what do you think about press freedom and the recent problems in Denmark?
104189
I don´t think that they wanted to hurt the religous feelings of other people. More or less funny drawings are in every newspeopler. Sometimes they are also about christian holidays, clericals,... but nobody feels hurt.
905890
Oh yeah.  Journalists now tell you what the news means.  Not report it.  How about letting us decide?
83962
I've already commented on this countless times, both on and offline, and I am completely sick and tired of this whole ludicrous situation. Having said that, here goes...\n\nAny reasonable person with an open mind and a rudimentary understanding and appreciation of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, et al KNOWS that the Danish newspaper was 100% within their rights to publish those caricatures of Mohammad. \n\nAs evidenced by some of the responses here (most notably the one from Pakistan above), the Muslims who are rioting in the streets, making death threats, boycotting Danish products, etc. are completely unreasonable. They cannot see beyond their own personal biases (Mohammad may be #1 with you, mate, but he's not #1 with me and 5-6 billion others who are sharing this planet with you) and have no conception of tolerance -- to say nothing of free speech.\n\nThe Danes are a free and tolerant people allowing their media to express itself freely, irrespective of whether or not the majority of Danes agree with what is printed. Any civilized country handles such matters in much the same way. We're talking about political CARTOONS, for Godsake!\n\nBut the fanatical Muslim fundamentalists and their terrorist host countries (Iran, Syria, et al), on the other hand, have absolutely no understanding of what it means to have free thought, free expression and tolerance for the views and beliefs of others. Whatever the perceived slight or "offense," these people can be counted on to react with excessive outrage and extreme violence (erm, what is that telling us about their religion, btw?). \n\nNothing short of the rest of the world converting to Islam tomorrow will appease these villains. So you know what? I couldn't care less about appeasing or even trying to understand them anymore. Fuck 'em!\n\nGod bless Denmark and Freedom!
66256
Its a social experiment thats still being worked out.  There are ongoing problems, like when does freedom of speech become libel?\n\nIts not perfect, but works reasonably well in the western world compared to other systems.  There is accountability.  There is representation. We can't be held without charge, we can't be convicted without trial.
984584
Very little these days.  The press needs to be free to keep the society honest and well informed about what is really going on.  It used to work pretty well, but today, all major news sources are owned by  international conglomerates of business interests.  These interests do not wish to have anything reported that makes them look bad, so if you want to know about the exploitation of the poor, environmental violations by business or governments they support, what is really happening in war, who supports and directs politicians, are elections rigged, or any number of other important issues relevant to your life and your future, you can no longer rely on the press to be independent and give you that information.  Press, TV news etc., have all been bought up by those you would hope the press would tell about.  No more.  Not here.  Go to Al Jazeera and you will get better news that we do in our "free country."
231931
I believe that along with the freedom of speech comes the responsibility to respect other people and their beliefs.  The prophet Mohammed is not the Danish people's prophet to blaspheme, and they should respect Muslim beliefs.  I'm not Muslim, but I try to respect what others believe, because I would hope to get the same respect myself.  It upsets me when people make a mockery of Christ.  If you don't believe, then just leave it alone.
1185151
Why are you such hypocrites-the US citizens I mean? Why do you want other countries to allow freedom and want to muzzle your own press?\nst
418324
I think what they have right now is adequate....we live in a police state & a "big brother" society....I have been the victim, mind you, but there are just so many civil liberties you can take away before you forsake democracy all together.
177505
We don't have freedom of expression.  We have free speech.  We have laws to protect this right, and laws against the things you mentioned.  The only thing missing is ethics on the part of the public.  Remember the quote:\n\n‘When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.’ \n\nThat quote from Edmund Burke in ‘Thoughts on the Cause of Present Discontents’ has, in general use, come to be delivered as, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ \n\nWhich ever version you prefer, the message is the same: evil will, therefore good must.\n\nPeople too often remain silent, then wonder why "Government", as if it some outside agency, does not control their lives more.  Look to your own lives and ask, "Have I been more present and active in protecting our institutions of free speech, journalism, publishing, and other media?"\n\nThat is the only way it will change, not further legislation and government paper and ink.
