I wanted to commend your decision to not further inflame the Muslim portion of the U.S. (or the world for that matter) by printing cartoons that were not necessary to the story. Irresponsible press has caused many issues over the years, and I fully agree with your decision. I am not a Muslim, but feel this was the responsible thing to do instead of forcing our sense of “freedoms” on a people who find these images offensive.
Linda Williams, Cincinnati, OH
PRINT ‘EM
The cartoons you refuse to print are innocuous. To not print them as to not “fan the flames”(manufactured by islamofascists) surrenders our freedom of the press and is a disgrace. This is what over 1200 vital young Americans have died for. Can’t you see that? What else won’t you print to appease our enemy?
Wake up!
Rick Liberi
GUTLESS SWINE
Your decision not to publish the cartoons demonstrates the ability of the primitive and ruthless fundamentalist to have their way. Neocon or Muslim, what is the difference? Death threats work when you demonstrate that they work.
You may take comfort that many other responsible newspapers and media outlets didn’t print these cartoons either. I do not share your comfort. You have withered in front of a challenge to your fundamental rights. It is no wonder that the media is considered a toothless, baby boomerish, almost retired, let’s-not-take-any-chances-with-the-portfolio caricature of itself. It is very difficult for me as a citizen to vigilantly and continuously rise to the defense of the institution of free speech (and FOIA et al.) when the Fourth Estate, one of the biggest benefactors, seems to be so willing to give it up, under the proper motivational threat. You are the beneficiary of a public trust to take advantage of this right, and maximize its effect for the good of society.
You are wrong in this critical decision, and it casts an unfavorable light on your other editorial decisions and, in fact, the voice of the New York Press. I would have written the NYP off entirely if not for the actions of your staff.
Jim McPolin
RICH ISN’T THAT POOR, MR. MUGGER
A couple things about Russ Smith’s (Feb. 1-7) latest effort. D’ja ever think that, maybe, newspapers in this country may not want to run the Danish cartoons cuz, well, there are some crazy people who may affect such an outrage that they might convince some young men to, you know, do something about it. Sure, the Globe’s excuse was lame, but what are they supposed to write: “We can’t run the cartoons because they will cause crazy people to inflict damage on innocent ones?” Perhaps your side’s demagoguing on the Newsweek Koran-in-the-toilet thing, scared ‘em.
As for Frank Rich, whether you agree with him or not, why is it so important to you Bushies to hint that he and his ilk are under the control of “the Left Wing.” You guys did this with Cindy Sheehan as well. I don’t get it. For one thing, your position posits that there exists an efficient “left wing” that could actually get someone to do something they wouldn’t normally do, which is humorous. Can’t people you disagree with, just be wrong? Rich has collapsed into a Horowitzian writing of the same column over and over, sure. And I don’t expect a Bushie to agree with him. But “gruesome tool of the extreme left wing?” That doesn’t go very far in explaining anything. Look at Krauthammer. He’s wrong on just about everything, yet to believe that what he bleats comes from anything but his own self would be self indulgent. Do you really think that Rich writes not what he believes, but what the sinister “left” tells him to write? Or worse, is the simple minded Rich an unwitting tool?
Terry Benoit
GO, WALK-OUT SCRIBES!
Your editorial staff walked off the job because they have principles and a set of balls while you and the staff that are left have none. They have just been heard on the “Laura Ingraham” show and told us the reason. You must be part of the left wing weasel-Al Franken, French-loving crowd.
Bob, Boston
NO LONGER A SURFER DUDE
While I still enjoy the freedoms that my ancestors fought for, I choose to stop visiting your site. I have to wonder what else you might be hiding or are too afraid to print. I sincerely hope that you feel the economic impact of your decision and applaud your staff for showing the courage that you clearly lack.
Michael Ferioli
SELF-CENSORSHIP & COWARDS
I guess you guys don’t care about freedom of the press.
It’s cowards like you who will sell out everything and for what? So you can stay in the newspaper business? What hypocrisy!
You should hire a Muslim ombudsman to approve what is acceptable to print.
