Prime Minister Harper to concede the right to free speech while deploring the irresponsible & short-sighted exercise of same.
As a practicing Christian, he's certainly well aware of how it feels when the irreligious shoe is on the other foot.

No one should be too surprised when the godless msm concludes that public support for the publication of these cartoons amounts to license to be far more brazen in its future attacks on all Faiths - especially its long-time primary enemy Christianity.

[stephenjohnbanker]

"Islamic tradition prohibits depictions of the Prophet."

OK, from hereonin, no Muslim is allowed to depict the "Prophet". However, the rest of us can do as we please! : )