This doesn't look good

My goodness, folks in the Middle East sure are ticked off at Europe -- and I can't say I blame them. For a Danish newspaper to run offensive cartoons depicting a terrorist Muhammad is bad enough; to then multiply the offense by reprinting them in a dozen other countries is even worse.

Europe's line of thinking is this: What's the big deal? Here we have freedom of speech. Muslim countries have to respect and understand that. And governments can't speak for their free press's actions.

Muslims find this a handy excuse for a nation that as a democracy represents its entire populace, and yet refuses to apologize or even feel bad.

Usually, newspapers practice self-control out of respect for their customers. I believe these days, because of their global influence, newspapers must subscribe to a global standard. How would Americans react if al-Jazeera show a picture of Jesus with an Iraqi baby on a bayonet? Would they be "over-reacting" to choices made by a "free press"?

I agree with this article -- that freedom of speech does not extend to insults. Papers must monitor themselves and show good judgment, else censors come in to enforce their own standards. Showing sensitivity isn't a matter of self-censorship; it's a matter of self-control.