Make sure to leave out Valentine’s Day—that’s a Muslim no-no!
With all due respect, your response is a bunch of baloney.
Your motive for not running the mild cartoons is cowardice, plain and simple.
Of course people can make an “informed opinion” about (not very offensive) drawings they have not seen!
What nonsense.
You should have been honest and said you were scared to run them for fear some Muslim would get mad and harpoon you a la Theo van Gogh.
You realize that you have no credibility whatsoever about anything you publish about anything related to Islam from now on. None. Zero. Nada.
You should be thoroughly ashamed.
P. Warnke
I DON’T NEED TO SEE THEM
Thank you. I believe your decision not to print the cartoon that has caused distress in the world is a correct one. I think printing the cartoon would have made your paper part of the story: not reporting the story. I have not seen the cartoon. But I have an understanding of it based on news reports. I don’t really feel the need to see it to understand it. I am a great supporter of civil liberties. This is a time when they are being trampled in this country. But I feel your decision was just good manners and good sense.
Anonymous, via e-mail
RIGHT ON, STAFFERS!
The editors spirited showing of intestinal fortitude should draw applause from the slumbering US major newspapers who are showing a gutless performance in educating their readers by not printing any of the cartoons—but more importantly abdicating their freedom of expression and freedom of the press to avoid the heat of Islamic protests. The Chicken Littles include the mainstream press: LA Times, NY Times, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal and the major news magazines. Only the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Sun have printed pictures and my hat is off to them.
The New York Press, although they would not print the cartoons wrote the following article about the cartoons, which makes you think they should have no trouble printing them:
It’s not often that this country’s largest and most influential newspapers purposely band together on a single issue, but surely the effect would be profound, and bracing, if representative editors all agreed to print one of the cartoons on the same day. The Boston Globe was notably wimpy in a disquieting editorial (Feb. 4) that explained why it wouldn’t reproduce any of the cartoons: “Depicting Mohammed wearing a turban in the form of a bomb with a sputtering fuse is no less hurtful to most Muslims than Nazi caricatures of Jews or Ku Klux Klan caricatures of blacks are to those victims of intolerance.”
Never mind that in the Arab press Jews are regularly depicted as blood-sucking, hook-nosed, children-murdering, money-grubbing characters that even exploitative provocateurs like Michael Moore and George Clooney might find too much to stomach.
Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby, the paper’s affirmative-action conservative voice, differed with his colleagues on the editorial page in a forceful piece just two days later. “Make no mistake,” he said, “This story is not going away and neither is the Islamofascist threat. Today the censors may be coming for some unfunny Mohammed cartoons, but tomorrow it is your words and ideas they will silence.”
These news papers seem to be following a neat script justified by the ostensible noble aim of not offending the sensibilities of the Muslim Community. My opinion is that the news media in this country has shown its cowardice, not its nobler side by not printing the cartoons, and they will later regret it.
This country is supposed to be the bastion of free expression, liberty and freedom of the press.
These cartoons are a significant rallying point for whether we allow a bunch of Islamic terrorist murdering thugs, including Iran and Syria, to challenge successfully the principles of liberty and freedom of expression we stand for, or whether we are going to stand up and tell them to go to hell!
William R. Jack, Las Vegas, NV
YOU BLEW IT
I think you are a coward. The political cartoons are part of the story. I feel like ordering your publication just so I can cancel it. If you are fearful, step aside and let someone else take the reins.
Chris Fallon, Long Valley, NJ
SLEEP WELL, CLOWNS
The true character of any individual or organization comes when the challenge is the greatest.
The New York Press has shown its character and it is that it is a meaningless, inconsequential periodical that will end up on the ash heap of history. Sleep well tonight knowing that you have nothing in your life so important as your personal safety and well-being.
Bill Jones
NOT A GOOD CALL
In America, it is hard to comprehend the decision of the publishers of the New York Press to order Harry Siegel not to print the Mohammed cartoons in an issue dedicated to the controversy. Harry Siegel and his colleagues are to be commended for their courageous resignations.
