Western Standard Prints Cartoon and Now Needs Your Help

Western Standard ^ | Feb. 1, 2006 | Exra Levant

[canadianally]

A Letter from the only magazine of Canada to reprint the cartoons:

Dear Western Standard reader,

By now you have probably heard about our decision to publish the Danish cartoons -- those same cartoons that have been the excuse for riots around the world.

We believe that reprinting the cartoons is essential to properly telling that news story, which is why we did it. We also published them as a symbol of our freedom of the press, and in defiance of those around the world who would censor us through threats of violence.

I've never been more proud of our magazine.

Not everyone is happy with us, of course. A Calgary Muslim leader has reported us to the police, trying to get them to charge me with hate crimes. He has also filed a complaint against us with the human rights commission on the same grounds. Ironically, he has called our freedom of the press "intellectual terrorism".

Those are nuisance suits, of course. But the idea is to cost us money and time, break our spirit, erode our freedom of speech, and teach a lesson to all other media: that anyone who doesn't censor themselves will be made to wish they did.

The threats are working. Already, many Canadian magazine retailers who normally carry the Western Standard have caved in, announcing -- even before they see our new issue -- that they won't put us on their shelves. Again, the purpose of the censors is obvious: hurt our magazine economically, and make an example of us as a warning to all other media.

That's why I'm writing to you today: to ask for your help. Please do three things:

1. Let me know how you feel.

If you support our magazine's decision, let me know. Send me an e-mail to info@westernstandard.ca and I'll share it with the rest of our staff, to help buoy their spirits as we face this hurricane, to let them know we're not alone.

2. Encourage your local retailer to stock the Western Standard

Magazine retailers need to know that you value freedom of the press and your freedom to make up your own mind, and to not be censored by them or anyone else. Ask them to stock the magazine, or even to order it in just for you. You'll not only help us survive the boycott, but you'll put some steel in the spine of your local retailer.

3. Help us out directly.

If you're not yet a subscriber, now's the time to sign up -- a subscription is 37% cheaper than buying the magazine at the newsstand, and the money goes directly to us. If you're already a subscriber, consider renewing your subscription today, or extending your subscription, or even joining one of our clubs for enthusiasts by becoming a Sustaining Subscriber or a member of the Publisher's Circle.

You can find out more and do all of that right online, at http://www.westernstandard.ca/subscribe

It's fast, easy and secure -- and it helps us stay strong, and keep growing.

When we started the Western Standard nearly two years ago, I never imagined that we would have been at the center of a fight for our culture's basic freedoms -- or that the rest of Canada's media would be so silent, leaving us to fight this fight by ourselves.

But we're not all by ourselves. We have you.

Thank you for your help -- I look forward to your e-mails.

Yours truly,

Ezra Levant Publisher

P.S. The best way to help us right now is to click on http://www.westernstandard.ca/subscribe

[fanfan]

Chapters book stores has removed them from the shelves.

[Redbob]

"I wonder when the N.Y. Times will publish the cartoons?"

"Hello, Satan?
How's the temperature down there - getting any cooler?"

[arthurus]

Canadians voluntarily submit to sharia bit by bit. Maybe there will be new taxes proposed on non Mohammedans to support new government established madrassas and to pay for imported Wahabbi imams. So long as the new "conservative" government is in office it won't happen but odds are that won't be a long time.

[arthurus]

Why should theydo that? They understand themselves asa "world" newspaper.

[fanfan]

NYC Muslim Group Warns U.S.: 'Your Days are Numbered'

[freepatriot32]

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[observer5]

Don't forget:

http://www.islamcomicbook.com/

[GMMAC]

Without debating the relative percentages of each, I'm convinced there are both sincere Muslims & Islamofascists & we're foolish & short-sighted to deliberately offend the former to attack the latter.

Pragmatically it's not like we even need to employ what some may see as blasphemy, to critique terror bombers, baby-killers & beheaders.

If you've seen the movie, "Enemy at the Gates", it did a pretty good job - for Hollywood - of drawing a distinction between the Russian people & the communists.

Seemingly, if Hitler had possessed half of this level of perception he'd have destroyed the Red Army once & for all. Instead, he effectively handed Stalin an ultimately successful pan-Slavic race card when many in Eastern Europe - e.g. Ukrainians - were then more than ready to embrace the Germans as an army of liberatation from their Soviet oppressors.

