A Respectful Rant
The New York Times declines to publish the Danish Mohammed Cartoons out of, it says, respect for Islam. This is, of course, a crock. This rant, however, will not presume to speak for the New York Times. This rant will presume to speak for all Americans.
Americans do not disrespect Islam. To disrespect a religion is impolite, and our mothers raised us to be polite. However, Americans also do not particularly respect Islam either. We Americans believe religion is a matter of personal choice, not a matter of respect.
Americans respect people, not religions; and we respect them for their actions, not for their religion.
Americans respect education. We respect societies that value education. We don’t respect societies who intentionally hinder some in their midst from getting an education. We respect women. We don’t respect those who do not respect women. We respect self-reliance. We don’t respect those that fail to achieve and then blame others for their failures. We respect Free Speech. We don’t respect those that attempt to limit, block, or intimidate Free Speech.
We respect strength, but only if used to help others. We respect warriors, but only those that defend others, or who defend freedom. Warriors that kill to limit freedom, or warriors that kill those that are not a threat, are warriors we do not respect.
We don’t respect those that demand respect by threats, as opposed to those who earn respect by deeds. We know the difference between respect and fear. We don’t respect thugs and others who confuse respect with fear.
We respect Israel, but not because it is Jewish. We respect Israel because it is democratic; because it is self-reliant; because it values education; because it respects women; because its warriors fight to defend; because it values free speech; and because it doesn’t threaten us with harm if we choose not to respect it.
We don’t respect those countries surrounding Israel, but not because they are Muslim. We don’t respect them because they are not democratic; because they are not self-reliant; because they do not value education; because they do not respect women; because their warriors kill the innocent; because they don’t value free speech; and because they threaten us with harm if we disrespect them.
We respect truth, and those that speak the truth. We do not respect those that lie, or those that keep silent due to fear. Which is why, at the moment at least, we Americans do not respect the New York Times.
Clarence Sutton
Americans do not disrespect Islam. To disrespect a religion is impolite, and our mothers raised us to be polite. However, Americans also do not particularly respect Islam either. We Americans believe religion is a matter of personal choice, not a matter of respect.
Americans respect people, not religions; and we respect them for their actions, not for their religion.
Americans respect education. We respect societies that value education. We don’t respect societies who intentionally hinder some in their midst from getting an education. We respect women. We don’t respect those who do not respect women. We respect self-reliance. We don’t respect those that fail to achieve and then blame others for their failures. We respect Free Speech. We don’t respect those that attempt to limit, block, or intimidate Free Speech.
We respect strength, but only if used to help others. We respect warriors, but only those that defend others, or who defend freedom. Warriors that kill to limit freedom, or warriors that kill those that are not a threat, are warriors we do not respect.
We don’t respect those that demand respect by threats, as opposed to those who earn respect by deeds. We know the difference between respect and fear. We don’t respect thugs and others who confuse respect with fear.
We respect Israel, but not because it is Jewish. We respect Israel because it is democratic; because it is self-reliant; because it values education; because it respects women; because its warriors fight to defend; because it values free speech; and because it doesn’t threaten us with harm if we choose not to respect it.
We don’t respect those countries surrounding Israel, but not because they are Muslim. We don’t respect them because they are not democratic; because they are not self-reliant; because they do not value education; because they do not respect women; because their warriors kill the innocent; because they don’t value free speech; and because they threaten us with harm if we disrespect them.
We respect truth, and those that speak the truth. We do not respect those that lie, or those that keep silent due to fear. Which is why, at the moment at least, we Americans do not respect the New York Times.
Clarence Sutton