Albert Simmons, Madison, MS
AT LEAST ADMIT YOU’RE WIMPS
At least have the honesty to say you are afraid of being targeted by Islamic terrorists. Do not hide behind the flag of sensitivity. You have never held back for any other group for the sake of “sensitivity.”
Outright admission of gutless cowardice. At least you didn’t couch the explanation with half-baked, convoluted claims of sensitivity, etc. etc.
Just came right out and admitted you are chicken-shit scared.
James A. Cameron, Kingwood, TX
CHRIST-BASHING IS STILL OK?
So, let me see if I have this right—it’s OK to print a print a picture of a crucifix in a jar of piss, it’s OK to print a picture of Madonna with elephant crap, but it’s not OK to print the cartoons about Moham-mad? You have to make up your mind which side of your face you are speaking from.
If any government came and asked you not to print an article, you would be burning up the computer about government censorship. If you have a few malcontents, scream loud enough and every other media outlet caves. I for one will not cave.
For the record my name is Al Shumate and I pick up your paper every time I come to the city, but if this is how you handle things I don’t think I’ll waste my time picking up your paper anymore.
Al Shumate, Dublin, VA
AGAINST GOD AND THE PRESS
I was absolutely furious to discover that the New York Press had warned its staff not to publish the Danish cartoons at the center of the controversy playing out in various parts of the world. In recent years, we have seen organized religion deepen its influence at home and abroad. The faithful want to limit the entertainment options and medical treatment available to all, teach theology in our biology classes, threaten, kidnap and kill—all in the name of the big, invisible daddy in the sky.
Against the backdrop of the emerging tyranny of the faithful, it is the duty of a free press to question everything (including religion) and to cause folks to think and question (a notion that threatens all religions).
I will never read your paper again, and I congratulate the staff members who resigned in protest.
PC
GOD HAS MANY NAMES
I am a 26-year-old, left-leaning Muslim born in NYC who may have more Jewish friends than Muslim. That being said, I was outraged by the cartoons because it hits the very heart of the religion of 1.3 billion people, not just those of Islamofascist extremists. These cartoons were not published in the name of freedom of speech, they were meant to provoke and insult. Freedom of the press is a privilege that can not be abused, and these cartoons are epitome of abuse. No non-Muslim can really tell how offensive these cartoons are, so the press (which I use loosely for some media outlets), cannot judge Muslims anger over these. Of course a line has to be drawn on the protests, and I definitely do not condone rioting and violence, but these cartoons have a drawn a raw nerve because the Muslim world already thinks they are being unjustly abused for the work of a few extremist bastards.
As for your comment: Never mind that in the Arab press Jews are regularly depicted as blood-sucking, hook-nosed, children-murdering,”
Who the hell has access to Arab newspapers outside of the Arab country its published in? They are basically preaching to the choir, which is an unfortunate situation. Plus, the Arab-Jewish conflict is an ethnic conflict using religion in a disgusting way. The Danish paper was a number one seller in Denmark that has capabilities of transmission around the world as we have seen.
Please put your act together and not let your prejudices determine your views on this subject.
Anonymous
YOU’RE ALL HYPOCRITES!
I love watching liberals trip all over themselves. You fight for freedom of the press when it involves the besmirching of the presidency or some other organization you detest, but now when it counts you’re all of a sudden not so much into upholding that freedom. Good Luck with your double standard.
Rick Stacy
DISAPPOINTED READER
I live in Sunnyside, Queens and regularly pick up the New York Press ever since your endorse-ment of Herman Badillo caught my eye (I figured it was a voice worth hearing). I am disgusted at your refusal to print the Danish cartoons. There is a huge battle for free speech on the horizon, and I am disappointed to see that your supposedly “independent” voice is among the many who will fold under the pressure and not stand for our basic right of self-expression. It is a shame that a reader has to remind you that freedom of speech applies most of all to speech which someone else would like to stop.
So, I won’t be picking up your paper until I hear in the news that you have changed your mind and have decided to run the cartoons.
Eric Barnhill
GOOD JOB!
Bravo to the staff for walking out.
Submission to Islam is BS.
Henry David, Calabasas, CA
