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U.S. embassy in Cairo apologizes for “abuse of free speech” after protesters tear down American flag
Hotair ^ | 09/11/2012 | AllahPundit

Posted on 09/11/2012 5:00:46 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

A show of strength from Salafists on 9/11 to remind Americans who's winning these days in the Middle East. The newsworthy part isn't the protest --- we already know what a mob can do to an embassy in Cairo --- but the reaction from the embassy. When this tweet started circulating a few hours ago, I thought it might be a parody account. Afraid not. The official statement from the embassy website:

The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others

The money word there, of course, is “abuse.” If speech is illegitimate because it offends religious sensibilities, then we’re on the doorstep of yelling “blasphemy.” In practical effect, that’s what the embassy is pushing: There’s not a syllable wasted here on condemning the cretins who climbed the embassy walls and tore down the flag — on 9/11. The denunciation is reserved for the blasphemers, who in this case turn out to be Egyptian expats who made an amateur film about Mohammed that’s presumably being used by Islamist demagogues over there to whip up the crowd. Every now and then, the Organization of the Islamic Conference pushes a blasphemy resolution at the UN designed to carve out international exceptions to free speech laws for insults to religion, i.e. Islam. The statement from the embassy is precisely the mentality they’re trying to cultivate. All that’s missing is a call for criminal penalties, but that’s less important to the anti-blasphemy bloc than western officials groveling to their sensibilities. Mission accomplished.

Do note, this isn’t the only criticism of Islam that’s been suppressed today due to fears of violence. In the UK, a private screening of a new documentary on the subject was canceled due to threats. I wonder if The One will get so much as a single question about this, and what he’ll say in defense of the embassy’s reaction. The last time we went through the now familiar “insult to Islam inspires international incident” cycle, he begged Terry Jones publicly not to burn the Koran because doing so would endanger U.S. troops. That was clever insofar as it’s hard to resist an appeal to patriotism from the C-in-C but it has the same problem as the embassy statement — namely, placing the moral onus on the speaker not to speak rather than on the violent nut not to be nutty and violent. Is O going to phone the Egyptian expats and ask them to take up another hobby besides filmmaking? Curious to see how far this logic extends.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: egypt; embassy
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To: politicianslie

Well, that certainly was not my intention.
And I apologize.


21 posted on 09/11/2012 5:24:15 PM PDT by svcw (If one living cell on another planet is life, why isn't it life in the womb?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Damn! Just damn! I’m so angry and hurt at what the US has turned into. The entire world knows that we are a weak paper tiger that has no will or resolve. I feel like I want to cry and throw up at the same time. Our situation is completely hopeless as long as obama is the figurehead. They don’t love us like the press said they would, they do not respect us, and THEY ARE NOT AFRAID OF US. What will stop them, certainly not obama. It’s nearly over.....gathering beans and bullets and waiting are all that’s left to do.


22 posted on 09/11/2012 5:27:03 PM PDT by fightin kentuckian
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To: TribalPrincess2U
By whos orders did they do this?

Our FIRST MUSLIM President ordered this, isn't it obvious?

When the terrorist bombers start killing people at a mall near your house, will you get it then? Our "government" is letting these cockroaches into our country at alarming rates.

Obama is doing everything he can to destroy America.

23 posted on 09/11/2012 5:34:20 PM PDT by politicianslie (Obama: Our first Muslim PRESIDENT,destroying America $1 Trillion at a time! And America sleeps)
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To: shibumi

Islam is more superstition than a belief. They will tell you that Islam is submission, but its really slavery to the grey beards that make up the hierarchy. As those grey beards now grow more political power, the situation only gets worse.


24 posted on 09/11/2012 5:35:46 PM PDT by oyez ( .Apparently The U.S. CONSTITUTION has been reduced to the consistency of quicksand.)
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To: SeekAndFind

We have nothing but COWARDS, POLTROONS, and QUISLINGS anymore. Throw out the lot!


25 posted on 09/11/2012 5:35:46 PM PDT by castlebrew (Gun Control means hitting where you're aiming!))
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To: shibumi

Genesis 16:12 on Islamists:

“He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”


26 posted on 09/11/2012 5:41:58 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon (Don't be afraid to see what you see. (Ronald Reagan))
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To: Vince Ferrer

Romney must say something...to let this go will be an outrage. I am livid over this statement!


27 posted on 09/11/2012 5:56:30 PM PDT by yellowdoghunter
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To: svcw

Thomas Jefferson was right about a great many things.


28 posted on 09/11/2012 5:58:13 PM PDT by ought-six ( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: politicianslie

will you get it then?

Stop being an azz!


29 posted on 09/11/2012 6:09:53 PM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (0bama's agenda—Divide and conquer. FREEDOM OR FREE STUFF- YOU GET ONE CHOICE, CHOOSE WISELY)
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To: ottbmare
One man's "abuse of free speech" is another man's fair comment.

Are we yelling fire in a crowded theater? No!
We're yelling fire in a burning building!

Are we uttering "fighting words?" No!
We're uttering reasoned criticism of an evil cult that is spread by intimidation, by coercion, and most often, by the sword!

It's time for the American people to awaken from their long slumber - We're no longer in the era of Pax Americanum that commenced after our victory in WWII. We're in an era now of the highest danger - between secularists on one side and Islamist extremists on the other, we are in great peril. I fear greatly for the world that will be left for my children!



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

30 posted on 09/11/2012 6:13:11 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
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To: SeekAndFind

“Major Principles of Media Law”
By Wayne Overbeck & Genelle Belmas , p.72
“any law is unconstitutional if it singles out expressions of ‘biased-motivated hatred’ for special punishment.
While the majority did not specifically overturn Chaplinsky, they made it clear that the ‘fighting words’ doctrine cannot be used to suppress the expression of racial, religious or gender-based hostilities.
That kind of viewpoint diiscrimination viololates the First Amendment”


31 posted on 09/11/2012 6:14:18 PM PDT by bunkerhill7 (..Dept of state is unconstitutional? Who knew??)
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To: SeekAndFind
American soil is attacked by Muslim Terrorists
on September 11 2012.

Hillary Clinton apologizes to the TERRORISTS.

0bama embraces the Muslim Brotherhood and Disses Israel.


32 posted on 09/11/2012 6:20:10 PM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your teaching is my delight.)
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To: SeekAndFind

ISlam is not a religion, and deserves no such protection as one.

It is a bloodthirsty,killing cult, and has been one for 1400 years.

There is no way what they are can be confused with a religion.


33 posted on 09/11/2012 6:20:35 PM PDT by exit82 (Pass the word: Obama is a FAILURE!! Democrats are the enemies of freedom!)
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To: SeekAndFind

When Sandara Fluke was attacked the POS was on it like a muslim on fresh fried dog.


34 posted on 09/11/2012 6:48:44 PM PDT by NoLibZone (Republican pizza man who only votes for democrats - what's his Freeper name?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Was it an “abuse of free speech” when Andres Serrano displayed his “art” in 1987?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ


35 posted on 09/11/2012 7:49:42 PM PDT by Henry Hnyellar
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To: SeekAndFind

Definitely worse than that horse’s a$$, Carter. Never thought I’d compare Carter favorably to anyone else. I am totally disgusted.


36 posted on 09/11/2012 9:17:20 PM PDT by Ancesthntr (Bibi to Odumbo: Its not going to happen.)
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To: SeekAndFind

BO has shown his true colors and they aren’t red, white, and blue.


37 posted on 09/12/2012 11:17:13 AM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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