Pictures Depicting Mohammad Are Not New from OfficiallyScrewed.com
It is clear that making pictures is a horrible sin in Islam. There are dozens of narrations that emphasize and reiterate this point. However, it is always said that Allah will punish those people on the Day of Judgment. There is no command for Muslim... [Read More]

Tracked on February 14, 2006 10:53 AM

Whats the difference, the Liberals running the media or a mullah. Both are social engineers, what are we afraid of. Lets just live in fear and let the muslims write our editorial policy on a national level.

Screw them.

I'm offended.

sad but true.
we have given up so easily.

ex-lib. Like Hell we've given up! Maybe the pc's in TO& Van.(and MSM) have, but these guys are going to catch hell from the bloggers.
Saddle up my Clydesdale, let's get the crusades started.

I agree with almost everything I read on SDA. On this issue I have the attitude that just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.

I CAN hit myself on the thumb with a hammer but I don't think I SHOULD do it. What's the point.

Hah...brilliantly observed.

I think we will find that the new editors have much to say about the things we write about.

Enjoy.

mrtisaduffer..
if you have to ask,then you will never get"it"...

To be honest, I am not comfortable with Western Standard's plan to publish the cartoons, but it is BECAUSE I am uncomfortable (fear of bringing the battle to my back door, as it were) that I support their right to do it. As a subscriber, they have my money already, but if I wasn't, I'd buy a copy.

Looking at the video of the brave souls in France, can we do differently & live with ourselves?

mrtisaduffer: "...On this issue I have the attitude that just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD."

Perhaps you're right mrt. Perhaps we should start publishing the cartoons found in the Arab presses instead, and show the world how innocent they are. Not that those 'toons would offend anyone, so we should be safe then, eh? From a human perspective, I found the Arab cartoons FAR more offensive, and it had nothing to do with my faith, or lack of it.

Yes, we just HAVE to go out of our way to offend people's religious sensibilities, only THEN can we find out their offended.

My only question, when are we going to see the God-Jesus gay sex with expletives cartoons in the Western Standard? After all, it's their freedom of the press, but then, I've never noticed many anti israel cartoons in the Standard either. Gee, could this just be a way to create publicity?

Message re Western Standard publishing cartoons: left liberals have drunk the Kool-Aid.

Commenter: idiot..suffering

. the same pseudo-sexual fantasy of going out in a blaze as Annoyme. It's a "far right" thing. Probably a by-product of having watched far too many John Wayne and Audie Murphy weestern movies.

Even then, Levant is somewhat more excusable than Anon.. His (Ezra's) motivations are purely based on him being a publicity hound whereas Annoyme is an "end of days" raving psycho who wants to see everyone go out in a ball of glorious flame (no doubt accompanied by suitable music from a movie he saw) >>>
http://www.voy.com/178771/133127.html

Toooo funny! A fanatic as an editor...hey...isn't this what we have now? Theocrats, Ideocrats...not much difference? I know a fellow worker who was almost fired over having a picture of his trophy elk hunt. I'm sure there are lots of you out there that have been "cautioned" about putting up a cross or a pin up or a party logo or some thing that may "offend" the fanatic touch holes you may be working with who will cripple your boss with alesuits....it's all about intolerance of diversity of opinion and of you give in to it you aid it.

Elmasry fumes; spouts about da canadian values; stuff it Elmasry.
Two words Islamist jihadists hate :
Mohammedans. Pork. >>>

Calgary magazine to reprint cartoons
Hate-crime charges could follow decision by Western Standard, Muslim warns

JEFF GRAY

From Monday's Globe and Mail

The Western Standard, a political magazine based in Calgary, will today reprint eight of the 12 Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed that have caused riots and controversy around the world, and one Canadian Muslim leader warns that hate-crime charges may follow.

Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant, a former Reform and Canadian Alliance activist, calls the cartoons "innocuous" and accused Canada's "mainstream media," including The Globe and Mail, of failing to stand up for free speech for refusing to print the images.

"I was prepared to see the most outrageous, depraved, blasphemous cartoons," Mr. Levant said in an interview yesterday. "I was surprised by how tame they were."

But the leader of the Canadian Islamic Congress, Mohamed Elmasry, warned yesterday that his organization will seek to have charges laid against the magazine under Canada's laws against distributing hate literature.

"It's unfortunate," said Mr. Elmasry, who had urged Mr. Levant not to republish the images. "I think he really goes against the will and the values of Canadians by this provocative action."

Mr. Levant said the magazine, which hits newsstands today, is publishing the "most illustrative" of the cartoons that have angered Muslims worldwide and that first appeared in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten last year.

The cartoons will not be on the cover, Mr. Levant said, but will appear inside, spread across two pages with news and analysis of the controversy. While the magazine is reprinting the cartoon that depicts the Prophet Mohammed with a turban shaped like a bomb, Mr. Levant says not all the images have a "political edge."

Others merely depict Mohammed and wouldn't be out of place in a "children's illustrated Bible," he said.

Newspapers that have chosen not to print the images are hypocritical, Mr. Levant charged, for backing away from printing images offensive to Muslims after printing images that offend other religions, citing controversial works of art and cartoons that have upset Christian and Jewish groups in the past.

