[RC] Media and hypocrisy

[Dr. Ernie Prabhakar]

So, I'll be honest.   I can understand why Muslims might engage in  
self-destructive rioting about images perceived as poking fun at  
their religion, while condoning far more graphic and offensive images  
targetting other groups.  Such double-standards favoring ourselves  
over other groups is (though evil) a probably inevitable part of  
human nature.  We all do it, to some extent.

However, I must admit even *I* -- tolerant, sympathetic, non- 
judgmental, modest hypocrite that I am -- am at quite a loss  
regarding those American newspapers who (with a straight face)  
condemn the Danish newspaper for their "insensitivity towards  
religious minorities (Muslims)", while never batting an eyelash at  
doing the same thing to Christians.

NY Times:
http://lawnrangers.blogspot.com/2006/02/islam-and-msm-courage-pt-2- 
wrath-of.html

Boston Globe
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2006_01_29-2006_02_04.shtml

Maybe if the American Media had modeled sensitivity in how *they*  
dealt with religious groups, they wouldn't need to lecture the  
Europeans, huh?

Or, hey: if you really believe in freedom of the speech no matter  
what, and are willing to live with the consequences, go for it. Even  
if I disagree with your wisdom, I can at least respect that.

Heck, if the real reason you feel you dare not show the cartoons is  
because you're afraid for your employees and don't want to incite a  
riot, at least be honest.  It's only human to be afraid, and a little  
humility is good for the soul.

But this...

I don't disgust easily.  I *really* dislike the culture of  
victimization that has crept into American Christianity, where the  
right-wingers are all a-twitter whenever they perceive some slight  
against their faith.  Duh -- we're *supposed* to be persecuted.   
Doesn't anybody read the Sermon on the Mount anymore?

And yet.

Showing preference to one's *friends* is prejudicial and  
disciminatory, and despicable.

But showing preference to one's 'enemies' is in some ways worse: more  
than pathetic, it is sheer cowardice.

Sigh.  It is a sign of how disturbed I am that Pat Buchanan is  
starting to sound reasonable:

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/opinion/columnists/guests/ 
s_421541.html

Somebody, help me!

-- Ernie P.

P.S.  Of course, there's plenty of hypocrisy to go around.  For a  
variety of such views (most of which I don't agree with, but so  
what?), see:
http://kstatecollegian.com/article.php?a=8773
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48708
http://www.wnymedia.net/index.php? 
option=com_content&task=view&id=954&Itemid=35
http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thedebate/2006/02/cartoon_controv.html
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm? 
BRD=1091&dept_id=514778&newsid=16084262&PAG=461&rfi=9
http://dominionpaper.ca/opinion/2006/02/08/a_picture_.html