I Thought Some of the Cartoons Were Funny

Let me make something really clear: I thought some of the infamous Danish cartoons were funny and pithy (especially these two, which I posted early on during the controversy). They lampooned the beliefs of some people in ways that are common for editorial cartoons. I'm sure some people were upset with the cartoons. That happens. If it didn't happen, editorial cartoons would not be published.



What upsets me is that

1. nobody objected when the cartoons were published in Egypt last fall;
2. there is good evidence that several ridiculous cartoons were added to the initial 12 by radical Danish Imams in their attempt to stir up opposition to the Danish publication of the cartoons;
3. the resulting mob violence has been so clearly anti-freedom and anti-Western;
4. so many political and religious leaders of the West have fallen all over themselves to apologize and appease the violent protesters.

As Jackie Mason and Raoul Felder wrote in the American Spectator,

Ironically, the cartoonists were not even condemning Islam, they were merely creating a satire of a terrorist. They weren't insulting their religion, they were satirizing a fanatic. But, the Muslims have decided that there are no laws, limits, or boundaries that apply to their behavior. They not only have the right to take your life, they now have the right to rob you of your freedom of expression.



Meanwhile the rest of the world is reacting to the Muslims with an amazing cowardice. Instead of a collective fury, we are pleading for forgiveness, and promising not to offend them with any more cartoons. Could anything be more perverted? The same people who are not offended by suicide bombers and terrorist killings, murder, mayhem, and destruction around the world have now decided that a cartoon... "OY VEY IS THIS TERRIBLE!"

So let me repeat. I thought some of the cartoons were funny and pithy. They deserved publication on their own merits and not just in the interest of freedom of speech or freedom of the press. And if you disagree with me, start your own blog and write your own analysis there. That's what freedom of speech is about.