Why are most liberals opposed to printing the Muhammad cartoons?
118013
It's not about being a liberal, it's about not wanting the fight to start in their own back yard.  Just because the newspaper has the right to publish it does not mean it is a good idea.  I am glad my paper, the Santa Cruz Sentinel, chose not to publish them, although I admit to being curious and wanting to see them.  I would not like to see demonstrations about these issues in Santa Cruz, where there are so many different factions it would soon turn into a war!
126156
The word 'cartoon' is irrelevant in this whole story - it is not the way Mohammed was depicted, but the very fact that he was depicted at all which causes offence to Muslims. There is no easy secular or Christian analogy.\n\nMy own opinion is that any newspaper aimed at a mass or general market should attempt to be sensitive to as many views as possible. Let those who wish to exercise press freedom as an end in itself, simply because they can, be happy with pamphleteering until they can appreciate that with freedom comes responsibility.
95067
The extremist people supporting the extremist reaction by the radical islamics sure don't mind when the islamic papers put out hate filled cartoons against Jews, Christians, the image of Jesus, etc... The extremist islamics are reminding me of the kid in school who loves to make fun of someone else, insult them and call them names. And the minute it is returned, they start bawling like a baby as if they had NEVER done it themselves\n\nHello pot... this is kettle calling... something about the color black\n\nSeriously though... freedom of speech allows for the offensive. Those offended have the right to speak out about it, but not this extremist and violent type of reaction like we have been seeing.
274742
There are limits on freedom of speech. Recently, a Danish newspaper printed a catricture of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam and it resulted in petitions, letters from head of Muslim states, and protests, both peaceful and violent. The reaction was very negative.\n\nA good quote on this issue is, "''The liberty of the press is indeed essential to the nature of a free state; but this consists in laying no previous restraints upon publications, and not in freedom from censure for criminal matter when published. Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public; to forbid this, is to destroy the freedom of the press: but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequences of his own temerity. To subject the press to the restrictive power of a licenser, as was formerly done, both before and since the Revolution, is to subject all freedom of sentiment to the prejudices of one man, and make him the arbitrary and infallible judge of all controverted points in learning, religion and government. But to punish as the law does at present any dangerous or offensive writings, which, when published, shall on a fair and impartial trial be adjudged of a pernicious tendency, is necessary for the preservation of peace and good order, of government and religion, the only solid foundations of civil liberty. Thus, the will of individuals is still left free: the abuse only of that free will is the object of legal punishment. Neither is any restraint hereby laid upon freedom of thought or inquiry; liberty of private sentiment is still left; the disseminating, or making public, of bad sentiments, destructive to the ends of society, is the crime which society corrects." - W. Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England 151-52.\n\nI believe that freedom of speech can and should be limited, and all that freedom of speech means is that Congress should not make laws that place previous restraints on the press or on speech. Illegal speech can and should be punished. A person should be able to say whatever they want but they should also be accountable for what they say.
1030460
Because the liberal left media controls so much of what is printed and viewed by the public.A perfect example is Yahoo allowing liberal Al Gore to ask the featured question,a question which assumes we agree with his views on global climate change which happen to be the Democrat talking points on this subject.
372411
The more those people protest about insignificant cartoons the more other people realize that maybe religion (specifically islam) is not worthy of following.  Who wants to follow a prophet that has thin skin.  If you have to believe in a god, wouldn't you want one that has the ability to laugh at himself?
184931
No, they don't!  They should go to a muslim country and try to speak their mind there, and see what happens!  It's not going to be pretty, when the muslims will get done with them!  So, maybe they could help some of us understand why they have so much tolerance for muslims who hate them, and want to kill them; and, why do liberals have no tolerance for christians who only want to help them, and everybody else!  It was the christians who founded this country, and they are the ones who allowed for freedom of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, along with freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom to assembly!  And rights of women, and minorities as well!  Now go try that in any muslim nation!  The liberals are trying to destroy the way of life in America from inside the borders!  The liberals are the enemy within!  Did I forget to mention that liberalism - is a mental disorder!
1158705
That's why only people living in trailer parks and simple-minded folk watch Fox News and Bill O'Reilly. I agree the media is not liberal at all. But I suppose when they show how soldiers are dying then that shows people what is happening in this war and that's liberal thinking blah blah, etc.  I guess it's pretty liberal to document the massacres at Haditha as well. Goodness knows it's liberal to show the truth every once in a while. \n\nBBC world is so much better.
374500
They only read the parts of the bible that support their need to feel better than everyone else.   Even Liberals are liberal as long as it doesn't cost them anything.  \n\nNot many people in the west would pass the tests Jesus gave.  If we did, the east wouldn't be as poor as it is.  We, including myself, just close our eyes to the realities of the World.
505631
Because liberals have so much love to give to everybody. They're sort of like Michael Jackson, in that they try to give it to the wrong people. So well intentioned, yet so misunderstood.\n\nWhere as conservatives rely too much on rational thinking to form opinions. Curse this brain of mine! Curse it!
427442
hahahah. It has to be Osama. Perhaps you will find a playgirl magazine with Osama's photos in their bathroom. \n\nIt's funny some of the liberals are associating christian values to conservatism, as if the liberals are atheists.\nIn fact they themselves support fanatics like Bin Laden.
865944
Fanatics of any faith does not like liberal logical thinking.\nThey just want blinkered faith to fulfill their vested interest.