The Globe chose not to run the cartoons because senior editors deemed them "gratuitous and unnecessarily provocative," editor-in-chief Edward Greenspon wrote. Most other major newspapers in North America, including The New York Times, also decided not to publish the images.

Mr. Levant also singled out the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and PEN Canada for what he called a lack of support for free speech over the issue. PEN, he said, is quick to fight "bureaucrats and customs officials" on censorship cases, but when speaking out could mean "a beheading or a bullet, where are they? >>> G&M

With an editor like that you certainly don't want to do anything to make him blow up at you.

Strange choice for a cartoonist (Luckovich) who said on CNN (Reliable Sources Show) on Sunday that he agreed with editors not publishing the "controversial" cartoons. (Maybe his editor was standing behind him when he said it)

Caption should read:
Meet the new editor, same as the old editor.

The whole thing is just so fucking stupid. Both sides.

Come on Candace, gird thy loins and prepare to do battle. You are exemplifying the problem! Fear of reprisal! As someone said, I forget who, "I would rather die in the first ditch than the last." They can't kill us all! Everyone should be publishing the cartoons on their Blog, I did. As a further note they are the tamest "cartoons" you can imagine. Let's not forget also that the definition of a moderate Muslim is one who doesn't rock the boat and he will only speak up after we make it safe for him to do so. It is our duty to stand up for him because he cannot do it himself.

These Muslim fanatics are nothing more than puffed-up, insecure schoolyard bullies who need to be treated as such. The more you give in to them, the more power you give them. Good for Ezra Levant. It is unfortunate we do not have more editors with courage and balls to stand up for what is right.

Oh, for the days of Reagan and Thatcher.

If the cartoon's were grossly offensive and gave the Muslim people true reason for outrage I would possibly have some empathy. But none of this is true. The cartoons have some political undertones which I think Ahmadinejad used this as ammo to further the divide between the Muslim world and the west. As per the comments "because we can doesnt mean we should" By becoming scare of retaliation and not printing them you now prove that terrorism works in the western world. WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF THESE PEOPLE, WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. Yes it has become a pissing contest but my one rule in life is "dont start shit you cant finish" and they have. Support Denmark, Support our troops in Afgan. and our allies, we will have to all stand together in unity if we are to survive the next ten years.

"Everyone should be publishing the cartoons on their Blog, I did."

LOL, you're a warrior.

"I was prepared to see the most outrageous, depraved, blasphemous cartoons," Mr. Levant said in an interview yesterday. "I was surprised by how tame they were."

Amen to that.

How ludicrous is it that the MSM provides commentary on the cartoons, but refuses to provide the context. Why are we not given the right to decide how offensive or not the cartoons are? Does the press not have an obligation to present the facts for us to decide in a free society?

Mohammed with the bomb turbin is such an apt metaphor. Thirty years of Islamic terrorism, 9/11, dead children in Beslan, the Moscow theatre, Madrid, London, the desecrated Bhuddist statues, the insane jihad rantings of mullahs, etc is pretty much on target in that cartoon.

The not so shocking outcome of this cartoon episode is that the US, Canadian and British MSM have again proven themselves to be agents of the leftist, pc, multi-culti, nanny state agenda.

The sniveling useless MSM can't die fast enough.

Challenge to Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, CBC/CTV,/Global & the rest of the MSM:

Print/broadcast this:

Oriana Fallaci "beheaded":

Fallaci Beheaded [Art Exhibit In Milan Italy. Liberals And Jihadists Working Together]
FrontPage Magazine ^ | Feb. 13, 2006 | Robert Spencer

Posted on 02/13/2006 5:54:24 AM PST by conservativecorner

A disgraceful art exhibit in Milan has illustrated once again the deep affinity between the Left and the forces of the global jihad. In these days of Muslims the world over calling for the deaths of those who have “insulted Islam,” anyone who wants to see Oriana Fallaci beheaded need look no further than the Galleria Luciano Inga-Pin in Milan, which is exhibiting Giuseppe Veneziano’s “American Beauty” from January 19 through March 18. This is a series of paintings designed to highlight the “weakness and perversity of the ‘American way of life.’” It accordingly features straightforward, if somewhat lurid, portraits of Michael Jackson and Ronald McDonald, along with the distinctly non-American Harry Potter. Then comes a bizarre depiction of a nude man having sexual intercourse with the Pink Panther, five artistic renditions of the Abu Ghraib prison photos (each with “American Beauty” scrawled across the top), and — Oriana Fallaci’s decapitated head.

Although I find the picture of Fallaci decapitated deeply offensive, I have no plans to attack the Italian embassy, boycott Italian wine, phone in a bomb threat to the Galleria Luciano Inga-Pin, kill innocent people who had nothing to with the painting, or threaten to kill those who are actually responsible for it. Veneziano’s painting is the sort of obnoxiousness that has become commonplace on the Left, and is one of the prices of freedom of speech.

