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It Is An Exercise of FREE SPEECH To Criticize Religion

Reader comment on item: Another Islamist Assault, Another Western Cringe

Submitted by Ron Thompson (United States), Sep 13, 2012 at 11:23

I entirely agree with every element of Dr Pipes comments (except regarding the timing of Romney's remarks). It must be understood and stated to Muslims everywhere, without any apology, that Freedom of Speech for free people "specifically means the right o insult and annoy". As long as western governments, and especially our own, do not expressly say this, they will be subject to hostage-taking both by innumerable Muslims and by the more provocative among us.

In the face of these latest outrages of Muslim behavior in Libya and Egypt over a crude film by a private individual exercising his right to be provocative, we have to get explicit.

For too many months and years now, we've been subjected to an internal campaign by Muslims in the United States, unfortunately abetted by members of both political parties and two administrations, to instill in the American people the idea that there is something wrong with saying anything that "hurts the feelings" or "offends the religious sensibilities" of Muslims.

This campaign is much further advanced, and far more successful in Europe, a huge game-changing geopolitical fact which the media in the US have not reported.

Come off it. In America, and the West generally, not a day goes by that someone, somewhere, doesn't say something critical of religion, whether a particular religion, or Religion generally. No religion in the West or in the United States escapes a constant element of criticism, and even derision.

Some of our best comedians are funniest when they take on religion, and religious beliefs.

The faithful of all other religions remain intact and serene in their beliefs, allowing for the loss of individuals here and there.

Some may be offended at the criticism directed at beliefs they hold sacred, but they do not riot in the streets over such criticism, they certainly do not kill because of it, and they do not call for laws making such critics subject to the death penalty, or for those who leave their religion to be killed as apostates.

But now there is one religion about which we must all learn to say nothing critical,or even factual, about?!

We are supposed to muzzle ourselves with regard to one religion, but retain permission to be irreverent about every other religion or cult

Mohammed married a nine-year old. No one is supposed to say that? Mohammed's 'revelations' from his god, allah, condoned everything he wanted to do in his personal life. Not supposed to say that?

I didn't capitalize the word Allah in the above sentence. Have I "offended" Muslims by that omission? Mohammed's earlier revelations were more or less peaceful. The more power and support h got, the more violent his 'revelations' got. I'm not supposed to note the fact, or say it, that either he or allah changed his mind?

And how about the fact that Allah didn't communicate with Mohammed directly, but sent an angel to do it. A little dismissive of Mohammad? Not supposed to speculate about that?

Muslims across a wide arc of the globe, from Morocco, Mali, and Nigeria, across the breadth of Africa into Somalia, over through Yemen, up into Iraq, and then Syria (the current killing capital), and on up into Pakistan and Afghanistan are busy killing other Muslims, all in the name of Islam.

They kill them indiscriminately, men, women, and children.

They kill them while they're out shopping.

Suicide bombers kill them at funerals for those killed earlier.

Suicide bombers kill them in Mosques.

And now they kill and riot because a private individual produced a mere provocative film.

And we're not allowed to discuss these facts because the religious feelings of Muslims will be hurt and offended?!

A religion which teaches, condones, or excuses such behavior is not worthy of respect. Why would we have any obligation to respect the "hurt feelings" of people who follow such a religion.

Fear them maybe, and not open our doors to more of them coming into the country to try and intimidate us into never saying anything critical about their religion which commands them to do wicked things. But respect that religion? I think not.

We completely muffed a huge opportunity to stand up to this basic assault on our Free Speech rights in 2004, with our universal and disgraceful silence at the time of the Danish cartoons.

Let's not suppress ourselves and censor our minds and tongues this time.

Right up there with the right to vote, and the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it is a free speech right to criticize religion.

