Freedom to Offend
Letters are pouring in regarding the paper running four of the controversial Danish cartoons, and you’ll be able to read them all online in a day or two. In the meantime, and in case you haven’t weighed in yet, check out these lively forum threads on the topic:
Denmark & Etcetera, Cartoons, and Boycott the Stranger.
Not so fond of the forums myself, but they were worth a scan.
My meaningless 2 cents:
I am not even slightly offended that you published the cartoons, which I do find offensive.
I would not have chosen to republish the cartoons, were it my decision, not out of deference to religious sensitivities, but because I myself found some of the cartoons to be nothing more substantial than racist caricature. Also I don't think republication will have any of the intended consequences. The decision was not mine.
I will not boycott the Stranger or any of its advertisers. Individual publishers should be free to publish or not publish as their own sensibilities dictate.
I am mildly saddened that some fellow left-leaning commenters seem to have joined the "they hate freedom" bandwagon that fuels our pointless "war on terra." Rove will be pleased that some liberals have found something to fear.
I do not respect Bruce Bawer's position on this, nor that of the Stranger's editor. But I've enjoyed other things they've written. Regarding the cartoons, I find myself most closely aligned with what Eli has written on the blog, and I hope some of that sees print.