In short & aside from self-evident cavalier disregard for "The Golden Rule" on the part of many self-proclaimed Christians & Jews, I fail to see the tactical sense in taking such open glee in the on-going publication of these morally questionable cartoons.

Flame away.

[Antoninus]

Bump.

[Antoninus]

Bump again.

[Antoninus]

One more time for good measure.

[fanfan]

Without debating the relative percentages of each, I'm convinced there are both sincere Muslims & Islamofascists & we're foolish & short-sighted to deliberately offend the former to attack the latter.

LOL!
I won't flame you FRiend. :-D

It just seems to me that Muslims & Islamofascists that have moved here expect us to adhere to their preferences.

AFAIC, humor, ridicule, sarcasm, pictures of Mohammad and pictures of Piglet exist in our society, and they can just get over it.

[CaptainCanada]

I'm with you on this.
Now that we know that even the most moderate and friendly
muslims find these cartoons offensive, I don't see the merit in
republishing them in our media.
And I don't see the bravery or heroism of those that do republish
these cartoon (within the relative safety of western democracies).
I'd have more respect for the clowns that feel the need to bait
all Muslims, if they were to go to one of these Muslim countries
and walk around with a sandwich board displaying the cartoons.
Deliberately pissing off all Muslims sounds like the kind of "cunning
plan" Baldrick would come up with on Blackadder

[txhurl]

woof

[GMMAC]

Agree 100% while continuing to believe we're wrong to take glee in intentionally offending ALL Muslims for essentially the same reasons that I don't offer pork to Jews or coffee to Mormons etc. while, at the same time, fully expecting them not to spit on my Crucifix.

To me, all of the arguments favoring publication of these cartoons boil down to "two wrongs making a right" and/or complete disregard for "The Golden Rule".

Mark my words:
Many of the most vocal of the current "free speech" champions will be the same people whining the loudest when the msm quite soon employs this very principle to up the vehemence of its far more habitual attacks on practicing Christians & Jews.

All of this getting into bed with the morally bankrupt msm should rightly have a lot more "conservatives" - although doubtless not libertarians - scratching their heads ... if not other areas of their anatomies.

[fanfan]

To me, all of the arguments favoring publication of these cartoons boil down to "two wrongs making a right" and/or complete disregard for "The Golden Rule".

I know what you mean, but I think "The Golden Rule" only applies if both parties understand the concept. For instance, The Golden Rule can't be employed by a two year old, but I can employ it when dealing with the two year old, because I'm in control of the situation.

OTOH, it is not in my best interest to employ it with an adult that either doesn't understand the premise, or chooses to reject it.

Many of the most vocal of the current "free speech" champions will be the same people whining the loudest when the msm quite soon employs this very principle to up the vehemence of its far more habitual attacks on practicing Christians & Jews.,

I can't really see what they could print or broadcast to offend Jews or Christians that they haven't used already.

[GMMAC]

"I can't really see what they could print or broadcast to offend Jews or Christians that they haven't used already."

Answer in part: watch for lots previously msm under-reported "fringe" blasphemous attacks & outrages to now receive considerably more "mainstream" and/or detailed coverage under the guise of "free speech".

BTW & for whatever it's worth, David Warren - whom I usually agree with & respect - has now rationalized his way around this issue.

[fanfan]

Answer in part: watch for lots previously msm under-reported "fringe" blasphemous attacks & outrages to now receive considerably more "mainstream" and/or detailed coverage under the guise of "free speech".

Yes, but that is already happening.

The Western media have no trouble printing pictures of Mary with dung, in order that we should see the artistic expression.

The current world wide riots are not happening because some housewife in Saudi Arabia feels personally insulted on behalf of her Deity.

The whole thing was/is a lie. The pictures that upset them have never been printed in the Western media. One was a poor quality photo copy of a faxed picture of a Frenchman in a pig squealing contest.

This is going to get much worse before it gets better, I'm afraid.

[danamco]

Carlsberg or Brummen beer! Support the danes and raise a toast to them! Getting another six-pack tonight.



Way to go, however, I never heard of Brummen!??!
Last week I got a 24 Carlsberg in Sam's, cheaper than German Becks or Dutch Heineken. After dinner tonight I only have two "gammel" Carlsberg left. Off to Sam's to replenish the stock in the fridge. Also, just eat the last cookie of Royal Dansk!!!