Ron Thompson

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Reader comments (97) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Judicial Watch and the Benghazi atrocity and Hilary Clinton has no shame [202 words]dhimmi no moreMay 4, 2014 13:28214711
3The Shia Sheikh Yasir Habib and says that Sunni Islam is the source of world terrorism and the "Video"! [306 words]dhimmi no moreMar 27, 2014 07:51214052
3The video and the Benghazi atrocity and poor journalism! [215 words]dhimmi no moreDec 30, 2013 07:34212390
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1Muhammad-An Example to follow or believe in??? [417 words]David WoolmerSep 24, 2012 13:34199070
21The atrocity in Benghazi and a certain Abu Sufyan [267 words]dhimmi no moreSep 23, 2012 11:54199009
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Watergate style hearing? [46 words]dhimmi no moreNov 15, 2012 09:05198803
western governments unprepared [175 words]mythSep 17, 2012 09:46198740
1Embassy security [51 words]StasSep 17, 2012 00:50198733
5Recipe for Muslims [91 words]PrashantSep 16, 2012 21:10198730
9"Innocence of Muslims"? [466 words]Andy B.Sep 16, 2012 16:49198720
6With this publicity it seems that the producer of the video will be making some money! [128 words]dhimmi no moreSep 17, 2012 06:47198720
7Grim Reality [30 words]Michael KerjmanSep 16, 2012 13:08198716
2Some contextual clarity [25 words]MKSep 16, 2012 21:16198716
2Ibn Ishaq [136 words]Roger McKinneySep 16, 2012 12:20198715
3Who was really Ibn Ishaq? [635 words]dhimmi no moreSep 17, 2012 07:17198715
Ibn Ishaq [18 words]RogerSep 17, 2012 17:27198715
8In response to the movie and subsequent islamist violence [1376 words]Bishop Gabrielle Crofts OCCSep 16, 2012 05:13198711
2Islam has just unleashed its rabid hate and the worst is yet to come [81 words]NuritGSep 15, 2012 21:13198701
3Something troubling [271 words]Peter HerzSep 15, 2012 10:05198688
4Disgusting video accurate -- according to Islamic sources [58 words]W ScottSep 15, 2012 08:13198683
6Muslims should pray inside their homes [225 words]PrashantSep 14, 2012 22:45198672
1OK, I'll Be The First [34 words]Barry BlackSep 14, 2012 22:02198670
Presidents can't introduce legislation: the Senate and House do that [25 words]Abu NudnikSep 15, 2012 23:38198670
Really!!! [15 words]Barry BlackSep 16, 2012 17:14198670
Free Speech [39 words]BarrySep 16, 2012 19:20198670
free speech Response [78 words]you are informedSep 19, 2012 01:25198670
Nine Years of Transforming American Governance Still a Work in Progressiveness [120 words]M ToveySep 22, 2021 10:55198670
2Make no mistake: (Let our leaders take are of that) [338 words]JeffSep 14, 2012 21:22198667
What would you do? [71 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Gunther H. SciffSep 14, 2012 19:50198663
15How prescient! [48 words]saraSep 17, 2012 17:32198663
17The religion of peace! [111 words]dhimmi no moreSep 14, 2012 18:17198656
1Pluses and minuses of the 'innocense of Islam' movie [309 words]PrashantSep 15, 2012 19:35198656
1Religion of peace - or else! [33 words]Thomas Justin KazeSep 17, 2012 03:10198656
3Another Islamist Assault, Another Western Cringe by Daniel Pipes [636 words]BALARABE ABBASep 14, 2012 12:31198637
2David Goldmans advice and Aikido [272 words]ShishirSep 14, 2012 03:19198612
3What should a poor Muslim do? (Sarcasm) [107 words]PrashantSep 14, 2012 02:01198610
3If Turkey is an Islamist country, why ignore Turkey's criticism of the riots? [65 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Can OzSep 14, 2012 00:27198604
7Whose ally is really Fethullah Gülen -"an individual with 'extraordinary ability in the field of education' who merited permanent residence status in the U.S."? [146 words]IanusSep 16, 2012 14:42198604
Gulen Movement [35 words]SahinSep 18, 2012 13:14198604
Gulenists to repair the radical Moslem Brotherhood? [199 words]TurkSecularism4everSep 18, 2012 15:09198604
Two faces and contradictions of MAD MAN Fethulah Gulen and his cult members. [332 words]GoosenetworksSep 19, 2012 01:09198604
