In an attempt to defend Islam from criticism by non-Muslims, scholar Karen Armstrong seeks to redefine the Western notion of tolerance.

But equally the cartoonists and their publishers, who seemed impervious to Muslim sensibilities, failed to live up to their own liberal values, since the principle of free speech implies respect for the opinions of others.

Excuse me -- since when does the principle of freedom of speech imply respect for the opinions of others? Indeed, I'd argue quite differently -- a commitment to the principle of freedom of speech implies respect for the right of others to hold and express an opinion that one does not respect, or even that one holds in contempt.

Posted by: Greg at 12:54 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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