Sunday, February 19, 2006

Michelle Malkin is Angry at Karen Hughes

Malkin said this:
Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes ought to read Rose's entire piece before she opens her mouth again on foreign soil and knocks newspapers who have dared to publish the cartoons
...About Hughes saying this, at the US-Islamic World Forum:
Of course, with freedom comes responsibility, maa-alhurria, mas’uliya.  Governments have responsibilities to their people -- to establish the rule of law, protect human rights, including the rights of women and minorities, fight corruption and widen political participation. Elections are an important part of democracy, but they are only a part – a thriving democracy requires independent political parties, non-governmental organizations, a free press, and civic institutions that allow people to assemble freely and engage in discussion and debate without fear or government harassment.  The challenge for leaders in this region is to listen to their people’s call for greater freedom: allow them to form political parties, let them gather and speak more freely, give them access to newsprint so they can run their own newspapers.

In a free society, individuals have community responsibilities as well.  We have a responsibility to respect and appreciate, even celebrate, the views of others.  In a genuine democracy, all have a right to express their views, share ideas and participate as equals.  In a society built on freedom and justice, we have the right to offend one another but the responsibility to do our best not to.  In my country certain racial and ethnic slurs are no longer used by civil people even though there is no law prohibiting it – and while newspapers would be free to publish them most would never do so – just as many American newspapers chose not to reprint the cartoons depicting the Prophet because they recognize they are deeply offensive, even blasphemous to the precious convictions of our Muslim friends and neighbors.