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February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
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David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
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Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
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February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
July 18, 2010
/ 8 Menachem-Av, 5770
Americans must not be cowed by Muslim objections to cartoons
By
Kathleen Parker
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
When H.L. Mencken said that Puritanism was "the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy," he was barely grazing the iceberg of the titanic fundamentalism to come.
Yes, those pesky, humor-challenged jihadists are at it again. A group of radical Muslims, whose promises to sacrifice their souls can't be kept soon enough, apparently won't be satisfied until happy people everywhere are dead.
In yet another sequel in the series, another cartoonist fatwa has been issued.
Stifling yawns would be a natural response at this juncture of outrage fatigue, except that an American woman's life is at stake. Molly Norris doodled, and now she must die, says American-Yemeni Islamic cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi, or Wacky-Doodle (WD) for short.
You may recall that Norris, once a relatively unknown Seattle cartoonist, was first threatened a few months ago by some bloggers on an obscure Web site, Revolution Muslim, for attempting to draw the prophet Muhammad. More recently, she has been named to an execution list on Inspire, a new online English-language al-Qaeda magazine, which aims to recruit American Muslims for jihad.
Calling Norris a "prime target," WD also named eight other cartoonists, authors and journalists -- Swedish, Dutch and British citizens -- as targets, all for their "blasphemous caricatures" of the prophet.
Drawing or creating any likeness of the prophet, you may also recall, is against the rules among certain fundamentalists, though not all Muslims agree that such a prohibition exists. But even if it did, there would be no reason for a non-Muslim cartoonist to censor herself. Our laws guarantee the right to free expression, no matter the vehicle. End of story. We may not always like what the First Amendment permits, but we've agreed as a nation that the short-term aggravation of personal offense is the tithe we pay for freedom.
The Norris cartoon that drew such fire was a childlike illustration -- a poster calling for an "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" that showed various household contents (a spool of thread, a teacup, a cherry, a domino and a doggie purse), all claiming to be the prophet.
At the time, Norris said that she was only trying to poke fun at Viacom and Comedy Central for their decision to censor a "South Park" episode showing the prophet in a bear suit. (We are indeed living in "Toon Town" when a bear suit-wearing cartoon figure can get you killed in the name of Allah. Shouldn't Porky Pig be making his entrance about now, saying "Th-th-th-that's ALL folks?" Or would that be blasphemous, too?)
Although Norris quickly removed the cartoon from her Web site, sympathizers created a site inviting any and all to draw the prophet. At this point, things really did become childish as Islamophobes could legitimize their own radical tendencies under the guise of humor and the umbrella of constitutional protection.
Nobody ever said that free speech isn't messy.
I take a back seat to no one in defending our right to free expression and have written often in defense of cartoonists, specifically. Cartoons may be the ultimate test of our tolerance because they so easily slip beneath the skin and because they are, in fact, so hard to defend. We even extend freedom of expression to the evil and stupid, figuring it is better that hate and ignorance be exposed in the light of day than that they go underground to fester and breed.
For this reason, I don't share others' concerns that al-Qaeda now has an English-language magazine. Isn't it better to read the thoughts of WD & Co. than to wonder what they're up to? Besides, who can resist a magazine that publishes: "Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom"? These people are comedy writers and don't know it.
As weary as we may be of "Jihadist vs. Cartoonist" reruns, we simply can't surrender the principle. There may be a strong argument for avoiding Muhammad cartoons in the interest of denying al-Qaeda a propaganda tool, but let's be clear about our purposes. Taking a higher road is not to capitulate to the enemy but to seek a better vantage point.
Irreverence is a tough sell in a culture steeped in reverence, but perhaps we can advance the case for nonviolent protest through example. To that end, and in support of Norris and others, 19 Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists have signed a petition condemning threats and attacks against cartoonists. The petition is posted on the Cartoonists Rights Network International Web site (http://cartoonistrights.com).
It hasn't nearly enough signatures.
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