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Salon, and Walter Shapiro, are claiming that they are publishing these photos and full page op-ed piece, because, as they breathlessly say, “America --- and the world ---- has the right to know what was done in our name”.
This same Salon, and Walter Shapiro, previously FAILED TO PUBLISH a cartoon (or a full page op-ed about Freedom of the Press) because they did not want to ‘offend’ a community by publishing a cartoon which caricatured that community as one whose primary method of expression was violence.
How did Salon know that Muslims found this cartoon to be offensive?
Because gangs of masked people, identities hidden, were rioting violently all over the world, insisting that the press should never publish such an image; insisting that the press be constrained by the wishes of violent gangs who hide their faces while they burn, kidnap, and kill; insisting that a completely peaceful group of Scandinavian countries and people be attacked and killed because they support the free press.
Other countries and other publications courageously stood up to these intimidation tactics, and published this cartoon. They symbolically said, “We live in a world which believes in free press and we will not be intimidated.”.
Did Salon courageously stand with these countries or newspapers in defense of free speech and press? No.
Did Salon publish a full page op-ed piece about freedom of the press, and the unwavering support for that freedom, even in the face of intimidation? No.
Salon, this journal that NOW claims to be a bastion of strength, courage, and moral outrage, stood silent, acquiescing to the wishes of gangs of anonymous thugs who insisted that Salon, and every other paper, stand silent. We’re glad to know what carries weight in Salon’s editorial office.
However, Salon, and Walter Shapiro, are now perfectly happy to publish 2.5 year old photos because “….we are ashamed to live in a country that somehow came to accept that torture and prisoner abuse were simply business as usual.”.
They are ashamed to live in a country which GUARANTEES THEM that they are free to speak their minds, including their desire to CRITCIZE IN BROAD, UNDIFFERENTIATED STROKES everyone in that country.
Salon: Silent in the face of worldwide violent efforts to remove freedom of the press from peaceful countries.
Salon: Vocal and outraged at a 2.5 year old story while failing to acknowledge the millions of us who are appalled by Abu Ghraib, appalled by Nick Berg’s beheading, appalled by villages of murdered Kurds, appalled by planes flying into buildings.
Me: Ashamed to have ever given Salon a subscription. Salon is now so hypocritical, it makes a Liberal understand what Conservatives hate about Liberals.
