About Contact Archives RSS Columns Photos

“SHOW, DON’T TELL”

By Michelle Malkin  •  February 19, 2006 07:58 AM

Flemming Rose, culture editor of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, has an excellent piece defending his decision to commission and publish the Mohammed Cartoons.

Childish. Irresponsible. Hate speech. A provocation just for the sake of provocation. A PR stunt. Critics of 12 cartoons of the prophet Muhammad I decided to publish in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten have not minced their words. They say that freedom of expression does not imply an endorsement of insulting people’s religious feelings, and besides, they add, the media censor themselves every day. So, please do not teach us a lesson about limitless freedom of speech.

I agree that the freedom to publish things doesn’t mean you publish everything. Jyllands-Posten would not publish pornographic images or graphic details of dead bodies; swear words rarely make it into our pages. So we are not fundamentalists in our support for freedom of expression.

But the cartoon story is different.

Those examples have to do with exercising restraint because of ethical standards and taste; call it editing. By contrast, I commissioned the cartoons in response to several incidents of self-censorship in Europe caused by widening fears and feelings of intimidation in dealing with issues related to Islam. And I still believe that this is a topic that we Europeans must confront, challenging moderate Muslims to speak out. The idea wasn’t to provoke gratuitously — and we certainly didn’t intend to trigger violent demonstrations throughout the Muslim world. Our goal was simply to push back self-imposed limits on expression that seemed to be closing in tighter…

Must-read.

***

Kudos to the Rocky Mountain News. They get it.

The Seattle Times doesn’t.

***

Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes ought to read Rose’s entire piece before she opens her mouth again on foreign soil and knocks newspapers who have dared to publish the cartoons.

hughes.jpg

Add your opinion

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Trackbacks

  1. The Real Ugly American.com
  2. Small Town Veteran
  3. Blue Star Chronicles
  4. The Insomniac
  5. ucyclofir
  6. virtual girls
  7. home equity line of credit
  8. home internet based business opportunity
  9. home based businesses
  10. gay men masturbating with dildos
  11. teen erotic pics

Trackback URL

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Stuff Muslims Don’t Like: #3 Cartoons

May 9, 2008 01:56 PM by Michelle Malkin

102 Comments | 7 Trackbacks

“Hate crime!”

Warman Wednesday!

April 23, 2008 07:19 AM by Michelle Malkin

22 Comments | 5 Trackbacks

Buy Steyn stash for free speech.

Media outlet admits: Yes, we were cowards

April 15, 2008 07:47 AM by Michelle Malkin

27 Comments | 1 Trackback

Cartoon dhimmitude revisited.

Free speech fund-raiser: The Canadian conservative blogosphere under attack

April 9, 2008 10:28 AM by Michelle Malkin

22 Comments | 39 Trackbacks

Fight sharia. Support Ezra Levant, Kathy Shaidle, Free Dominion, Kate McMillan, and Jonathan Kay.

A petition to support Geert Wilders

April 1, 2008 08:56 PM by Michelle Malkin

44 Comments | 7 Trackbacks

Solidariteit.

So much for “restraint:” Kill Geert Wilders!

March 31, 2008 02:48 PM by Michelle Malkin

34 Comments | 6 Trackbacks

Fitna fits of perpetual rage.

If it’s Friday in the Muslim world…

March 21, 2008 01:11 PM by Michelle Malkin

31 Comments | 2 Trackbacks

“We will take action.” (Photo source.)


Categories: Danish Cartoons, Jyllands-Posten


Belmont Club

» A simple plan

TigerHawk

» Mother ship

JustOneMinute

» Pretty Big Talk