CNN and Others: Drenched in the Sweat of Fear

In this piece channeled via Sally Kohn, CNN does the same thing to Christians, Jews and others that she/they accuse those groups of doing to Muslims. Kohn cannot resist attacking Christians for launching a non-literal, non-bloody "War on Islam", when instead it is some radical Islamists who have unleashed an actual war on non-Islamists:

"Free speech comes with responsibilities:

"Sadly, I have to wonder if Charlie Hebdo had been attacked for cartoons insulting Christians, whether there would be a similar outpouring in support of the magazine, especially in the United States. After all, many of the same people outraged just a month ago about the alleged "War on Christmas" have no qualms about launching a "War on Islam" because, well, it's not their religion being mischaracterized and insulted. It unsettles me to think that the reason so much of the outpouring of support for Charlie Hebdo is driven not just by the violence suffered or a defense of free speech, but by the opportunity to implicitly support jabs at Islam. But judging by some of the coverage, it seems a fair assumption to make."

Assumption? Judging by some coverage, by whom? CNN, and other liberal-minded media like it? Has Ms. Kohn heard Bill Maher lately? She broadbrushes the whole radical-Islamist-wary world as not respecting Islam, then implies that radical-Islamists deserve our respect and support so they won't kill people.

Kohn continues assuming: "Unfortunately, about 60 percent of Americans don't know a single Muslim, and so may only know about Islam what the media reports about terrorists."

I know and have worked with a few Muslims. I also know and have worked with a few Middle Eastern Christians with family or ancestors from Muslim countries, who say they are here in the United States for the very reason of preserving their own lives and those of their families.

I have to wonder if Ms. Kohn herself knows a single, true Christian. And thankfully, many of us know how to get complete, unbiased news (hint: it isn't from CNN and company).

But this is the crux of the matter:

"There is no inconsistency between supporting free speech for Charlie Hebdo's cartoonists and finding the content of some of their cartoons offensive and disrespectful...while the principle of free speech means I can say what I want whenever I want it, in practice I try to think carefully about the impact of my words -- and how they might be felt among others whether or not they share my belief system...I want to help Islam and Christianity and Judaism and society in general become more open and inclusive and democratic and liberated. Free speech is fundamentally essential to that project. So is respect."

Respect? You want to help Christianity and Judaism too?

Ms. Kohn, since you mention the word "inconsistency," where was your, CNN's or any mainstream news media's respect-giving, responsibility-lecturing, sympathetic-toward-Christians piece when this, this, or this "free expression" hit the news?

That's what I thought:

This is CNN's, HuffPo, et.al.'s reality, in fact:

Associated Press at least admitted, albeit only after pressure, their part in the hypocrisy: they censored the Charlie Habdo cartoons so as not to offend, but were still posting the decades-old Andrew Serrano "Piss Christ" photo, at least until Jan. 8th. Huffington Post has gleefully reported on those "disrespectful," "irresponsible" offenses to Christianity, using phrases like "There's nothing more entertaining than when a controversial cultural relic resurfaces to incite anger all over again." HuffPo and others thought it was fun to have "riled devout Catholics and grumpy fiscal conservatives."

Talk about double-standards: HuffPo earnestly lets a liberal blogger at Gawk speak for them when they quote him labeling AP "cowardly" for taking down the "Piss Christ" images, but just one day before, gave CNN an insult-free pass when CNN censored the Hebdo cartoons: "CNN has also chosen not to show any Charlie Hebdo cartoons that could offend Muslims. In a memo sent to staff Wednesday afternoon, CNN senior editorial director Richard Griffiths encouraged reporters to instead 'verbally describe the cartoons in detail,' a separate Politico report notes."

The hypocrisy, right there, in black and white.

I don't want insults or disrespect toward Islam. I also don't want Islam, or anyone, insulting or targeting me or anyone due to my faith. That playing field has never been level, however, and that's what should be objected to.

Christians are brushed aside, name-called "grumpy" and get no mainstream news support, respect or responsibility. The reason? "Riled devout Catholics" didn't kill anyone over it.

If they had, they would neither be "devout" nor "Catholic."

This isn't about respect or responsibility. This is about FEAR.

The censoring media doesn't believe what they're now saying about respect and responsibility because it's the right, moral thing to do. Had that been true, they would have written similar articles supporting Christianity when these offenses were first news and now that some were back in recent news.

No, their spots haven't changed. They're just drenched in the sweat of fear.

CNN, the New York Times, HuffPo, most if not all of them (you can DYOR as well as I) have just proved: You don't get respect or responsibility from CNN and its ilk unless you kill someone over not getting respect.