Sunday, February 05, 2006

Will the ACLU and CAIR Defend Freedom of the Press?

Stop the ACLU asks: Can Democracy Co-exists with this kind of extreme mentallity? From Stop the ACLU:

The demonstrators were protesting offensive caricatures of Islam's Prophet Mohammed that were first published in a Danish newspaper several months ago. Witnesses said the demonstrators set fire to the entire building, which also houses the embassies of Chile and Sweden. Can democracy co-exist with such large numbers of this kind of extreme mentality? They have no alms with destroying freedom. They have no tolerance for freedom, and illustrate that very well. I'm not advocating anything like wiping them off the face of the earth, but have no doubt that this is the kind of mentality they would advocate for us, and for freedom. So, as groups like CAIR, and the ACLU are quick to defend these extremists, make note that these very same folks would be the first to do away with our First Amendment. If we stand by and appease them, they will destroy us.

When killing, burning, maiming, destroying, threatening, rioting, stoning, and hate-filled goose-stepping rhetoric is the response to some satirical cartoons, I would have to say 'no'.

So how are CAIR and the ACLU reacting? From the CAIR website there is a call for 'Help Defend the Image of Prophet Muhammad'. They tell their readers that education counters ignorance. The followers should use this incident as an opportunity to educate non-believers of the real tenants of Islam. They also said that Muslims should thank CNN for choosing to not air images of the cartoons.

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/2/2006) – CAIR today called on imams and khatibs nationwide to offer Friday khutbas focusing on the significance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to Muslims worldwide. That call comes as newspapers in Europe continue to publish intentionally provocative and insulting cartoons of the prophet, and Muslims worldwide express their outrage through boycotts and protests. Some media outlets, such as CNN have made an editorial decision not to show the cartoons.

Looking over their website I see that a delegation of CAIR are going to Norway to explain to them why they are wrong to publish cartoons depicting images of Muhammad. I haven't found anything there yet in which they denounce the actions of the rioters - worldwide. I did find one article, 'CAIR-OH: React to Cartoons with Restraint, Education', written by Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, president of the central Ohio chapter of CAIR. Speaking from both sides of her mouth she at first states the Muslims world-wide should act with restraint to the insults of these cartoons. Then she states:

she doubted that newspapers would have published similar cartoons offending Jews or Christians. "I think there is a different standard," she said, in which attacks on Islam are justified as free speech but those on other faiths are condemned as hate speech.

Uh, yeah. There are different standards. I have never seen these kinds of riots over any of the numerous satires, parodies, cartoons done at the expense of Christians or Jews or America. For as long as I can remember, I've seen American Presidents hung in effigy (whichever one happened to be in office at the time), American flags burned and stomped on, and hate-filled rhetoric towards the United States. There are different standards, they don't have to be politically correct and we do. We don't dare say anything negative about Islam and they spew hatred and death treats (which they also act upon) towards Christians and Jews. We aren't supposed to acknowledge this is a religious war or a clash of civilizations. They declare jihad on us almost daily. There are definitly different standards.
What about the ACLU? How is that organization defending the right to freedom of the press and free speech? Let's see. Okay - looking through the ACLU website, I see nothing addressing this issue. I see a page on Free Speech ... Nope, that's about abortions and demanding the Pentagon U.S. survellience records that 'the military is using against law abiding citizens.' Nothing about the Muslim reaction to some cartoons. What about in their section about Religious Freedom? Sigh. No, they have articles about removing crosses from Federal cemeteries. They are against teaching Intellegent Design. A story in which the ACLU defended a man who was required to convert to a Pentecostal religion in order to attend a Pentecostal drug rehab center. There are a lot of articles about removing the Ten Commandments from any government building. Still can't find anything about limiting the use of the Quaran as a form of government. Perhaps we should give them some time. Maybe they'll come out with a statement regarding freedom of the press vs the Muslim riots yet. They are, after all, the AMERICAN Civil Liberties Union..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trackbacked by:
Here We Go Again - Muslim Rioting Excerpt: Sometime back, many will recall, I was referred to as racist for making the Muslim-French riots connection in a oiece I wrote. I'm too lazy and pressed for time to look for it, the search bar should bring it up,... Weblog: Knockin' On The Golden Door Tracked: 02.07.06 - 6:19 am