British political magazine, The Liberal, published and then, quickly un-published one of the Mohammed cartoons:
Politics magazine the Liberal has followed the Spectator in publishing then hastily withdrawing from its website one of the controversial Danish cartoons featuring the prophet Muhammad.
The independent title, which played a prominent role in the campaign to oust former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy by organising a petition, yesterday published a cartoon on its website alongside an editorial calling for free speech.
Senior police officers at Scotland Yard warned the magazine its staff could not be guaranteed protection from possible protests, after which the cartoon was pulled from the Liberal’s website and replaced by a large white square with the word “censored” placed over it.
Following the withdrawal of the cartoon, Ben Ramm, the magazine’s editor, announced on the website: “Despite our wishes and convictions, for reasons of safety the magazine will no longer carry the cartoon itself.”
In an earlier online editorial accompanying the publication of the cartoon, Mr Ramm had taken a strong line in support of free speech. “[The Liberal] will not be coerced into self-censorship by the threat of violence from those who use a platform of free speech to call for the destruction of the very system that enfranchises them,” he wrote.
George Orwell said, "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
I guess maybe The Liberals of our world might start understanding why we need a big fucking military, with a bunch of burly, unsensitive testosterone machines schlepping all over the world threatening to kill people.
To stand up and say you are ready to defend free speech, and then to sit right back down when you are told to shut your mouth is quite an example there, Mr. Ramm. Thanks for the help.
UPDATE: Von Schlict writes,
I applaud Mr. Ramm. At least he tried.
Were I told by the police that the safety of my co-workers and the safety of my family could not be assured - I would think twise as well.
Living in hiding as Mr. Rushdie is not easy.
I think Von Schlict has a point here. Maybe I have gone too far in my criticism. What does everybody think? Should I amend the post?
10 comments:
"Senior police officers at Scotland Yard warned the magazine its staff could not be guaranteed protection from possible protests"
does this mean it's time to rename our country to Anglistan, or maybe Dar Al Dhimmi?
good find btw pastorius
J,
What do you think of this? You live over there? As in WWII, we are isolated over here. It's relatively easy for us to shoot off our mouths.
How are you feeling? Are things as bad as they seem, or is this being blown out or proportion?
One thing I like about our name contributor, DS, is he tells us how Denmark feels. How does Britain feel to you?
I applaud Mr. Ramm.
At least he tried. Were I told by the police that the safety of my co-workers and the safety of my family could not be assured - I would think twise as well.
Living in hiding as Mr. Rushdie is not easy.
Von Schlict,
You're right. I think I went too far.
I don't know. Maybe I'll change it.
Pastorius,
On the other hand you are right as well. If nobody takes a stand. Then we have all lost. It just takes a lot of guts.
Especially if your government is fighting you as well and will use all kind of pressure against you. Such as withdrawing protection.
"How are you feeling? Are things as bad as they seem, or is this being blown out or proportion?"
How do I feel?
Well let me put it this way,
1) I live in the heart of Little Baghdad. Specifically in the west end, near Marble Arch. I'd say at least 80% of people in my area are (mostly Arab) Muslim. So making my religion obvious would be a big no, no. (although once i drove past a line of saddam supporters/protesters waving an israel flag blaring the hatikva [trance version])
2) I've seen Arab mobs riot on main streets for over an hour an not see one police car attend or try to break it up. btw paddington station, the most secure and well armed police station in the country was only 30 seconds down the road from where this took place.
I also saw last weeks "behead the infidels" rally first hand, and obviously I was filming at the trafalgar sq, pro terror rally.
3) July 7th. The unspeakable terror attack. It never happened, no-one can talk about it. It had nothing to do with Islam or Muslims. It didn't break this phony "covenant of peace" the Muslim population has with the police (yep, im being serious). And again it had nothing to do with Islam, even though the bombers confession video said it did.
4)A survey was done amongst 500 Muslims of varied ages [http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/1754_muslim_views_on_jews.htm].
The findings were (amongst others) :
"50 percent agreed with the conspiracy theory that "the Jewish community in Britain is in league with the Freemasons to control the media and politics". while 37 per cent believed that Anglo-Jewry was a "legitimate target as part of the struggle for justice in the Middle East"."
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but my biggest worry is from the "liberal" politicians who seem to support Muslims in their hatred for Jews and desire for the destruction of Israel for these politicians will be where the biggest threat comes from.
They are the ones who have legitimised Jews as a target for the Muslim community.
Although it's not all doom and gloom.
The cartoon "protests" have awoken a lot of brits eyes to the threat of Jihad and contrary to belief, the UK isn't all moonbats (i'd say at least 30-50 percent aren't, the rest being ignorant or "liberals"), although "liberals" hold nearly all political power, and media control.
As far as this statement from scotland yard, it more reflects the wider problem of justice in this country.
It isn't just restricted to when the police deal with Muslim terrorists, but the kid gloves are used when dealing with murderers, baby rapists, child killers etc...
not to mention the 'out of jail in half you allocated sentence for "good behaviour"' IN ALL CASES.
and lastly, you in the US, those on the continent and those in Israel, you are able to protect yourselves with arms as civilians. We in the UK are not so fortunate as to have the right to bear arms for protection, or the right to defend ourselves.
J, thanks for the UK insight.
J,
Yeah, thanks for the response.
Would you post on the subject? I think that would be great.
Maybe all of us should. Even us Americans. We all live in different places within America. Maybe we could make it a Infidel Bloggers Alliance reports on the regional Zeitgeists of this period in Dar al-Harb.
What do you think?
sounds good, i'll probably do the post with jonz, and if poss another brit, so the readers can get a wider perspective.
you know, the other day i was thinking that (if demand ever required it) we could have regional ibloga blogs (and of course this one would be the main page).
Just a thought for the future.
This is what is the most frightening aspect to face, though. Of COURSE people can be made to back off when their personal safety and their families' safety is at stake. This is the bullying aspect of islam that makes me think that I welcome them all the less all the time. It is like opening up one's society to a Jim Crow South scenario in which you know that you'll be a terrorized black person and that the klan members will be able to live freely amongst you.
Just look at Pim Fortuyn who did not go into hiding.
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