[Peace-discuss] Statement from Palestinian advocacy group

[C. G. Estabrook]

If we don't believe in free speech for views we despise, we don't 
believe in it at all.  That seems to me to be true of anti-Semitism 
(directed either at Arabs or Jews) and of insults to any of the 
Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism).  And it should 
severely limit punishable "hate speech," approved by many liberals. --CGE

David Green wrote:
> Citizens for Fair Legislation is saddened by the
> recent violence centered around the publishing of
> anti-Islamic cartoons in the European press. The
> cartoons depicted Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, as a
> terrorist. The cartoons, while considered free speech,
> are in bad taste and appear to have been published for
> the shock value. CFL is a strong supporter of free
> speech in all of its forms, however, we believe that
> freedom of speech carries with it the responsibility
> of recognizing the repercussions of the written word.
> Muslims around the world see the publication of those
> cartoons as both blatant disrespect of their religion
> and incitement to hatred and violence against Muslims.
> CFL is also troubled by the double standards of the
> European press. Many European countries have rightly
> made it a crime to print grotesque anti-Semitic
> writings and cartoons. European governments do not
> make announcements supporting "freedom of speech" when
> anti-Semites publish offensive articles, so we cannot
> help but notice when European governments defend
> bigots who choose to mock the religion of over 1.5
> billion Muslims in the world. The cartoons were an
> unacceptable sign of distrust that has been created by
> the "us against them" mentality as advocated by Europe
> and the US government. The west should reach out to
> the Muslim masses and learn to be less ethnocentric.
> Until then, distrust will grow and the chasm between
> us will widen. 
> 
> www.cflweb.org
> 
> 
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