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having a rabble of reactionary Islamic Puritans who make Oliver Cromwell look like Voltaire dictate what publications can or can't print, regardless of the content.  Remember the brave struggles to disestablish the Catholic Church from France and the brutalities of Franco and others who used religion as a club.
by Rick in TX on Sat Feb 4th, 2006 at 10:06:30 PM EST
for that thoughtful response. Maybe next time you could respond to what I actually wrote. I guess you have know interest in learning anything knew.
by Ben P (wbp@u.washington.edu) on Sat Feb 4th, 2006 at 10:14:07 PM EST
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I don't disagree with the larger free speech point. But it isn't just this point. There are other narratives involved.
by Ben P (wbp@u.washington.edu) on Sat Feb 4th, 2006 at 10:15:50 PM EST
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Very few in America today would smile upon someone donning blackface and performing minstrelsy's greatest hits.  It would be an unfair attack on an oppressed minority, and African Americans would be (rightly) be furious.  Nevertheless, the performer, no matter how wrong, would probably not get death threats and would be eventually (after the shock value wore off) ignored.  That is the difference.  Picketing, protesting, boycotts...all fine.  Opposing hate speech with rioting, embassy-burnings (in Syria's case almost certainly government-condoned), and threats against innocent people who just happen to share the perpetrator's nationality...those are wrong no matter the extentuating background circumstances.
by Rick in TX on Sat Feb 4th, 2006 at 10:26:11 PM EST
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Point taken. I agree.
by Ben P (wbp@u.washington.edu) on Sat Feb 4th, 2006 at 10:29:30 PM EST
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plus a whole host of extremist anti-abortion weirdos have made enough death threats. Some have even been carried out. Oh add Ann Coulter to the list.
Then we get into the US admimistrations mass death threats in the form of the threat of invasion.
 
by observer393 on Sun Feb 5th, 2006 at 12:46:28 AM EST
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So death threats are wrong. We all agree.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Feb 5th, 2006 at 03:28:36 AM EST
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Sorry, I misread you, I think.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Feb 5th, 2006 at 03:43:22 AM EST
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Just trying to eep a bit of balance when there are implications that there are not death threats in the US over "religious" or cultural issues.
by observer393 on Sun Feb 5th, 2006 at 08:37:41 AM EST
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