Muhammad Cartoons :Surfing The Twist The Shimmy And The Spin

Michelle Malkin says guess who is saying this:

The United States blasted the publication by European newspapers of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed as unacceptable incitement to religious or ethnic hatred.
"These cartoons are indeed offensive to the beliefs of Muslims," State Department spokesman Justin Higgins said when queried about the furore sparked by the cartoons which first appeared in a Danish newspaper.
"We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression but it must be coupled with press responsibility," Higgins told AFP.
"Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this manner is not acceptable. We call for tolerance and respect for all communities and for their religious beliefs and practices."

Her link lead to Brietbart.com They further report:

While many European newspapers have turned the publication into a free speech debate no major US newspaper has published the cartoons.
Editors at several US news organizations told AFP they were covering the escalating row but had decided not to reprint them or air them on television out of respect for their readers or viewers.

Then I went to the State Department to retrieve what was said:

Daily Press Briefing Sean McCormack, SpokesmanWashington, DC February 3, 2006

QUESTION: -- now. So, I just thought that there might be a word or two saying -- you know, that -- you know, you should do your best not to incite people because this -- you're dealing with deeply-held beliefs.

MR. MCCORMACK: You're right. You're right. You are dealing with deeply-held beliefs and certainly, we have talked about the importance of urging tolerance and appreciating differences and to respect the fact that many of -- millions and millions of people around the world would find these images -- these particular images offensive. But whether or not American media chooses to reproduce those images is a question for them, for them alone to answer, not for us.

I recommend reading the full State Department response, what I got from this, is that they strongly urge that the U. S. press be careful what they publish or we may have a result similar to what European countries are having. Basically saying you get what you ask for, and the major media in the U.S. seems to be following the State Department lead.

The only comment I have to make is that a lot of sites have spun an emotional thread in this to suit their own message.

My thoughts remain the same as I posted before. Its the goose and gander thing. If Muslim newspapers insist on printing cartoons that are offensive to the Jews and others. (particularly virulent depicting Jews and westerners as devils.), they should not get bent out of shape when they get a diluted cartoon mockery in response, or maybe just in fun. If anything they should open their eyes to just how they insult others, before they claim fowl for cartoons they considered offensive.

No matter how you twist and spin it the old adage holds true. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. And it is time to grow up, and if your religion is about peace, demonstrate that.