Blasphemy...or Free Speech?

So, it seems some political cartoons printed in a Danish paper have caused a big conflagration in the Muslim world, with violence and riots and death threats toward the Danes for 'daring' to print the image of the Prophet in a manner that could possibly be seen as derogatory. Now, I'm a pretty progressive guy. I don't think Islam is evil; I recognize the contributions that it has made to the world, particularly in the preservation of knowledge during the Middle Ages (though I remain bitter about Algebra, thank you very much). I understand that it is an Abrahamic faith, and that much of the perception of the faith in the West is derived from a possible misinterpretation or perversion of the teachings of the Prophet. All that being said, the idea that the Muslim world would be up in arms about a bunch of cartoons in a Western paper none of them will ever read is a bunch of crap. To threaten violence over freaking cartoon depictions of Mohammed? This makes that society look so backward, ignorant of the concept of free expression, and so incredibly hypocritical. Consider, for example, the hundreds of 'blood libel' and derogatory cartoons that Muslim papers have printed concerning Jews over the last decades, not to mention the treatment of Bibles and the like in places like Saudi Arabia.
How DARE these people tell Westerners what they can and cannot publish. They ask us, would we print cartoons denigrating Christianity or Judaism? Um, yes...we can and we have and we will. Not just cartoons, but movies, tv shows, and books galore! And you know what? Those communities hate it, but too bad. It's free speech, and while it may be inappropriate, it is not illegal, nor should it be. We will apologize for free speech and these cartoons when you folks apologize for your depictions of Jews and Christians.
On that note, here are a couple of the pictures they are upset about:
















Hit and Run has published more of the cartoons. Check out the link for the rest, plus a pretty good comment section. For a rather light-hearted but pretty spot on take on what a refreshing change it is not to be blamed for something, check out Kevin Drum's short bit here.
Somehow, I feel like dirt. I think I might be on the same side as Free Republic and Powerline. Ugh.

On the State of the Union

I missed it last night. Does it really matter? Let's see if I can summarize:
"Blah blah war on terror."
"Blah blah wiretapping al-Qaeda."
"Blah blah oil."
"Blah science!"
"Blah blah bipartisanship."
"Blah blah look how great I am."

And the Dem response?
"Blah blah we don't care, we have no policy proposals anyway."
"Blah blah what 06 election?"
"Blah blah pander to the base."

Am I wrong?

Look, Johnny, Just Go Away, Idiot

Johhny Damon, former Sox centerfielder, one of my favorite Sox players ever, and the new Yankee centerfielder, talks about life in New York...and contradicts himself in the very last line of this Daily News piece.

Damon also spoke of how much Manny Ramirez wants out of Boston ("I think the Yankees would be a perfect fit for him ... as well as David Ortiz," he joked) and told the crowd that he was planning to have a new hairstyle ready for spring training.

As for whether he'll be the same playful "Idiot" that he was in Boston once he steps into the Yanks' notoriously sedate clubhouse, Damon smiled.

"Yes, I will be," he said, "but a tame idiot. I can be an idiot but not be stupid."

Sorry, Johnny, too late. You're a stupid idiot. Go aways and take your money and cut your hair and pretend New York is a better city than Boston.

Harp(er)ing about the New Boston

Tommy Harper, who has had a prescence with the Red Sox off and on for 30+ years, talks about the Red Sox and race in today's Boston Globe. Historically, race has been a huge problem for the team. They rejected Jackie Robinson after a tryout, Harper himself was treated poorly (and awarded damages in a suit!), and the city itself has struggled with race issues for decades (the iconic image of the white guy beating the black guy with a flag at an anti-busing protest comes to mind). That being said, Harper sees a significant change:

''I know where this team has been," he said. ''I know where it is now, and I know in the future where it is going to be. There's progress being made, and the reason I like it, the Red Sox are not out there saying, 'Look at what we've done, we've done this, we've done that.' No, no, no.

''Things are being done because these are good people. It's inclusive. I don't think a black person could come now to the ballpark and not have a good experience. The total experience. As a black person, yes, I do feel a difference. I can't put a finger on it. But it's not because they hired this guy or that guy. No, it's not that. It's not numbers. It's how well you're treated."

This is a good sign, and a nice rebuttal to Barry Bond's rather angry critique of the Boston organization a couple of years ago.

You're bweaking my baws, Hans Brix!

Through Hit and Run, I present you with this link to Arms Control Wonk. Why? Well, besides the fact that Arms Control Wonk is one of the more interesting blogs out there, blogger Jeffrey gives us a video image of Hans Blix, the much-critiqued Arms Control inspector, humorously referencing his 'role' in one of the best puppet movies of all time, Team America: World Police. It is kind of funny; I feel like Beavis when I watch it. "He said fuck! Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh." Damn, am I dating myself here? I miss "Beavis and Butthead."
In all seriousness, Blix does have a point when references that classic film. Arms control inspectors really are powerless to do any true inspection. What is the only threat they have? "I'll report you!" How do we change that? Do we WANT to change that? Would the US approve, for example, providing inspectors with immediate military support? Somehow, I doubt it.