Ick

The Strib's main editorial today: a group of people choosing the skin-saving path on the cartoons for a host of rational reasons somehow also feeling the need - which they are unable to suppress - to call the European editors "stupid."

The journalists printing the cartoons to make a statement about standing up to murderous violence and threats. The editors needing protection, in a situation where lives will be lost (it's a fairly safe bet): they're all racist and stupid. "Ignorant," too - "equally ignorant" as the shrieking crowds driven mad by cartoons, spurred on by leaders who seem from my appallingly ignorant perspective to be somewhat evil.

Very attractive, guys. And a classic of Wormtongue-ism. (Read the whole thing.)

Update: This isn't about press freedom.

The words of EU Justice and Security Minister Franco Frattini in an interview with the DailyTelegraph (via the Corner):

"The press will give the Muslim world the message: We are aware of the consequences of exercising the right of free expression," he told the newspaper. "We can and we are ready to self-regulate that right."

That's not a criticism of the proposal by an outraged and amazed person, as I assumed when I read it out of context at the Corner. Nope. That's a straightforward description of the plan by a bureaucrat behind it.

Frattini, a former Italian foreign minister, said millions of Muslims in Europe felt "humiliated" by the cartoons.

Can't have that. Must not allow suggestions of a connection between Islam and terror. That may humiliate Muslims. And you are so stupid if you think press freedom comes into play here.