Veneziano’s painting is doubly offensive, however, in light of the fact that Fallaci herself has been driven out of Italy by frivolous charges that she has “defamed Islam.” Giuseppe Veneziano is not on trial for depicting Fallaci decapitated, but Fallaci faces trial for making a series of heated but largely true statements about Islam and Muslims. Veneziano’s painting is triply offensive in that it depicts exactly what the Muslim exponents of cartoon rage around the world would like to see done to Fallaci — and thus manifests the ever-closer empathy between the Western Left and Islamic jihad. “Behead those who insult Islam,” read a sign at a recent demonstration in London protesting the Danish cartoons of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. If Fallaci has insulted Islam with her monumental post-9/11 cries of freedom and resistance, The Rage and the Pride and The Force of Reason, Giuseppe Veneziano is happy to oblige the mujahedin, at least on canvas.

In 2006 in Milan the prospect of Fallaci decapitata evokes not so much the iconic Leftist images of the Bastille, Robespierre, and the Terror, but Daniel Pearl, Nick Berg, and the Jihad — particularly in light of the subject matter that has earned the great lady so many enemies in Italy and around the world. This should come as no surprise. Both the Left and the mujahedin envision a totalitarian state that cleanses the world of evil by force, establishing a just society at the price of an unspecified number of dead. Both are advocates of a supremacist ideology that is immune to self-criticism and unable to tolerate criticism from others. And now as the European Union contemplates new laws that will, in the words of Franco Frattini, who bears the Orwellian designation of EU Commissioner for Justice, Freedom, and Security, “give the Muslim world the message: We are aware of the consequences of exercising the right of free expression,” the marriage of the European Left and Islamic jihad can proceed all the more speedily. Frattini has since denied that the EU has any such plans, but there can be no denying that voices all over the West have called for the media to exercise “responsible self-regulation” so as to avoid trampling upon Muslim sensibilities. But Muslim sensibilities only: those who depict Fallaci beheaded, or Jesus Christ with the face of Osama bin Laden, will continue to be subject to the same protections enunciated by Josh Wainwright, the producer of the art show that featured the Christ/Osama painting: “I don’t think it’s anyone’s job or vocation to limit the expression of artists.” Right. Except cartoon artists, of course. Or at least those who have the temerity to suggest that there might be some connection between violent actions done by Islamic jihadists and the Prophet who said that “Paradise is under the shades of swords.” >>>
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1577497/posts

"The whole thing is just so fucking stupid. Both sides"

And thus the typical Canadian turns a blind eye again as Canada will be nibbled a wee bit smaller.

Annoyed that someone could be outraged at such a mild provocation as the cartoons appear the spinning Canadian brain reels because the MSM told us that the cartoons "portray Allah (kiss my ass) as a terrorist" and validified the gussied up Islamorage.
The drawings are so terrible that the MSM superiors can't even show them to you or you will instantly become Islamophobicly corrupted we are told.
Upon seeing the drawings for himself the connection between the harmless evidence and the conditioning by the bleating cynical MSM interpretation are shockingly vast.

"How can anyone be offfended to the apparent levels that the Islamists seem to be?" the typical Candian thinks.
Tossing this conflicting duality around in a stew of Multi-culti-socialist half truths and not gaining any further connection the typical Canuck goes "Default Candian", and throws his hands in the air and says "they're all crooked" or "both sides are equally wrong" and therefore saves his fragile ego from admitting that he is a blind brainwashed lazy galoot that could'nt reason his way out of a soggy cardboard 2four, let alone come down with a decision based on good and evil, or right and wrong.

The Nannystate has destroyed the confidence in the typical Canadian to even choose a side in what could be the battle for civilization.
"If Eric Margolies says "these drawings are unacceptably offensive" and I don't see it then it must be everybody elses fault,... everybody equally however because the blame pie is always divided in half... "because that's fair".
Both sides are wrong his ego is intact and he didn't even break a sweat now it's time to buy a 6/49 ticket, wonder over to Tim Hortons to spend some of his gubmint cheque and dis Waynes wife.

Ezra should publish stills taken from a dozen or so videos that the MSM surrenderers have locked away in censor of innocent infidels having their heads sawed off as they plead for mercy, along with those fucking useless cartoons.

People who think the cartoons shouldn't be published just because they offend Muslims are missing the point. Just about anything can offend a significant fraction of this group ... the sight of a Jew, a cross or an asterisk(*) on a printed page (I am not kidding). Thirty years ago when I was working on a project with IBM the company was forced to manufacture custom print chains for mainframe printers being exported to the Middle East. The reason? ... the standard printed asterisk had the same number of points as the Jewish "star of David" and the customers said this was a grave insult to Islam. IBM employees would be risking their lives if the change wasn't made. Anyone who thinks you can avoid offending these fanatics by not publishing a few innocuous cartoons is engaging in wishful thinking. Your very existence offends them because you are not a Muslim.

Recently a University of Toronto academic has been recommending we cease making movies wherein women are depicted having professional careers or otherwise acting as peers of men because this is "offensive to Muslims". Just because we CAN show women as equals to men, SHOULD we? Just how far are we willing to roll over in attempting to placate the beast of Islamo-fascism?

k.

