Friday, February 17, 2006

He writes!

The editor has finally written an Editor's Notebook. With a cartoon!

UPDATE: When I wrote this column, I didn't realize that one of the newspapers that has reprinted an image of Muhammad is The Northern Light over in Molt. The Light apparently was responding to a Christian Newswire story that quoted Christian Newswire Director Gary McCullough as saying, "I ask you to publish the controversial cartoon of Muhammad to send the message; 'We will not be censored by treats [sic] of violence.'" (At this writing, the caricature still does not seem to be in the online edition.)

UPDATE 2: David Summerlin posts a thoughtful response to the Stranger.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Muslims are nuthin' but big PUSSIES when it comes to religion! Hell, the Yugoslavs have been pissin' on each others' religions for thousands of years! And they don't apologize for it one bit! Why should they? That's the way it should be. Piss on their religion if they can't take a joke.

Anonymous said...

Just reminiscing on the NY Times sitting on the Bush wiretap story for a year, holding it back when it could have changed the election outcome. We have the most heavily self-censored press on the planet. Any dictator would be happy to have such a press at his prostrate feet. Publishing the cartoons and all the talk about fighting censorship is just so much chest puffing.

Anonymous said...

To Mark T.

You'll be happy to know the government is going to shut down the NY Times for publishing national security secrets. That ought to change the outcome of the next election!

Anonymous said...

The Euro-Hypocrites and Freedom of the Press

[Excerpts from, “Trial Opens for Accused Holocaust Denier,” By WILLIAM J. KOLE, Associated Press Writer, February 19, 2006, 4:28 PM EST]

VIENNA, Austria -- A right-wing British historian goes on trial Monday on charges of denying the Holocaust occurred -- a crime punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment…

The trial of David Irving opens amid fresh -- and fierce -- debate over freedom of expression in Europe, where the printing and reprinting of unflattering cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad has triggered violent protests worldwide.

Irving, 67, has been in custody since his arrest in November on charges stemming from two speeches he gave in Austria in 1989 in which he was accused of denying the Nazis' extermination of 6 million Jews.

His lawyer, Elmar Kresbach, said last month the Third Reich historian was getting up to 300 pieces of fan mail a week from supporters around the world, and that while in detention he was writing his memoirs under the working title, "Irving's War."

Irving was arrested Nov. 11 in the southern Austrian province of Styria on a warrant issued in 1989 and charged under a federal law that makes it a crime to publicly diminish, deny or justify the Holocaust.

Anonymous said...

Chilling. It is not enough that you say that two plus two equals five - you must believe it with all your heart.

Anonymous said...

I have a leetle problem with the Danish cartoon itself that sparked all these riots. First of all, the cartoon was pure, unadulterated CRAP! I mean, what was funny about it? And how was it making ANY relevant statement about anything?! You see, I don't have to consider the Prophet responsible for 9-11. I don't happen to view Islam as any more violent and reprehensible than say Christianity! And I don't happen to consider Jesus reponsible for shock and awe! The cartoon is senseless. And THAT'S why all people of religious conviction should be rioting, not only Muslims! I mean, let's put some C-4 around Jesus' head instead of a crown of thorns, and maybe an American flag in his hand, while his little buddy Chimpy shocks, awes, tortures, and SLAUGHTERS over a hundred thousand innocent Iraqis! Makes about as much sense as the Mohamed cartoon. Bad cartoons are simply bad cartoons. Cartoons don't kill people. Deranged little monkey boys and theirs Dicks do!

David said...

Larry,
Actually, it was a dozen cartoons.

Anonymous said...

I don't care HOW many it was! They were senseless! Let's get the academics to tally up to the best of their ability just HOW many people died as a result of Christian aggression as compared to Muslim aggression over the centuries! Now THAT would be interesting, wouldn't it?! Darn that Bible! And them Jews, always killin' Philistines or some such! Look, the sad fact is that the Muslims got NUTHIN' on the Christians! They have both slaughtered with abandon throughout the ages. And now, the little monkey boy and his Dick have given the Muslims a REASON to fight! I don't recall any Muslims asking that their lands be illegally invaded! And the truth be told, if the u.s hadn't been placed American bases in Saudi Arabia, Osama might STILL be an ally! (although 9-11 was an inside job anyway) Nope. The cartoons were simply designed to foment anger. And they did. Looks like it might be the work of the "uniter"!!

Anonymous said...

The question before the house is this: Did the Christian Newswire really misspell "threats"? Or do they really consider violence a "treat"? (Or at least does Brother Pat?)

As for the Muslims getting their t**s in a wringer over these cartoons, all I can say is this: If it hadn't been cartoons, it would've been something else (perhaps the fact that lots of folks in the Western World eat bacon for breakfast).

Kirk Dooley
Mesa, AZ