Ain't No Fortunate Son
Journalists on trial
I originally saw a note about this in Andrew Sullivan's blog.
He writes:
"Most of the Western media didn't publish any of the Danish cartoons for fear of upsetting readers, provoking violence, or whatever reason they came up with. Even when the cartoons prompted international violence, even when art critics attacked them in mainstream papers, almost all editors decided that their readers did not actually need to know what the entire story was about; and it wasn't the editors' job to provide readers with information. But not every editor in the world thought that way. Some in the Arab-Muslim world acted as journalists, and are now in jail or at risk of imprisonment, or even execution. Here's the story of one. He was simply doing his job - and is paying a terrible price. So many in the West refused to do theirs. So here's to the eight journalists in five countries. Thanks for your courage and example."
You can agree or disagree with the cartoons themselves, or editorial decisions to republish them, or school newspapers that take a stand. But let's at least be talking about the real issues here. When journalists are jailed for doing their job, it isn't merely wrong, it's a sure-fire sign of a civilization in decline. Criminalizing free speech and punishing those who exercise it isn't moving towards totalitarianism -- it is totalitarianism.
I just hope those who are so opposed to the cartoon images because they're offensive are as vocal about these far greater injustices. But I wouldn't hold my breath.
I originally saw a note about this in Andrew Sullivan's blog.
He writes:
"Most of the Western media didn't publish any of the Danish cartoons for fear of upsetting readers, provoking violence, or whatever reason they came up with. Even when the cartoons prompted international violence, even when art critics attacked them in mainstream papers, almost all editors decided that their readers did not actually need to know what the entire story was about; and it wasn't the editors' job to provide readers with information. But not every editor in the world thought that way. Some in the Arab-Muslim world acted as journalists, and are now in jail or at risk of imprisonment, or even execution. Here's the story of one. He was simply doing his job - and is paying a terrible price. So many in the West refused to do theirs. So here's to the eight journalists in five countries. Thanks for your courage and example."
You can agree or disagree with the cartoons themselves, or editorial decisions to republish them, or school newspapers that take a stand. But let's at least be talking about the real issues here. When journalists are jailed for doing their job, it isn't merely wrong, it's a sure-fire sign of a civilization in decline. Criminalizing free speech and punishing those who exercise it isn't moving towards totalitarianism -- it is totalitarianism.
I just hope those who are so opposed to the cartoon images because they're offensive are as vocal about these far greater injustices. But I wouldn't hold my breath.