David Harris on the Radio

Wrong Response to Cartoon Controversy David A. Harris Executive Director, American Jewish Committee Week of February 7, 2006 David Harris delivers regular radio commentaries on the CBS radio network, which can be heard nationally just before the Osgood File on more than 400 stations. All of the commentaries are available at www.ajc.org. Click here to listen to this week's message. The following is the full text of this week's broadcast: The furor in the Muslim world over cartoons first published in a Danish paper continues. Many Muslims reacted angrily, deeming the cartoon offensive to their religious beliefs. Was it wise to publish the cartoons? No. Why gratuitously denigrate the beliefs of a religious group? Still, citizens of democratic societies know that our freedoms at times produce results we may find objectionable. But we respond through peaceful protest and public debate. The reaction of some in the Muslim world, though, has been very different: violence, intimidation, and property destruction. That’s unacceptable. And the story reeks of a certain hypocrisy. Some of the protesting countries are intolerant nations themselves. Let Saudi Arabia and others stop peddling anti-Semitic and anti-Christian views before getting on their high horse. How will this story end? Hard to tell. But if violence succeeds in chilling the debate, what a tragic day it would be for all who cherish the values of a free society! This is David Harris of the American Jewish Committee.

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