Damnit, you're right Rich, it's US against THEM. Saddle up my Clydesdale, let's get the crusades started. Are you with me cowboy?

Richfisher
Dont really agree with your point of view on the issues but I have to say you did make my day with this line. "now it's time to buy a 6/49 ticket, wonder over to Tim Hortons to spend some of his gubmint cheque and dis Waynes wife." LMAO

"Just because we CAN show women as equals to men, SHOULD we? Just how far are we willing to roll over in attempting to placate the beast of Islamo-fascism?"

Ah, the slippery slope argument. Well done.

I'll believe this is about free speech when I see cartoons making fun of same sex marriage.

I heard a rumour on the Internets that a Zhid in Canada published those cartoons?

I demand that every paper prints cartoons making fun of black people. If they choose not to they're just cowards, and they're letting THEM take away our free speech.

Seriously do you not see how absurd this whole thing is?

RE "I'll believe this is about free speech when I see cartoons making fun of same sex marriage."

If you have Svend or any of his gang burning down buildings or threatening some straight bashing etc. because of some cartoons then you will likely see them as a news story in the Western Standard. If they were to be published as a cartoon with the purpose and intent of making fun of Gay Marriage then and only then I guess will you be able to wrap your mind around anything to do with free speech.

Look at the issues and events that have taken us here "ol hoss" and come back and repost with something we can discuss indepth once you have gotten your head around the entire issue.

Hey
Moral Hubris Vallcillation

Seen the trailers to your cowboy movie ...no thanks.

Take no personal offense, none was intended I don't even know you but based upon your comments I expected no judgement and reprisal.
Lets just say "The whole thing is just so fucking stupid. Both sides"... OK?

Vacillation ...sorry :0)

Hey girls and boys. Cartoons fartoons! Take care of the underlying problem and anyone can print any cartoon they wish without fear.

The focus on the cure is a focus on not feeding the the frenzy raised by the Mullahs and Emirs with the help of the Al-Jezeera network.

A focus on bringing in more troops and mopping up properly in Afghanistan and Iraq is the unfinshed job at hand.

This is the worst possible time for Bush and Blair to go limp in the wrist.

A job was started and it has to be completed properly. Iran, Syria, Libiya and others fouled peace and democracy in Lebanon for over 32 years... This is just the same programme being pushed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Oil rich dictator Emirs fear nothing except for peace, democracy and enough time for the population to think about their enslavement. TG

If you have Svend or any of his gang burning down buildings or threatening some straight bashing etc....

Look at the issues and events that have taken us here...

Yeah, yeah, tell that to the victims of tainted blood.

I guess you're saying free speech should only be free if someone burns down buildings.

With an editor like that you certainly don't want to do anything to make him blow up at you.

LOL

When they take [how many?] hostages and behead them live for TV as they beg for their life from the religion of peace, or go to Beslan and blow up a school full of Christian school children to show them the blessings of Allah, Or riot next time someone has a swimsuit contest, use a machete on some one just for being Christian and tie the bodies up for all to see the peace and blessings of Islam, or blow up a bar that the infidels attend, or set fire to some government buildings or set thousands of cars on fire and blame french youths, or take a bunch of people foolish enough to go to the theater and kill them, failing that fly airplanes into some skyscrapers of the great Satan. Or one of the lesser Satan's. Plus Rushdie and Van Gough were killed. The list never ends and the worst effects are often not that which is deemed newsworthy.

They have a record of atrocities that make Guantanamo look like a picnic and when do all the so called Muslim moderates speak out? When Allah is insulted?

They should look at how many rapes they cause in Denmark

To be or not to be that is the wests question.

"I demand that every paper prints cartoons making fun of black people. If they choose not to they're just cowards, and they're letting THEM take away our free speech."

"Seriously do you not see how absurd this whole thing is?"

Deep, deep thinking there, MHV. If the black community behaved in the same fashion, you might have an argument. It's not about who Muslims are, but rather how (some)Muslims behave. Unfortunetly, the 'innocent' Muslims because of their complicity of silence may become tarred with the same brush.

Islamofacism is a cancer within the body of Islam and either they must exorcise the cancer or the greater world will. Cancer cannot be allowed to spread.

Neville Chamberlain felt that the 'body politic' would heal itself of German/Italian fascism through dialogue, prior to 1939. Sadly he was wrong, and millions paid the price.

When you enemies say they are determined to either kill or subjugate you, you should really pay attention.

"Seen the trailers to your cowboy movie ...no thanks."

LOL, good one rich.

"Take no personal offense, none was intended I don't even know you but based upon your comments I expected no judgement and reprisal.
Lets just say "The whole thing is just so fucking stupid. Both sides"... OK?"

I think you may be a little confused, but it's hard to tell exactly what you're trying to say here.

I've seen cartoons mocking gay marriage. It's a controversial issue. So what. Are we going to allow the media and politicians to designate what's sacred and above reproach?

Should I censor my reply "sorry, bud, I like whaleburgers" to some annoying zealot from Greenpeace seeking a donation? (I like whales. I don't like zealots.) Can I mock Wiccams and their objections to Halloween? (You bet.)

