Ezra brings Mid East Conflict to Canada

In a free and democratic society all people have rights and freedoms that they are allowed to exercise responsibly. People are allowed certain rights till they start infringing on other people's rights. That's where the Western Standard crossed the line.

Muslims have the right to have their religion respected. Asking others not to publish images of Mohammed shouldn't be viewed as a great inconvenience to the rest of us. Other religions make icons and depictions of their religious leaders but Muslims regard any depiction of Mohammed as a sin because it could lead to idolatry of him. There's no double standard here. They don't even make positive depictions of the prophet and depicting their prophet as a terrorist isn't an act of freedom of speech- it's hate speech. David Ahenakew was charged for making defaming comments against Jews and Muslims should have similar protection. Any magazine that publishes the cartoon and any store that sells hate literature should be punished.

Western societies have their own norms that they expect people to respect and we should view it as a two-way street. Christians would be enraged if someone was doing something disturbing to a communion wafer. Jews would also be enraged if someone was making crude jokes regarding the holocaust. When I went to Australia I didn't climb Uluru. Others did and regretted it later because it offended the aboriginals because it was a sacred place. It was only a 15 minute hike to reach the top so it wasn't a great triumph to achieve. Why is it so important that the magazine has to publish these cartoons to serve the audience who isn't connected to the internet and wants to see the defaming cartoons.

Another point that Ezra Levant makes it that people have to see the cartoons to understand the issue. News outlets routinely outline pornographic and abusive language but the people still get the message. Kiddy porn has been in the news lately but no respected new outlet has felt it is compelled to show what it is.

I believe the Western Standard is attempting to gain new readership through the rule, all publicity is good publicity. Also, I fear the people who usually don't purchase the Western Standard are purchasing it because they hate Muslims. News organizations should cater to the hatred market.

The big issue surrounding the story is the Israeli-Arab conflict in the middle east. And Levant brought the problem to Canada. The problem with both Israeli and Arab governments in the middle east is there is now separation between church and state. Israel is a political and religious state. If people attack Israeli policies- religion often becomes involved because people sometimes end up offending both ethnic and religious views at once. The same applies to Muslim countries. I see this cartoon controversy in Canada and as an extension of the conflict and find it interesting that a Jewish publisher and some Jewish magazines have published the offending cartoons.

And with the latest native remark against Ralph Klein's wife. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last month the Western Standard is in circulation.