More on Muhammad

Praise Allah that some people in Europe are willing to stand up to Muslim reactionary pressure. Our rights to express satire and criticism (in the case the most explicit being the drawing of Muhammad wearing a bomb as a turban) cannot be sacrificed on the altar of religious sensitivities, especially those of a religion that is intolerant of others. As Germany's Die Welt says, "There is no right to be shielded from satire in the West." There shouldn't be in the East either.

To see the cartoons that have caused such outrage, click here.

Muhammad maligned; Muslims collectively crap themselves

In yet another incident of Muslim religious hypocrisy, masked gunmen in Gaza seized control of an EU office in Gaza, demanding apologies from the governments of Denmark and Norway for a newspaper cartoon depicting the prophet in an unflattering way. In addition to this violent outburst, Danish and Norweigan aid workers have been physically threatened and Arab nations are calling for an economic boycott of Danish and Norweigan goods.

Can Muslims be any more hypocritical? Muslim nations routinely trample the rights of others to worship as they please, outlawing Christianity and Judaism, prohibiting the ownership of property by non-Muslims, legalizing discrimination against Muslims of unorthodox sects, and spreading outrageous lies against Jews. What makes Islam so special, so inviolate, that it cannot be criticized in any way, shape, or form?

This hypersensitivity is truly disturbing. Almost as disturbing is the pandering which some politicians and businesses are doing in order to ingratiate themselves with a people that would restrict their rights to express themselves as they choose. Arla Foods (a Danish company affected by the boycott) and the Danish Socialist People's Party should be hiding in shame for their calls for public censorship. This voluntary dhimmitude should be condemned by anyone and everyone who is appalled by the glaring lack of basic human rights present in the Muslim world. Muslims should be more concerned about the enormous failings of their own culture and civilization before they clamor for changes in ours. Muslims can worship freely in Denmark, Norway, or the United States. Christians and Jews cannot do the same in Saudi Arabia or Libya.

Lessons for the President

I admit I have an instinctual urge to defend the President from all attacks but it is increasingly hard to do when even someone such as myself sees mistakes that have been made. Here are some things he should consider.

Miers the wrong pick

George Will on the Miers nomination. Unsurprisingly, he's not a fan. Neither am I. While I think it admirable that Bush is very loyal to his aides, and they in return are loyal to him, the rewards for that loyalty should not include a seat on the Supreme Court. I applaud his decision to go to war in Iraq. I applaud his tax cuts. I applaud some of the ideas for the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. I applaud his nomination of John Roberts. But Harriet Miers? If he had to go for the diversity pick he could at least have chosen someone qualified.

Bush nominates Miers to the Supreme Court?

How disappointing. Pat Buchanan says it all.