Let's not forget the pervasive MSM depiction of religious people offended by abortion as uptight right wing nazis. Those all-powerful evil Christian fundamentalists that don't even have the clout to clean up children's tv programs, restore a nativity creche to public buildings or herd the masses back into church are so feared and loathed by the MSM.

Ask yourself why the leftist MSM is bending over backwards to not offend Islam when there isn't a day somewhere they haven't offended everyone else? They and the elitist intellectuals have degraded the Christian religion so perversely in the US, Canada and Europe over the decades that their misplaced sensitivity to Islam is galling in its hypocrisy.

"Islamofacism is a cancer within the body of Islam and either they must exorcise the cancer or the greater world will. Cancer cannot be allowed to spread."

Fundamentalism is a cancer within any religious body, I agree. But your entire post is geting off topic. My original point is that an editor looking at a cartoon and deciding not to publish it because it is offensive is exercising his or her free speech. I highly doubt anyone in Canada would choose not to publish the cartoons out of fear. But maybe some people did, I don't know. I'm just saying that this toughguy attitude where anyone who doesn't publish the cartoons is a coward, and that by publishing the cartoons "we'll show them" is just stupid.

But back to your post, you say cancer cannot be allowed to spread. What then, do you propse we do? Wipe out the entire body because of cancer in the arm?

"Ask yourself why the leftist MSM is bending over backwards to not offend Islam when there isn't a day somewhere they haven't offended everyone else?"

It's because they're with THEM Penny. It's a giant conspiracy to allow Islam to rule the world. In exchange the MSM will be granted an island where they'll be allowed to exist, while the rest of us will be wiped out. They need to be stopped. Grab your six shooter and saddle up cowboy.

Recently a University of Toronto academic has been recommending we cease making movies wherein women are depicted having professional careers or otherwise acting as peers of men because this is "offensive to Muslims".

Not that I find it unbelievable, but geez, is this serious? Got a link?

I highly doubt it's true myself, but who knows? I also would like to see a link.

since when does one person (a editor of the media) determine for me and others what constitutes free speech ? dumb question on my part because it simply comes down to the bottom line $$$. no principals or values here just $$$.

Cowgirl.

So what's your plan, big guy? Employ sarcasm until they surrender?

I highly doubt anyone in Canada would choose not to publish the cartoons out of fear.

Besides a real possibilty of mayham from Muslim protestors, their offices being torched, running counter to the multi-culti pc fascists.... what would motivate an editor in a free society from publishing those insipid cartoons? Good taste? Please. Wrong answer, if you have been viewing the MSM over the decades with the rest of us. Did you cheat and view the cartoons on the internet or did you abide by the MSM rules? Come on, big guy, give us an answer.

Fundamentalism is a cancer within any religious body

Hum. Wouldn't it depend on the fundamentals of a particular religion. So if I'm, let's say, a Bhuddist fundamentalist could you point out the pathology there? The fundamental cancer? We are waiting.

Penny, the debate we need to be having in the West is where is the line in the sand?

The militant fundamentalist muslims have what as their agenda? Is it limited to just eradicating Israel? Just a portion of Israel? World domination?

Does abandoning support for Israel end conflict between Islam and the West?

I, for one, believe that there is within Islam a faction that has the elimination of the West as its goal. That faction is well organized, enabled in its communications by the very product of the West, it has funds, it has a framework of logic that convinces young people to commit suicide, and probably has a well-ensconsed fifth column in place already. I do not believe it will be deterred in its mission any form of appeasement by the West. Like scaling a rockface, each appeasement is simply a better hand or foothold.

You may believe otherwise. But that is what I believe.

It is a pity that many devout and pious men and women within Islam have had their religion hijacked. I worked side by side with a muslim gentleman for over a decade in the US, and he was and remains one of my best friends. He would know that publishing these cartoons is not an insult to him - he would understand (because we could have a rational discussion about it) that publishing these cartoons is a line being drawn in the sand. It is a distinct message to that militant faction of Islam that would end our lives that we will fight back.

I will fight back. I have as much right to live on this planet in my own way as they do.

Oh the great hand-wringing over the insults to Islam. Let me be very clear: to those within Islam who let Allah, or God, or whatever, deal with the issues that are His to deal with, and conduct their lives in peace, and good will, I say we have no ill will in our hearts.

To the militant Islamic faction that would slit the throats of my children while they sleep, I say, you think these cartoons are harsh? We know we must defeat you, and we will, or die trying.

You may believe otherwise.

Step back. I'm in complete agreement and have never said a word otherwise in any comment I've written.

You've misconstrued my reply to the smarmy apologist MHV. I think you need to re-read the posts above.

My apologies Penny.

