A Principled Stand

Fire of Liberty

While we have imams here and here pledging millions for the person who kills the Dutch cartoonists who drew those 12 illustrations of Muhammad in Jyllands-Posten this past September, not to mention the various calls for tolerance(not at the Muslim protesters but towards the media of Europe) that has systematically sprouted up within the MSM after the angered mobs went to the streets and set things on fire, there are actually individuals like Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen who are standing up to such militants and defending the rights that we hold dear in a liberal democracy. In fact he gives a very good defense for this way of life in a recent interview in the German news magazine Der Spiegel. Take a look at what the PM had to say about the whole situation:

SPIEGEL: At the start of your term, you yourself announced a cultural renewal, indeed a cultural battle, in all social areas. Is this what you meant?

Fogh Rasmussen: That was a misunderstanding -- at the time, for me, it was about a discussion of values in Denmark. Consensus and dialogue have always played a significant role, especially in Danish society. Of course there are basic values that must be respected, but within this framework, we are a liberal and tolerant country where everyone can live as they desire and according to their tradition. That is the Danish way.

SPIEGEL: Now the Danish flag is in flames in Arab capitals and Danes must fear for their lives in the Islamic world.

Fogh Rasmussen: At home, Danes try to resolve their problems amicably so it's just surreal to see these violent pictures on TV. But as the prime minister, I can't be controlled by my emotions.

SPIEGEL: For the first time, your government is at the center of an unimaginable international crisis that spans from northern Africa to southern Asia.

Fogh Rasmussen: These protests are no longer about the 12 caricatures that were published by a free and independent Danish newspaper. Many groups with a vested interest in the Islamic world are now exploiting the situation for their own purposes.

SPIEGEL: Who do you mean exactly?

Fogh Rasmussen: Some countries such as Iran and Syria are using the commotion to distract attention from their own problems with the international community. The Palestinians, who have been deeply divided since their election, have found a common enemy in Denmark that unites them. Extremists and fundamentalists are exploiting the conflict to promote their radical agenda and win new members.

It's good that some folks are willing to stand on principle even when the world around you is set ablaze.