I consider Muslims a minority among us, certainly. I have never said that explaining our principles was bullying. I am saying that explaining our principles requires encouragment of the moderates so we have people we can speak to. But that kind of virtuous movement has been compromised by the cartoon controversy. So I will not take sides with the provocateurs.
But you are essentially saying that we should explain our principles, but not use them because that's "provocative", so we come agaisnt that dead-end again. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Forget about the "bullying" for the moment, you're twisting what I'm saying even more with this:
explain our principles, but not use them because that's "provocative"
I have used the term "provocation" to talk about the publication of the cartoons, and I'll add the deliberate piling-on of republication. I have not used the term in relation to principles like, we have women teachers and doctors (since you offered those examples). I have said clearly that we should refuse to accept extremist demands on these.
You persist in conflating the issue of the cartoons with other issues in everyday life and its organization.
Now some questions for you, tough guy (up to you to decide how far that's a joke, since apparently that's what we have to do with your comments...):
What do you mean exactly by "use" our principles? Just what do you propose to do? How are you going to stop the (admittedly manipulated and outrageous) protests in the Middle East? What are you going to do to European Muslims to force them to accept our piddling right to draw funny pics of Mohammed? Go on publishing and republishing cartoons until... Until what? And what purpose will you have served at the end of it?