697020
This is sickening to say the least.\n\nUnfortunately the US isn't far behind.  Freedom of speech should be just that, the freedom to speak - period!\n\nUntil the special interest groups, political correctness and so called multiculturalism are eliminated from society we can expect to lose more than our freedom of speech.
972704
It worries me too.Such a move would almost certainly turn an,at least apparently,lawful,democratic country into an abusive Police State.\nIf you are still looking for a really Gestapo-like approach to law and order,police abuse and horrendous abuses of human rights,Vote Rudy Giuliani in 2008!\n\n\n"Freedom is about authority.Freedom is about the will of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do"\n                                                                    (Rudolph Giuliani)
1045207
Last night I watched Bill Moyers interview of Salman Rushdie on PBS - first of a new seven part series - and Mr Rushdie addressed this issue.  \n\nHis comment was that people who have never experienced freedom don't know that other avenues are available, and I agree.  \n\nWith the usual total control of the instruments of suppression, the military, secret police, the newspapers and other information media, and the often fatal consequences for disobedience it is probably remarkable that any of these people rebel.  Additionally, keeping body and soul together in most dictatorships doesn't leave time for much else.  \n\nThat mindset take a long time to change.  The Internet should help.  \n\nCuba is a bit different in that Castro replaced a government that was corrupt and his early supporters remembered.  \n\nRemember, too, where the is no free press there isn't much debate.
507471
most people's opinions are formed by the media. what the media chooses to cover, what stereotypes they choose to feed into, what issues they decide get the ratings, etc. so our people are free to choose, but is it really freedom if they are only presented with selective information? most people do not take the time to look up facts, background, stats, etc. they trust that what they read, see, hear is the truth.  if you are interested in this subject, you should check out Bowling for Columbine, it's a documentary about the Columbine shootings, but it also has a very interesting part about U.S. media vs. Canadian media.  Of course, that's media, too.  :)
379235
I am not sure about the political aspect as it refers to areas outside of Denmark, but many Danes in the US, for example, are getting in touch with each other, buying all of the Danish products they can find,and in general showing solidarity.\n\nInside the country, try to find a way to stop Anders Fogh Rasmussen from being Bush's lapdog... \n\nhope this helps
1147306
I think the bigger issues with our current newsmedia are:\n\n1) Most newspapers have cut their staffs for budgetary reasons. This is true especially in their investigative reporting areas. The result? Almost no investigative reporting like we saw in Watergate.\n\n2) Partially as a result of the above, the newsmedia often simply reports quotes from sources (especially political and governmental) without doing any due diligence on the accuracy of these quotes. So all we get is the PR from the government and other political leaders.\n\nThe only hope I see is that the bloggers in the world will force the mainstream media to take on big questions. Keep your fingers crossed!
51893
The media does have information to most things, for example I read books 4 years ago about reprecussions of certain policies that look as if they are prognosticators, some of this stuff is not a seceret. I agree that people's information is limited more than we think through the media. Conservatives complain about the liberal media and liberals about the conservative media. What Bush is doing is no comparison to the crimes that Sadam commited? Well, I don't fully agree with that and I could  engage in a discussion about that if anyone wants to email me @ bennymokey2001 on yahoo, but with that argument someone could say well Hitler was horrible nothing else matters crime wise, oh Bin Laden did this everybody else gets off free. "Americans are so stupid in general thinking that their civil liberties are being violated by allowing the patriot to continue?" How is the government looking at what you check out from a library not neoMcCarthyism? I serisously doubt that any library has any materials that preclude that you are a threat to the state. I don't have anything to hide either. But I wouldn't want to be followed around and watched because I read some book or had a conversation. The President is above the law but should not be as the role of the executive branch is to reflect, not dictate the temper of the people.
1167384
I actually completely disagree that the media is 'liberal'. I've seen too many highly controversial stories reported on PBS The Newshour that are never shown on network news. \n\nI think the old saying 'liberal media' is just another way the rightwing is manipulating us. They WANT us to think that so that we don't believe the real stuff... like I said some of the stories I have seen on PBS news.\n\nI wish ppl would wake up... not saying you.. but ppl in general and begin to think on their own and search for the whole, complete, real story on things.\n\nBTW, loved your comment on my B. Laden question. Some ppl argue with the truth even when it is staring them in the face.\n\nAlso, capitalism has never worked throughout history for the exact reasons we are seeing develop now.