Tuesday, September 25, 2012

President Obama at the UN - waving the flag of reason and freedom

Among the editorial board members at the New Jersey Law Journal we debated how to frame the right response to the tragedies following the recent anti-Muslim video by a Los Angeles-based provocateur.  In an editorial called "Blasphemy" we explained: 
Whoever Bakoula and his backers are, our government has done its duty by making it clear that under our law the United States cannot prevent this kind of stupid and malicious provocation and is not responsible for anything, however vile, that private individuals choose to say about someone else's religion. It is true that other free countries do these things differently. Based on the experience of fascism, many European countries prescribe racist or anti-religious speech. So do countries like India, which have a long history of intercommunal violence. Great offense has been given, and diplomacy requires the government to regret what Nakoula has said. But both candor to the world and our national values require us remind the world why it can freely be said here.  But both candor to the world and our national values require us remind the world why it can freely be said here.
President Obama eloquently delivered the message we hoped he would at the UN General Assembly today.  

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