Former President Bill Clinton today called for the conviction of European papers that published satirical cartoons of Muhammad, according to reports in the Islamic press and elsewhere. Clinton condemned the publication of the caricatures by European newspapers and urged countries concerned to convict the publishers, according to the reports. He said religious convictions of the people should be respected at all costs and no media should be allowed to play with the religious sentiments of people of any faith. "I strongly disagree with the creation and publication of cartoons that are considered blasphemous by the Muslims around the world," he said. "I thought it was a mistake." Talking to reporters after meeting Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad, Clinton said he disagreed with the caricatures and that the publication was against religious and ethical norms. Clinton said he had no objection to peaceful demonstrations, but condemned the violent response. He said it was the time to promote inter-faith harmony and stand together on the issue. He said the people's religious convictions should be respected at all costs and that media should not be permitted to criticize other faiths. He said the media could criticize any issue including governments and people, but nobody had the right to play with the sentiments of other faiths. Clinton said people in the U.S. had also condemned the publication and were deeply concerned over it. He said Americans respected Islam, as it was the fastest-growing religion in the U.S. Clinton also visited President Pervez Musharraf and both men discussed the India-Pakistan peace talks and progress in Afghanistan.
Ever get the feeling that you're one of the last people on earth who actually gives a shit about the Bill of Rights?
Everybody knows that Americans don't respect Islam. Clinton is just sucking up to muslims, thinking that Islam being the fastest growing, it is time to be nice to it in case it becomes dominant.
Where did you get this garbage, have you been listening to Rush again? Link please, this is not what the Islamic and Arab press is reporting: http://www.dawn.com/2006/02/18/top5.htm http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=77984&d=18&m=2&y=2006 http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=88130
Again we see well-meaning people trying to be even-handed in a situation where it is not required. So they say we condemn violence but the newspapers were also wrong to print the cartoons. That establishes a false moral equivalency between somehting that is trivial, the cartoons, and violence and threats of more violence that have clearly intimidated the American media. The bottom line is that the media have every right to criticize islam and in terms that are deeply offensive to muslims. Otherwise you are giving one group a veto power over coverage of a subject that is of vital significance. It is instructive to compare the reaction when Christians were rightfully upset about government-subsidized "art" that gratuitously insulted their most sacred symbols. There were self-righteous editorials about freedom of speech and how art is meant to upset people, and that even cutting back government funding of garbage "art" was a dire threat to everything we hold dear. With muslims however, suddenly there are important voices urging everyone to tread carefully and not give offense. In effect, we are being instructed to start acting like we are muslims ourselves and bound by the dictates of the most radical and extreme adherents of that religion. What's next, covering our women up when they go out? In this, as in dealing with any bully, it is essential to draw the line early and clearly. Otherwise you will be endlessly negotiating the terms of your next surrender and humiliation.
There's a big difference between DNC press releases and real news. "Former US President Bill Clinton has condemned publication of blasphemous caricatures in the western media and has urged the concerned countries to convict the publishers." "He said . . . no one has right to play with the religious sentiment of any religious faith." http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-236/0602176096191639.htm
If you can't read Tugrik how can you be a moderator, my question was in reference to the first two paragraphs of the original post:
I Challenge you to post the direct link to this quote you posted. Otherwise this is a clearly slanderous post meant to defame a past president. You nazis need to be called on your propaganda efforts. Quote from sputdr: Former President Bill Clinton today called for the conviction of European papers that published satirical cartoons of Muhammad, according to reports in the Islamic press and elsewhere.