This whole Muhammad cartoon debacle continues to be a defining event. For the American press it’s been an expose’. It’s a “separates the men from the boys” sort of thing. It’s the type of situation that has the boys hiding under their beds and holding their breath.

Sad, sad, sad those stalwart defenders and promoters of freedom of the press, First Amendment rights, have caved.The free press in America is now claiming to be “sensitive” and not wanting to be “offensive” to the Muslim world.They won’t show the offensive cartoons in their papers.

Of course their position is understandable to everyone familiar with the American presses track record.

They have always been extremely sensitive and non-offensive to the other religions as well.You only need to ask the Christians or the Jews, they can remember the many times they weren’t offended by the press.

Perhaps the trick to gaining sensitivity from the press is to merely threaten to burn down a few of their buildings. Maybe if one were to torch a couple buildings it would reinforce the need to be sensitive.It seems effective for the Muslims, doesn’t it?

There was a terrific article posted on the Washington Post website.

It was written by an unlikely pair, William J. Bennett and Alan M. Dershowitz. The title of the article is “A Failure of the Press”

Here’s a excerpt;


“The press has had no problem with breaking a story using classified information on detention centers for captured terrorists and suspects -- stories that could harm our allies. And it disclosed a surveillance program so highly classified that most members of Congress were unaware of it.

In its zeal to publish stories critical of our nation's efforts -- and clearly upsetting to enemies and allies alike -- the press has printed some articles that turned out to be inaccurate. The Guantanamo Bay flushing of the Koran comes to mind. But for the past month, the Islamist street has been on an intifada over cartoons depicting Muhammad that were first published months ago in a Danish newspaper. Protests in London -- never mind Jordan, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Iran and other countries not noted for their commitment to democratic principles -- included signs that read, "Behead those who insult Islam." The mainstream U.S. media have covered this worldwide uprising; it is, after all, a glimpse into the sentiments of our enemy and its allies. And yet it has refused, with but a few exceptions, to show the cartoons that purportedly caused all the outrage.”

And here’s more;


“The Boston Globe, speaking for many other outlets, editorialized: "[N]ewspapers ought to refrain from publishing offensive caricatures of Mohammed in the name of the ultimate Enlightenment value: tolerance." But as for caricatures depicting Jews in the most medievally horrific stereotypes, or Christians as fanatics on any given issue, the mainstream press seems to hold no such value. And in the matter of disclosing classified information in wartime, the press competes for the scoop when it believes the public interest warrants it”.

And more;

“While we may disagree among ourselves about whether and when the public interest justifies the disclosure of classified wartime information, our general agreement and understanding of the First Amendment and a free press is informed by the fact -- not opinion but fact -- that without broad freedom, without responsibility for the right to know carried out by courageous writers, editors, political cartoonists and publishers, our democracy would be weaker, if not nonexistent. There should be no group or mob veto of a story that is in the public interest.”

The cartoons and the story should be published now more than ever, it’s time to stand up and let the world know that fear will not contain or intimidate the truth or the free press.

You can read the entire articleHERE

Thanks to the Washington Post, William Bennett and Alan Dershowitz.You had the courage to say what needed to be said.

The cartoon appearing on this blog does not say “Offend” it says “Freedom”..it’s what America is all about.

You can view all the cartoons HERE Thanks to Human Events Online

God Bless America

Brad

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