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The cartoons II
It’s clear at this point that the story is no longer the cartoons, but rather the reaction to the cartoons. Let’s reflect on these lovely sentiments, expressed by extremist Muslims in London. Robert Fisk of the Independent writes: “The problem is that these cartoons portrayed Mohamad as a bin-Laden type image of violence. They portrayed Islam as a violent religion.
The cartoons
I’m with Brownie and Gene of Harry’s Place, who seem to agree that “no constructive purpose can be served by the publication of the [Muhammad caricatures] in other journals across Europe,” and that “anyone encouraging publication, in this country [Britain] or any other, relishes confrontation more than they care about reconciliation.” Marcus writes: “This Danish cartoon business is rapidly turning
More truth in labeling
Last year the Guardian ran an editorial by Saad al-Faqih and identified him merely as “a leading exiled Saudi dissident and director of the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia.” As this post at Harry’s Place revealed, al-Faqih is known to have purchased one of the satellite phones used in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombing in Nairobi. He is on
Journalist wounded, Limbaugh gloats
Via Sullivan, here is Rush Limbaugh on the critical wounding of ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff: This is a news organization which participated in the happy count-up to a thousand soldier deaths, 1,500 soldier deaths, 2,000 soldier deaths, that didn’t make it real. This makes it real, Bob Woodruff and the ABC cameraman being hurt. This makes it real…
Engage Journal
The first issue of the Engage Journal is up. From the inaugural editorial by David Seymour and David Hirsh: Paradoxically, many on the left presents the Israel/Palestine debate in terms reminiscent of George W. Bush’s now notorious comment that, “if you’re not with us, you’re against us”. One is forced to choose between one national narrative and the other –
Truth in labeling updates
1. Judeosphere reports on the flap over Mazin Qumsiyeh’s article in the Davos forum’s Global Agenda magazine calling for a total boycott of Israel. The Davos forum has renounced the article and chalked it up to an editorial oversight. What this NY Times account misses — and what Judeosphere does not — is that Qumsiyeh is the founder of Al
The Daily
The Daily Show’s two headlines on the UK-Russia espionage story, involving electronic equipment hidden in a fake rock: “Sly Stone” & “War on a Rock.” Jon Stewart’s comment on Pelosi, Reid and other Dems signing an “Honest Leadership” pledge for the cameras: “Apparently that ‘oath of office’ thing didn’t take.”
Human Rights 2006
Marc Cooper has a strong post about Human Rights Watch’s 2006 World Report. The report highlights Bush administration abuses, but also makes the case against Castro and Hugo Chavez, Harry Belafonte’s pal. In the comments, Michael Balter makes an excellent point: Those of us on the left have a particular responsibility to criticize the human rights violations of regimes like