654927
You're very correct, my friend.  Libs have no sense of what is right or wrong it seems.  Take for instance that they're against the death penalty yet murder babies and use a polite euphemism, namely, abortion.  The list is endless.  They have no idea what Islam practices but rather buy into the false notion that Islam equates to peace.  All over the world, Islam is at work to change the "infidels" or barring that, to kill them.  Libs would indeed be TOO's (targets of opportunity) for angry Islamics!
865185
because they don't understand that there is a difference between supporting freedoms and rights... and supporting ideas...\n\nit's like the old "I would fight for the KKKs right to free speech, even though I very much dislike what they have to say"...\n\napplying conservative thought to that last example, they would think that anyone who fights for the KKKs right to free speech is a supporter of the KKK and it's ideas... \n\nthey demonstrate this "logic" in almost everything they label "liberal"... which most of the time, it's just supporting someones rights or freedoms to do something and not the action in question... \n\nthey think if someone stands up for someones rights to not hear a teacher-led Christian class prayer... that the person is against Christian prayer... which the majority of the time... nothing can be farther from the truth...
952395
Liberals do not like the "under God" line in it.  After all.... they think they are gods and do not want to be reminded that here is one and they are not him.  Then, they might have to humle themselves before Him.\n\nSue
146876
Frankly, I'm not. I still don't quite understand why\neffigies of our leaders and the American and various\nEuropean flags can be burned without consequence,\nanti-Semitic and -Christian cartoons can be drawn in\nMuslim newspapers, and jihad can be declared on\nChristianity but as soon as a Danish newspaper\nexercises their freedom from censorship all hell\nbrakes loose. Guess what! That was done in THEIR OWN\ncountry--a European country that (I'm going out on a\nlimb on this one) is predominantly Christian. There\nare no rules about it--that I am aware of. Countries\nthat are predominantly Muslim have their own\ntraditions and rules that all foreigners must follow\nrespectfully within their borders. Countries, such as\nthe United States have traditions too. Guess what! We\nmodify these traditions so that we don't step on the\ntoes of foreigners who would raise hell if we tried to\ndo the same within their land.\n\nMY responses to some comments that were made...\n\nTo: patrick_mont:\n\nWatch what I do???\n\nOr what, you're gonna bomb me? That's exactly the\nproblem. Whatever your stand is on the war, I think\nthat most can agree that the "tradition" that we were\nattempting to change in IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN was the\nremoval of people that brought pain and suffering to\ntheir own kind and not a change of Islamic faith or\ntradition. The pain continues because extremists\ncontinue to push on and apparently misunderstand our\npurpose for being there--much like you do.\n\nTo: msaelshamy:\n\nYes, I am a Christian and very honestly, no I would\nnot be upset by a cartoon depicting a Christian\nreligious figure. Maybe it's because I'm a bad person\nand only go to church on Christmas Eve, who knows.\nWhat I do know is that I have more important things to\nworry about than some cartoon or somebody calling me a\nstereotypical white male. Wait, isn't that\nstereotyping ME? Who cares. Freedom of speech does not\nallow one to incite violence or induce panic. It does\nallow one to express an opinion on just about\nanything, including religion. It doesn't happen in the\npress for fear of losing one's job or reprisals by the\noffended party. The cartoon is a sign of protest\nagainst Muslims using their religion as an excuse to\nmurder non-muslims (In response to the person who told\nme that burning the American flag was in response to\nAmerican Foreign policy). If fanatical Muslims did not\nwant violence associated with the Prophet, they have\ngone about doing it the wrong way by citing their\nreligion as the reason for their actions. I've seen\nthe videos. What person in their right mind yells "God\nis great!" while severing someone's head or detonating\na bomb?\n\nADDITION ON 2/6/06\n\nThe situation continues to get worse as Muslim\nprotests continue to grow increasingly violent. People\nhave died. Buildings have been set ablaze. This is\nover a cartoon. This is the work of not a just few\nreligious fanatics, but of scores of Muslims who\ndenounce the cartoon of the Prophet. A CARTOON! How\nabout rising up when an innocent Westerner (aid\nworker, member of the press, etc) is beheaded or your\nown people (Muslims) are blown up in a crowded market\nor at a wedding by a devout follower of Islam?\n\nADDITION ON 2/7/06\nWHAT EXCUSES ISLAMIC HATRED? BY TIM RUTTEN OF THE LA\nTIMES\n(Excerpts) 2/7/06\n\n"By last week, Danes faced not only violent protests\nin Islamic streets but also mounting demands from\ngovernments in the Middle East and elsewhere that the\ndo something to the newspaper."\n\n"All this would be slightly more edifying if it didn't\nreflect the destructive, dangerous double standard\nthat Western nations routinely observe when it comes\nto the government-controlled media in Islamic states.\nThere, the media are routinely rife with the vilest\nsort of hate directed at Jews and, less often,\nChristians."\n\n"If you want to see the cont
1178773
You see it here everyday.  They, liberals, have no tolerance for anything that isn't liberal.  They want to open our borders, stop fighting al queda and pray we don't get hurt again - even blame ourselves for al queda's hatred.  They care nothing of moral values, nothing of religous values, and will trounce on both at every effort.  If thats not enough they'll take more just to spend more and convince everyone that the government can make their lives better - better then they the individual can do themselves.