"A government official in the United Arab Emirates offered a very different definition of freedom of expression to the Khaleej Times. "Freedom of expression means freedom to express one's views in ways that will not affect social harmony," he said. "Otherwise, you face consequences. That applies to Al Jazeera, or American journals, and even to the Danish media." Unfortunately for you, that is not what freedom of expression means in America or Europe. In America at least, freedom of expression means the freedom to express one's views without government censorship except for those situations where the govnerment has a substantial interest in forbidding the speech and the law is narrowly tailored. It means, as Guilliani found out, the freedom to paint and display a picture of a sacred icon (the Virgin Mary) marked with elephant shit. It means the freedom to put the central image of the Christian faith (the crucifix) in a glass of piss, take a picture and hang it in public and publish it and talk about it. Don't like it? Don't look. Once again, if you want to burn the flag, and draw a cartoon of Bush's face on a donkey, and publish a cuddly picture of Buddha in the town paper of Fundamentalistville, you must tolerate the neo Nazis marching down the main street of Skokie, Il as well. That is the motherfucking way it goes. If you live in a secular democracy (protesters in Europe, I am talking to you) you can express your dissent all you want. Do it! You can tell your government that you are pissed! You can encourage your friends and neighbors not to read the offending magazines. Absolutely! Yes! Take advantage of your freedom! But you cannot expect or require that same government to supress speech or enact religious laws. You want a theocracy where you can ban pictures and music and dancing and cover women and judge and condemn in peace? Move to the Middle East. As for the rest of you...oh wait, you already live there. So shut the hell up.

A top Danish official, seeking to quell the controversy, said Denmark's newspapers "could possibly learn something from US newspapers, which tended not to try to push the limits of what was permissible," according to the Copenhagen Post. Umm. And these newspapers are? No, that's not what the U.S. stands for! Please don't learn that from this administration! Look at the whole of U.S. history (see esp: Common Sense, Federalist Papers) and understand that these last 5 years are but an aberration!

"In the US, freedom of expression is also important," said vice prime minister Bendt Bendtsen. "At the same time, there is also a tradition of showing consideration for others." Umm. There is? And even if there is, it's a tradition, not a law and that makes all the difference! OMFG, Denmark, if it's that important, ask the U.S. and France to buy your extra cheese and the insulin to go with it! Don't capitulate to the vocal minority, many of whom DON'T EVEN LIVE IN DENMARK!

Hey, here's a suggestion, why not turn some of your tulip fields and grazing land into testicle farms? "Cause it looks like you need to grow some.

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/worldopinionroundup/2006/02/free_speech_v_r.html