MHV, you shit disturber, the proof of the pudding about the fear factor is the disingenuous reasons of so many editors across the country. I just took to task the editor of The Telegram, St. John’s only dead tree MSM for his specious argument. Check it out here: (not my argument, the article)
http://www.thetelegram.com/columnists.aspx?pname=Columns&PageType=Columnists&ColumnType=Column&ColumnistId=106
I am sure that most Publishers in Canada and elsewhere for that matter don't have the guts to admit they are afraid. We have become a land of Lotus Eaters, we have become fat and complacent, we all of a sudden have been brought up short and the picture is not very scenic. Does the word "weak" ring a bell? So all these great defenders of free speech who over the last few generations have vociferously claimed free speech while vilifying those who they knew would only voice a weak protest. The Christian milieu, the Jewish folks et al. It must feel so good to be a left wingnut and put those wacko Christians in their place, "How dare they complain!" Then we have the Muslim hordes who almost took over Europe, (everyone is not a history buff) are pissed, they are a force to be reckoned with and have proved it and close to home too. The Western Standard has been reported to the police for posting the cartoons. Any of you out there who don't believe there is intimidation here needs to see me about a seaside estate with tropical palms and pink powder sand on Bell Island, Conception Bay, Newfoundland.
The line has to be drawn in that pink sand and the MSM has shown nothing but cowardice. No wonder the circulation of the major papers continues to plummet, with insta info today most aware individuals are way ahead of the of these turds who rely on several hundred years of Fleet Street tradition unimpeded by progress.

Accepted, Shaken.

I figured you hadn't read the whole context to what I was responding.

Right on, Captain Craig.

So when or where do we get off teasing a retarded child?

I mean these 'rent-a-mob' types are a few bricks short of a load. So in teasing this problem child "in the name of freedom" is a farce.

We know what they'll do, so why provoke them? Do we really thing we prove how free we are by imflaming the issue more?

Ah, this is just stupid, why wasn't such an uproar done over the 3 Christian girls who got beheaded? If anything that is a direct attack on our society.

Seems our values are screwed.

Does anyone know what heppened to the WesternStandard.ca I'm getting "Bad Request (Invalid Hostname)"?

I stick by my comment posted previously.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Anyone here offended by a cartoon of Jesus taking it up the ass by Satan watching hurricane Katrina demolish New Orleans?

You could publish it - Why would you?

mrtisaduffer, you don't get it either!
It's not a case of doing it because we can!
It's a case of "We have to because we will not be cowered." As we say in Newfoundland, " arya dense or wa?"

Capt. Craig:

I don't consider myself "dense or wa?". If I tried hard I could probably find a few other people don't either.

I could go into a gay bar and make fun of the fags inside and claim "I will not be cowered". I could go into a Synagoge and make fun of all the Jews inside - perhaps a few holocaust jokes would go over well - and claim "I will not be cowered". I could go to Fort McMurray and make jokes about the utter stupidity of the fishermen from Newfoundland who can't catch fish but sure suck the money out of the rest of the country - and claim "I will not be cowered".

Why would I want to?

It is easy to offend people based on race, religion, sex, etc. I don't see what purpose it serves.

Would you publish the cartoon I mentioned above?

Capt Newf...

I'd agree, but everyone seems to miss the point they were not rioting against Canada or Western Standard.

These cartoons have been out since September and were even printed in Egypt last month or something.

This has something to do with Denmark sitting on a council to review Iran's Nuclear program.

Timing is a bit suspicious don't you think?

So, Western Standard and Ezra have devalued their position in my eyes.

Oh and by the way, I guess we can thank them for reinforcing the "redneck bigot" others view Calgary and the West.

Eh, bye?

Perhaps if we got rid of the Pimple on Canada's Ass (now referred to as Newfoundland) and all the welfare collecting alcoholics who only fish for 2 weeks each year we would have a lot easier time balancing the budget in this country.

We know what they'll do, so why provoke them? Do we really thing we prove how free we are by imflaming the issue more?

Not the point. Muslim's intolerant behavior is a by-product of their inability to understand a free press and the 21st century. Their medieval crap shouldn't get a pass.

So, your position is that no matter how crazy or homicidal the Islamofascists get the press should muzzle itself for fear of provoking and hurting their feelings? Wow. Hitler was a product of a reckless press by your logic too.

You could publish it - Why would you?

Maybe you would publish it as a study in extremely offensive images. How about geriatric pedophile Mohammed raping his 9 year old, definately not a consenting bride, 4th wife? Pretty vile as an image, but not offensive in that culture. Maybe the taboo of printing images of Mohammed serves the purpose of not capturing historically all of his different historical roles: pedophile, polygamist, wife beater, thief, warmonger, illiterate. A slide show of that guy wouldn't be very flattering. Best to ban all images.

Hey, help the Islamofascist protect Mohammed by all means in censoring his image in the west. It's your right in a free society. We may not respect you, the difference is we won't kill you.

Carry on.

duffer...oh that was really intelligent...

"My original point is that an editor looking at a cartoon and deciding not to publish it because it is offensive is exercising his or her free speech."
So an editor silencing an artist is the lefts new free speech.
Heroic.

The editors free will perhaps, would have been expressed but hardly his free speech.

