“The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.” (Embassy of the United States in Cairo)
CHICAGO, September 13, 2012— Our government is supposed to protect and defend the First Amendment rights of Americans in America, even those of so-called “misguided individuals”. The government is supposed to protect and defend the rights of Americans in America to be offensive, misguided, and abusive.
The government is not supposed to condemn or reject expression. There is so such thing as the abuse of free speech or expression. There is only free speech and free expression.
Evidently the United States Department of State does not believe it is part of the United States Government. They evidently do not believe they are Americans. It would have been better if they just stayed silent. But the boffins, squibs, and gremlins who work for State just have to show the world how sophisticated, MULTI-cultured, and cosmopolitan they are.
The above apology was made over a film that allegedly depicts Muhammad in an unflattering light and it depicts Muhammad, which is against Islamic precepts. If Islam wants to censor its followers that is all fine and well. Even in America, if they want to stifle the expression of their believers and their believers follow self-censorship, there is no problem.
Islam, or any other religion, does not have the right to censor non-believers in America. Our government has no right to tell, ask, or beg anyone to just shut up. The government has no right, duty, or responsibility to condemn expression. The government does not have to like it they just have to protect and defend it.
Americans should never fear expressing ideas, creations, speech, or anything else. Americans should never fear being criticized by their own government or insulted by being called misguided or abusive. Americans should always fear censorship, which is what these apologies and warnings about misguided ideas, or the consequences in foreign lands over our free speech rights are leading us to.
Americans should always understand and remember there is no such thing as the abuse of free speech, even if it is insulting, hateful, irresponsible, abusive, or distasteful. Americans should be appalled at their government for allowing such an apology to be issued, let alone publicized.
Our government is very hypocritical. It will condemn Americans for their expression, speech, and even odd religious beliefs. It will apologize for Americans expressing themselves. But it will not condemn the slaughter of Christians occurring in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. It will not condemn the expressions of hatred against Jews. It will not apologize for being allied and giving foreign aid to these nations either. Not to the Jews, not to the Christians, and not to Americans.
There were media images of Libyans burning and desecrating American flags. Terrorists murdered an Ambassador and some of his staff in what is now described as a planned attack. Americans are not storming American mosques or embassies and consulates of Muslim countries. We are not murdering their diplomats and staff. We are not inflicting violence against Muslims for what happens to our people and flag a world away.
Americans are a civilized people. We believe in law and order.
Our government should never apologize for our values and core beliefs. Other people’s reaction to them is not our problem. If others attack our embassies and kill our diplomats then it is time to remove American embassies and diplomats from those countries. It is time to stop helping them and using our tax dollars to prop up tin pot extremist dictatorships. It is time to stop religious and government sanctioned murder and terrorism
People who attack our core values through violence, murder, and terrorism are enemies. We should never apologize, assist, fund, or have American personnel in enemy territory. Government bureaucrats and elected officials who attack or apologize for our core values are the enemy within. We should eliminate them from government service.
This is the result of years of false concepts like political correctness and multi-culturalism. This is the result of attempts by various groups of people, including those in our own government of censoring free speech and expression. This is also a result of people just accepting the lies and not fighting back. It is time all of us fought back. It is time all of us rejected these false misguided memes. It is time to reject those who would abuse our freedoms through censorship.
There is nothing wrong with being critical of ideas, expression, creativity, or any other form of speech, art, or even religious practices. In a free country the exchange of ideas is of the highest importance. Even harsh criticism and ridicule is acceptable as long as it falls far short of censorship.
People should never self-censor out of fear of retribution against themselves or others. If we do not protect what is left of our freedoms we will soon lose the rest.
The State Department owes America an apology for making such a despicable statement to a foreign government about Americans. Those who made that apology should be fired immediately.
But that will not happen. America has become the land of apology instead of the land of freedom and opportunity. We are a far cry from what we were even a few decades ago. We are losing our freedoms through the actions of our own government and people are tolerating and accepting it. That is a disgrace. We, the people, are becoming our own worst enemies.
It is time we stop letting foreign nations define what is appropriate, hateful, or phobic in America. It is time we stop them from defining us. We are Americans. This is our country. We do not need them. They need us.
Peter V. Bella is a retired Chicago Police Officer, freelance journalist and photojournalist, cook, and raconteur. He likes to be the irreverent sharp stick that pokes, prods, and annoys. His opinions are his and his alone. Mr. Bella is a member of the National Press Photographers Association and the Society for Professional Journalists.
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