ETCETERA
NIGHTCAP
Shame On Me
...
their views
And Shame On Them
It's a question we've
been wrestling with for
�y Harry Kirsbaum
generations.
"When Islamists fail to observe New
ton's Third Law, reacting to stupid videos
and cartoons, they show the world that
that freedom of speech sometimes
the Arab Spring is turning into something
unspring-like.
writing from the safety of my home
shielded me so much from the dangers
that some publications endure that I
was able to actually joke about it.
"However, blame must also fall with the
provocateurs. These movies and cartoons
weren't made to teach a lesson about free
dom of expression or Western democracy.
They were made to get publicity. And
they were far away from receiving the con
sequences of their actions, although you
have to wonder about the intelligence of
the French magazine publisher who just
redecorated after the last firebombing."
...
These
were
the
missing the
point?
closing paragraphs
of a column I wrote in this space
in October 2012 concerning the
YouTube video, Innocence of Muslims,
and some Charlie Hebdo cartoons that
led to violent protests in capitals all
over the world.
And if I could take back those smarmy
words, especially lithe wisdom of the
French magazine publisher;' I would.
The point I was trying to make was
And about that solidar
in Paris where
we found ourselves so
with consequences, and there
will always be people who take offense.
comes
ity march
And
forgot what it felt like to have my
professional world turn upside down
after the DJN was destroyed in a fire in
I
how relieved we were that it
and how proud we were
to be able to publish the next issue only
one day late.
2002
-
wasn't
arson
Yes, Charlie Hebdo publishes outra
g�ous cartoons that skewer all religions,
all governments, all institutions and
offends people of all walks of life.
But they shouldn't be arrested, or
no
one, and if you don't
like their humor or their message, don't
buy their magazine.
And
Jon Stewart
eloquently put
it, "I know very few people who go into
comedy as an act of courage because it
shouldn't have to be that;' said the Daily
as
so
4flADYANCE
PLUMBING SUPPLY COMPANY
Yes, the ambassador to
More than
a
million
people marched
Show host. "But those guys had it'
Until last month, they only published
60,000 copies a week. Now they are the
clarion call for free speech and have
united millions of people around the
world, which is exactly what the
mutts
who killed them didn't want.
I've been wrestling with the concept
of free speech and what limits, if any,
a
publication that
ridicules religion or politicians operat
ing under the same rule as a group of
Westboro Baptist Church members who
protest military funerals?
Are the
people
France was the highest
in France after the Paris
terror attacks.
should there be. Is
firebombed, or killed for it.
They threaten
under-represented.
who march in solidar
ity for free speech yet wish to ban Rush
Limbaugh from the radio or prevent
comedians like Bill Maher from making
commencement speeches because of
ranking
ing Saudi Arabia, who is in the midst of
giving an imprisoned blogger 50 lashes
per week as punishment for criticizing
the government; or Russia, where Rus
sian journalists are on the endangered
species list; or Bahrain, where journalists
tortured in prison; or the Palestin
are
ian territories, where some residents in
Gaza treated
the French like
the United States after 9-11
the French
Maple
248-669-7474
•
they did
burned
-
flag and passed out candy to
celebrate those who killed the offenders
of Islam. Shame on them.
You
might have to give President
Obama the benefit of the doubt for his
decision to pass on holding hands in
solidarity with any of them. T
COME VISIT OUR OUTSTANDING SHOWROOM
1977 E. West
U.s. member to
appear. But take a look
at some of the other
countries who led the march, includ-
Road. Walled Lake, MI48390
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95
YEARS
1920
-
2015
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February 2015
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