It won't matter either way though because you are argueing against both free will and free speech.
In your brave new world of free speech you envisage the editor is choosing to silence an artist by quashing the artists free speech. Your justification of "because it is offensive" is rather here nor there. Because the editor does'nt like it, or because he's scared that muslims will fly airplanes into his office, what would it matter what the editor thoughts were in justifying his decision. Under the newly minted definition of free speech we are not allowed to make that decision of what is offensive ,we have to wait to be told by every single 13th century Muslim fundamentalist Imam in all middle eastern theoracracies as to what is offensive. Under your re-definig of free speech you will be only required to repeat it and shut up.

BTW This is your "original point"
"The whole thing is just so fucking stupid. Both sides"
Which appears to make no judgement of the merits of either side of the argument except in so far as the two sides are equal. Further you similarly and vulgarily dismiss both sides of the argument via what you have left the reader to assume is lazy moral relevancy.

Previous post intended for Morally High Vacuousness

Perhaps if we got rid of the Pimple on Canada's Ass (now referred to as Newfoundland) and all the welfare collecting alcoholics who only fish for 2 weeks each year we would have a lot easier time balancing the budget in this country.

Hey, girly man that's a cheap and easy statement when you know you'll never drown in a cup of Starbuck's latte.

When we vacationed years ago in Lunenberg, NS. I will never forget the The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

It's a beautiful tribute to the brave men that go out to sea in cold deep dangerous waters.

This is priceless:

"Perhaps if we got rid of the Pimple on Canada's Ass (now referred to as Newfoundland) and all the welfare collecting alcoholics who only fish for 2 weeks each year we would have a lot easier time balancing the budget in this country."
Posted by mrtisaduffer

I just laugh at your ignorance. The Muslims would probably take out a Fatwa on you.

So Rich, my pseudo intellectual friend, let me ask you this. Being the champion of free speech that you are, where were you when christian groups had The Book of Daniel cancelled before the first episode even aired? Where were you when christian groups threatened boycotts over a Will and Grace episode? When Disney tried to pull the plug on Fahrenheit 9/11? The artist being silenced and all that...

Capt Craig: I am glad you laugh at me but I have a feeling some of your inbred gaptoothed alcoholic drug addled oilfield working cousins in Fort McMurray would also take out a Fatwa on me. Should I go and say it just because "I will not be cowered"? I bet that would lead to some violence as well.

P.S. Penny: Never had a latte in my life.

MHV
"Where were you when christian groups threatened boycotts over a Will and Grace episode?"

I believe we weight the seriousness of... Openly inviting 13th century blind uneducated hidiously disfigured Islamic Fundamentalist hatespewing pycopaths to become Canada's censors ...differently.

Dr Wright: "....They should look at how many rapes they cause in Denmark.
To be or not to be that is the wests question.

Apparently those rapes are committed on "infidels" and so are allowed. I wish I was kidding, but I'm not. Several months ago I read a piece that brought awareness to the apparent fact that "gang rapes" of western women by men of "middle eastern" descent is on the rise.
This whole cartoon thing has gone beyond "cartoon", it has become about the "terrorist" fanaticals imposing their will over the free world.Do we give in and bow to them? PPFFTTT!! I only read a few verses in chapter 5 of the Quran to see how intolerant Islam is of other religions. I can see how extremists can twist those words to mean what they are now preaching. And as has been pointed out, they will never be happy until they subjugate the free world. We can only hope they will run out of twits willing to blow themselves up before then.So where is the moderate Muslim community? Why can't they start cleaning up their religion? I'm sure that they could have pushed efforts in the UK about that radical cleric more fervently. Instead, it was SEVEN yrs before he was finally jailed. Hopefully he'll be deported when all is done. Until moderate Muslims start taking a stand in their own religion, I can see little headway being made against the corruption of Islam. They know who the radicals are, where they are, and what is being taught/preached. They should take responsibility and start cleaning the "filth" from their religion. And for the record, I'm not religious, and have no religious leanings. That's right, I'm an "infidel", but a proud one!

Penny "We may not respect you, the difference is we won't kill you."

They won't be killing him either.

I believe we weight the seriousness of... Openly inviting 13th century blind uneducated hidiously disfigured Islamic Fundamentalist hatespewing pycopaths to become Canada's censors ...differently.

This is a red herring Rich. We were talking about freedom of speech. Why do you suddenly lose all of your passion for it when it's christians "squashing the artist's free speech"?

It's not really about freedom of speech now is it Rich?

Speaking of Daniel entering the lion's den... I just got on and read the long list of comments and it never fails to amaze me how "out in lefty field" some people are.

Mr duffer equates drawing an image of Mohammed as the same as a verbal attack in the face of a Newfie. Tomax thinks that by publishing the cartoons the west is showing it's "redneck" to the latte lovers down east. MVH is all for shooting the patient to save them from a cancer, and the rest of you are trying to make a chinook out of a beer fart.

Christian protests have led to a couple of TV shows cancelled but I didn't see rioting nor burning buildings. To hear the MSM and some commenters here describe it, you would think that these cartoons are totally shocking... not so. Yes, I've seen them and actually they are not really that funny. But to ban them from being seen when it is a major news story is a bit hypocritical of the MSM. Kind of like your mother saying you can't see (whatever) and when curiousity finally gets the better of you then you find out it was much adu about nothing.

