Ouch

A scathing critique of newspapers pulling a cartoon.

This is not about showing polite consideration for the feelings of others, which is entirely appropriate. Gratuitously mocking other people's religious beliefs is uncalled for. But there was nothing remotely, never mind gratuitously, offensive about the "Non Sequitur" cartoon -- the target of which was violent intimidation, not Islam. Nevertheless, many newspapers apparently feared that some Muslims somewhere could, maybe just possibly, take offense. Parts of the media seem to have been intimidated to such a degree that they are now pre-emptively silencing their most entertaining and creative voices.

Once upon a time, members of the media could be counted upon to champion free expression even when nobody else would. Where the First Amendment was implicated, newspapers were willing to go to bat for everyone from neo-Nazis to Hustler magazine, and to take on powerful institutions from the Vatican to the Pentagon, often while patting themselves on the back for "speaking truth to power." Yet when it comes to the Islamic question, many in the media will not even stick up for themselves. That is, to say the least, a very ominous development.

Snap.