We must censor ourselves to prevent more riots
E. Thomas McClanahanNo more offensive cartoons, please. A well-known expert explains what can happen when insensitive people callously insult cultures other than our own:
“Like a pot of bratwurst left unattended at a Lambeau Field pregame party, simmering tensions in the strife-torn Midwest boiled over once again today as rioting mobs of green-and-gold clad youth and plump farm wives rampaged through Wisconsin Denny’s and IHOPs, burning Texas toast and demanding apologies and extra half-and-half.
“The spark igniting the latest tailgate hibachi of unrest: a Texas newsletter’s publication of caricatures of legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.
“Protestors demonstrated against the images throughout the Badger State yesterday, with violent egging and cow-tipping incidents reported in Oconomowac, Pewaukee, Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Antigo, Oshkosh, Waubeno, Wauwautosa, Waunewoc, Wyocena, Waubeka, and Washawonamowackapeepee.
“Some of the most dramatic skirmishes were centered around Kenosha, where a mob of masked snowmobilers invaded the Texas Roadhouse on I-94, briefly holding the margarita machine hostage. They were later seen storming the beverage department at Woodman’s, where they purchased several cases of Point and a pack of Merit menthols, and later at the Brat Stop classic rock/sausage outlet, where they were reported angrily ‘boogie-ing out’ on air guitar to featured entertainment Molly Hatchett.”
The only option in the face of this crisis is for the president to perform the ritual full-atonement belly-crawl. The rioters must understand that the U.S. government had nothing to do with the production of these deeply offensive drawings.
Mark Hastert
8 months, 3 weeks agoInstead the Badgers should have attacked and burned every Starbucks in the state. Then Washington can commandeer a couple of planes from Boeing and strafe Lambeau Field. That’s the way real American settle things.
George Hunsucker
Northland
8 months, 3 weeks agoDon’t give the bower-in-chief any ideas ET…
Besides, he is much tooooooooooooooo busy to do any crawling the next 40 days. Then, he will have the rest of his life, being paid handsomely of course. What a “leader”…
Michael Johnson
8 months, 3 weeks agoMr. McClanahan, Thank you for your tongue-in-cheek summary of the ridiculousness of the so-called Muslim rage. Often, the best way to point out absurdity is through absurdity. Besides, if we start banning offensive speech, what would Barb and Louis do for a living?
Phil Cardarella
8 months, 3 weeks agoIt is ironic that the Koranic prohibition on images of Mohammed ws put in there to prevent VENERATION of Mohammed’s image — as was a big issue surrounding Christian icons and statues at the time. Mohammed was not saying that his image was sacred, but the opposite: Only God is Divine and worthy of such veneration.
Unfortunately, Islam has preacher/politicians willing to manipulate emotion about religion just like Christianity does. There are 80 million Egyptians, a few thousand of whom demonstrated, a half-dozen of whom jumped the embassy walls and tore down a flag.
I am fascinated by those who think that it is somehow unAmerican for the President (or our diplomats) to be…uh,diplomatic when addressing the emotions of other nations and their peoples. What, pray tell, is wrong with telling folks that we are sorry that some fool decided to make such obnoxious crap, but that our Consititution guarantees the right to be offfensive — something we think is a good system, whose advantages outweigh its disadvantages?
Or do you think it is not rude behavior — even if legal — to portray the founder of a world religion as a child molester?
One of my first ACLU involvements was defending the right of American Nazis to march in Skokie — a mostly Jewish suburb near Chicago. I considered the Nazis to be scum and their ideas reprehensible — even as I defended their right to march in support of those reprehensible ideas. When I criticized those ideas — and said that they were reprehensible — I was not apologizing for America or our First Amendment.
And, neither is a President who does the same.
Steven Fetter
66223
8 months, 3 weeks agoNo apologies issued to Mormon church on the hit Broadway play making fun of their religion.
Nothing deemed reprehensible about Mary being shown as a suicide bomber.
Just funny skits, nothing personal, about Moses or Noah shown as being bumbling idiots.
When those of faith brought up these as being inappropriate, they were dismissed as rubes, uncultured, and not supporting the 1st Amendment. I was told this is what makes America great.
So to be consistent, I do think the portrait of Mohammed was probably rude and insensitive. I say probably, because everyone tells me it is so. I have not seen the movie or even seen clips on any TV station. Has the President? Has anyone?
Johnathon Busby
8 months, 3 weeks agoNever surrender free speech. Not even when religious extremists riot and kill over what’s said. The freedom to speak your mind is most precious.
Mark Hastert
8 months, 3 weeks agoThere was an article in today’s NYT about opinion writers in the middle east commenting about Islamic intolerance. This is the only way it will ever change, the evolution of thought.
George Harris
Kansas City
8 months, 3 weeks agowhat would happen if every newspaper in every free speech country published offensive cartoons every day for the next year?
Not suggesting, just asking.
George Hunsucker
Northland
8 months, 3 weeks agoDoes this mean the big 0 LIED to us????
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/27/us-officials-knew-libya-attack-was-terrorism-within-24-hours-sources-confirm/
George
To answer your question, maybe there would be a drastic population decline in these crazy muslim countries until the remaining sane people—THE VAST MAJORITY—would say to these crazies ENOUGH. Until the majority gets tired of seeing their friends and neighbors killed, nothing will happen. Damnest religion I have ever seen….
George Hunsucker
Northland
8 months, 3 weeks agoWhere is the lsm?????
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444180004578018534242887950.html?mod=googlenews_wsj