Before the rightious get in their high horse ask yourselves this: Why were there no protests back in September or even when they were republished in Egypt in October? Did the Danes not clue in on the recent rise in flag sales to the middle east?

BTW, Newfoundlanders tell the best Newfie jokes around and I have had the priviledge of working and partying (or trying to) with many souls from the rock. God bless them all.

threatened boycotts or undertook violence?

Big difference.

Not even a chance of symmetry, my friend(trolling under multiple ID's.)

Your next incarnation won't fool anyone. I would think you'd be bored flaming this site by now.

Bye.

Read the Davinci code if you want to see just how tearing a religion a new one is done.

Well Texas, I have never been called a lefty before. Posted here many times, always agreed with Kate before. I have Muslim aquaintances - peaceful, thoughtful, normal people - who were offended by the idea of their Jesus portrayed as a bomb carrying terrorist. All religions have extremists who take things too far. In the Muslims case way, way too far. Christians have murdered abortion clinic workers in the name of God. God told the Pope many years ago that anyone who does not follow the Catholic faith should be tortured and killed, just don't shed any blood. Lately God told the Pope that even with AIDS running rampant in parts of the world condoms were a sin. Guess he doesn't care if millions die because of it. My problem with the cartoons is not that it offends the nutcases out there but that it serves no purpose other than to offend.

Most people wouldn't tell a joke they didn't find funny so why print a cartoon that wasn't funny.

Remember that there is an anti-semitic cartoon contest being held in Iran. I expect The Western Std to print those too. Also, how about those old 'Jap' and 'Kraut-Fritz' cartoons from WWII? Also those 'picaninny' and original Aunt Jemima pics.

google julius streicher--find out how he died and why--it was only 60 yrs ago. Reality check.

Ahhh Duffer, apples and oranges lad. When was the last mass riot at an abortion clinic? Anytime a nutcase has commited a crime for their "cause", there has been widespread condemnation of the murderer/arsonist. Far different from what the muslim extremists are doing and the reaction from their spiritual leaders.

My point it that: a) I think I'm big enough to see for myself the cartoons without the MSM "protecting" me, and secondly, b) your lumping all Newfs into a stereotype was over the line (but I will not riot or burn down your house).

There will be a battle in the streets with great amounts of blood being spilled if that happened over here in removing our rights.

Would make a great movie, oh wait already done, Saving Private Ryan.

No, due to the political correctness and godless society and generation we have spawned, we'll roll over and go to sleep.

If an idea of 'freedom of the press' revolution is true, well where have these guys been the past 12 years of Liberal corruption and miscarrage of justice?

Today, here in Calgary, Aftergood, who stuffed ballots for his wife in the Ward 10 election pleaded guilty and got a $4,000 fine. Our democratic right was spurned, and this fellow got no time in jail.

Then there's a stalker who tormented women with phone calls, grafitti, obscene jestures in Okotooks for 11 years only got 4 years jail.

And where is these self righteous "freedom of the press" loving posters now?

Three school age Christian girls get beheaded down in Southeast Asia, what if that was your daughter, where's the protest over that?

But we got to publish the cartoooooooooons

...freedom of the press...

Right.

Screwed in head, screwed in values.

MVH is all for shooting the patient to save them from a cancer

I think you may be a bit confused.

Not even a chance of symmetry, my friend(trolling under multiple ID's.)

Your next incarnation won't fool anyone. I would think you'd be bored flaming this site by now.

This is the only ID I've ever had on this site. But if that helps you cope with people with different view points than you then more power to you I guess. And don't feel slighted that I haven't responded to your comments yet, I'll get around to them when I have the time.

Randy 2:26 pm. My hat is off to you. Excellent insight. This link shows how the Emir of Quatar is using his Al-Jazeera TV and radio network to promote the mindless frenzy in the streets.

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/013089.php

More backing for your views Randy. TG

OH and you too MRTisaduffer.

Ezra is risking a bomb from some nut to advance the paper via Noteriety.

It works, but advancing on the back of religion trashing cartoons and the losses of embassies, [offices of peace and discusion], and of lives of persons who happen to be in the way, is not exactly *classy*. TG

Why do you suddenly lose all of your passion for it when it's christians "squashing the artist's free speech"?

AS i responded on another blog to the same point: Geez, I must have missed the American Embassy bombings in Latin America and Europe, the firebombing of NBC studios across the US, the shooting of NBC stars, and the copious riots and murders in response to the broadcast of "Book of Daniel".

No one has censored the soi-disant artists here in any meaningful way. There were protests, but they amounted to little more than a press release and a letter campaign which the network was quite free to ignore, with little risk other than perhaps losing a couple of show-specific advertising accounts. If the folks behind the show want to go on and do "risky" programs to make their limo-liberal friends feel all rebellious for managing to shake up a few easily-offended sorts (oooh! Gay priests and lesbians! How very challenging!) they're perfectly free to find other outlets - like on pay TV, where such doofy crud is hardly uncommon.

Everyone (including all stripes and shades of Islam) should be asking : are these cartoons offending a religion, or offending a barbaric cult which has been around since the dark ages?