7Fethullah Gülen "the most dangerous Islamist on earth", his anti-communism and his CIA friends [288 words]IanusSep 19, 2012 09:43198604
Gulen has the full backing of the CIA [1 words]IanusSep 20, 2012 15:40198604
1Digital Jihad [141 words]John PlucenikSep 13, 2012 20:09198599
2Overlooking the outcome [121 words]saraSep 14, 2012 19:41198599
Change comes from within [22 words]John PlucenikSep 15, 2012 09:48198599
3Can We Be So Blind? [140 words]Jules PostenSep 13, 2012 19:27198596
1Pavlovian response [65 words]stanley bSep 13, 2012 18:33198594
1muslims inferiority complex [254 words]havasSep 14, 2012 01:44198594
Er... [29 words]Joe getSep 14, 2012 04:01198594
Perhaps you Misunderstood? [55 words]stanley bSep 14, 2012 19:27198594
Pavlovian response [168 words]AnnaSep 16, 2012 00:53198594
1Muslim inferiority due to whom? [202 words]saraSep 16, 2012 18:52198594
continue to teach muslims by humiliating them [271 words]havasSep 18, 2012 03:31198594
3Tolerance is not tolerated in Islam, Havas [286 words]saraSep 18, 2012 16:54198594
ugly face of capitalizm [317 words]havasSep 18, 2012 23:38198594
2Capitalism is what makes the world go round, Havas [780 words]saraSep 19, 2012 19:27198594
2Turkish hypocrisy [136 words]dhimmi no moreSep 24, 2012 20:42198594
2Two remarks [803 words]MichaelSep 13, 2012 17:44198593
5Free speech and national security [154 words]saraSep 13, 2012 17:38198592
5What Should Be the Take Home Lessons? [591 words]SigmundSep 13, 2012 17:37198591
5'Make the point more deftly', Sigmund? [168 words]saraSep 13, 2012 18:39198591
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126Movies for Muslims and the arrogance of Western thinking [340 words]saraSep 18, 2012 17:08198591
3No Surprise [79 words]Michael Hanni MorcosSep 13, 2012 17:25198590
Yes, and don't forget the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs calling Pastor Terry Jones [7 words]Mark JamesSep 13, 2012 16:46198588
1Assault on the 1st amendment [52 words]Steven LSep 13, 2012 16:40198587
2Obama, the far left and the Muslim agenda [115 words]Steven LSep 13, 2012 16:33198586
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4Freedom of Speech? [78 words]Victor F.MartinSep 13, 2012 15:16198583
6Invincible ignorance [1117 words]Moshe ASep 13, 2012 15:02198581
3Another Islamist Assault, Another Western Cringe [247 words]JudithSep 13, 2012 14:21198578
2muslim assaults [162 words]DanSep 13, 2012 13:03198577
6A clash of civilizations? [121 words]LarrySep 13, 2012 12:45198576
"Supine" is right [111 words]SoloviewSep 13, 2012 11:56198575
1Words Fail as Images of Egypt's American Embassy and Amb. Stevens Tell All That is Needed [500 words]M. ToveySep 13, 2012 11:49198574
62Iranian Black Ops [114 words]EthanPSep 13, 2012 11:49198573
the band playing on the Titanic [382 words]john w mcginleySep 13, 2012 11:43198571
A Fitting Outrage to Mark the 9/11 Anniversary [80 words]AlexSep 13, 2012 11:28198570
8It Is An Exercise of FREE SPEECH To Criticize Religion [764 words]Ron ThompsonSep 13, 2012 11:23198569
5Get no respect [66 words]SenecaSep 14, 2012 12:50198569
3A MUSLIM Life of Brian [791 words]Ron ThompsonSep 14, 2012 19:50198569
2Appeasement of Islamists by leftist politicians [317 words]PrashantSep 16, 2012 02:19198569
Free Speech is Free Choice [464 words]M. ToveySep 17, 2012 17:06198569
1Now you know why i will vote for Romney [158 words]Yael pedhatzurSep 13, 2012 10:19198567
1Jones not responsible; wrong to blame him regardless [82 words]MarkSep 13, 2012 10:09198566
54Ingenious [68 words]Barry BlackSep 13, 2012 10:01198564
3Islam by nature cannot live in peace [55 words]BASep 14, 2012 19:23198564
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Next time Read My Post to the End [25 words]Barry BlackSep 16, 2012 19:25198564
2This is just a ruse [109 words]DEBORAH THE JUDGESep 13, 2012 09:48198563
Muslims continue to riot and burn because of cameras [58 words]sankoSep 9, 2012 00:11198465
1Why does an internet clip become foreign policy? [144 words]stranchanAug 22, 2012 20:09198129
Muslims attacking governments [73 words]suzanneAug 17, 2012 07:16197995

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