"Freedom of speech must not be used to make a billion Muslims cry." Terrific line, but wait a minute. Can free speech that makes anyone cry then be allowed? And if not, how exactly is it freedom of speech at all?Democracy on the March Update: "Afghan Lawmakers Challenge Danish Prophet Cartoon, Dutch Film Criticizing Koran," from AP (thanks to Report on Arrakis):
KABUL, Afghanistan — More than 200 lawmakers shouted "Death to the enemies of Islam" during an angry demonstration outside the Afghan parliament protesting the reprinting of a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad in Denmark and an upcoming Dutch film criticizing the Quran.
The lawmakers from the upper and lower houses of parliament chanted and pounded their fists in the air, urging the Danish and Dutch governments to prevent blasphemy against Islam.
"We want the world community, the U.N. and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to react against these kinds of activities, and not allow any countries to cause such confrontations and dangerous challenges among Muslim communities," lawmaker Mohammad Saleh Suljoqi read from a statement. [...]
They demanded that the Afghan Foreign Ministry summon envoys from Denmark and the Netherlands to discuss the matter. They also urged the Danish and Dutch governments to prevent such acts in their countries.
On Monday, Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta told reporters during a visit to Denmark that he respected differences in cultures, but suggested Danish newspapers abused freedom of expression when they reprinted the cartoons three weeks ago.
Spanta said freedom of speech should be used to promote "equality and peace between nations" and to exchange information.
"Freedom of speech must not be used to make a billion Muslims cry," he said.[...]
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