This is a bad idea
I thought it was a bad idea when some European countries passed laws making it illegal to defame other people's religions, etc. These "hate speech" codes are an unreasonable restriction to free speech and the free exercise of religion itself. Today, LGF points us to this article.LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union may try to draw up a media code of conduct to avoid a repeat of the furor caused by the publication across Europe of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, an EU commissioner said on Thursday.
In an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph, EU Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini said the charter would encourage the media to show "prudence" when covering religion.
"The press will give the Muslim world the message: We are aware of the consequences of exercising the right of free expression," he told the newspaper. "We can and we are ready to self-regulate that right."
This is a very bad idea. It doesn't show reasonableness or restraint. Newspapers committing themselves not to do things that intentionally offend ANY religion would be restraint. Laws prohibiting depictions of Mohammed are a sign of weakness. Is France in charge at this point? I always loose track of the rotating control. Very French to surrender first and negotiate later.
Just so you folks on the big rock across the pond know, the average American is not much in the mood to come save your skins a third time. Happy to help those who have stood with us in the GWOT, but the rest of you may find yourselves on your own. You don't have anything we want any more (your economies are in the tank and your retirement debt makes our Social Security problem look like a parking ticket) so we don't really care if you go back to living in mud huts and your women have to wear bee-keeper suits.
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