All that could be expected from a middle-of-the-road paragon of milquetoasty spinelessness like the Press Herald. I'm not some racist reactionary; what I am is someone who likes the influx of new ideas that interesting, chance-taking authors bring up. Censoring anything that "might offend" anyone makes your paper the silly, sales-declining dinosaur it is. Way to go weak-knees. That's why anyone intersted in anything chancy or remotely thought-provoking goes to the internet.

I have 2 concerns with the PPH decision to suppress this comic - 1.) Would you have made the same decision if the comic "might offend" Catholics, or Southern Baptists, or Jews, or Buddhists? I suspect not - because I have seen a lot of possibly offensive stuff in the papers.

2.) Of what value is Freedom of the Press, and in fact the right to Free Speech - if it becomes unacceptable to print or say things that might be offensive? Where do we draw the line without giving up those freedoms we hold so dear?

BobK is exactly right. Being "PC" only seems to apply to the groups that will start burning cars and rioting if they don't get their way. The papers have no problem trashing christians because we're not known for causing riots to make our point.

For the Press Herald editor. You better show the same thoughtfulness for offending with ALL GROUPS or you'll be accussed of favoritism.
This SELECTIVE "Political Correctness OFFENDS ME! I'm sure I'm not alone.

Yeah, just so noone gets the very wrong idea, I'd like to distance myself (by the distance of an education, perspective on human history, and decency)from "Randall". I was talking about the PPH and its general wishy-washiness. I was NOT decrying "political correctness", or standing up for the rights of christians, or any other religious group to be exempted from criticism, humorous or otherwise. And as for Randall's lovely, rqacist assertion that only Muslims will "cause riots" when offended, well, that's obviously just ridiculous. The reason fundamentalist Christians get made fun of and criticized so much is that they ARE exclusionist, mean-spirited, and prone to violence and bigotry when they don't get their way. How about an abortion clinic bombing or shooting? What about desecrating gay peoples' funerals? What about threatening theater owners who try to show films they don't approve of? Please. Keep your religious bigotryies in your own house and let the actual people enjoy the freedom of ideas.

Was this offensive to Muslims? Well, I've been in Saudi Arabia for the last few weeks (working here on a rotating basis), so I printed out the comic and showed it to 5 people I work with: 3 Saudis, 1 Sudanese and 1 Pakistani. These are all devout Muslims who take their religion seriously. They also all speak, read and understand English, including the kind of contextual innuendo contained in the comic strip. The result? Two laughed outright and asked for a copy, while the other three said they had no problem with it.

Mr. Russell - no matter how much lipstick you put on it, censorship is still censorship. If you go down that path, you'll be tap dancing thru a minefield for the rest of your days. People can choose to be offended or not.

This comic is a minor blip in the grand scheme of things, but how can I trust the rest of your content if I feel you'll "edit" to satisfy the prejudices of various interest groups? Not that other news outlets are any better...

I read the comic, after hearing about it on one of the all news stations last night. I've also printed it out. I suspect that the comment that the PPH would run things offensive to other groups hits fairly close to home. We're so afraid of offending this particular group that it's sickening. Frankly, 9/11 offended me. Let's not forget that either.

Well, it didn't take you long to pull this off the "front page" did it? Can't take the heat for bad judgement?

"A classic 'Bloom County' cartoon of the 1980s has Opus the penguin sitting on a park bench watching a host of people pointing out things about each other that they find offensive, till they all realize, "Life is offensive!" At which point they all run off screaming in horror. Opus sums up the spectacle thus: 'Offensensitivity.'"

The preceding paragraph is not mine, but I was reminded of that particular strip when I read about "Opus" being censored last weekend. When I finally read the strip online, I just couldn't find where it was offensive. If anything, Breathed's depiction of Steve Dallas as a typical, boorish, middle-aged American male was the most offensive thing. And, as for the alleged racy sex joke at the end, neither of my kids would get it anyway. Heck, even my wife missed the joke the first time around.

Message to the Press Herald: I am severely disappointed at your judgment. In fact, I'll vote with my subscription and say said judgment is poor and I will not renew next time around.

I think the PH made the wrong call on this one. If the cartoon implies that devout Muslim women don't have sex with women who aren't their husbands, where's the harm in that? If the objection was to the merest possible hint that sex exists, then perhaps you should stop running birth and wedding announcements too.

Buy you had no problem running the strips that made fun of Jerry Falwell and Christians!
Hypocrites through and through.
And your agenda has been made crystal clear.

Testing.

Have Americans Lost Their Country?
Copy and Paste this to your browser:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17216.htm
And a Patriot Speak Out
so brave
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Another war going on...(spiritual/for souls) experimentS and genocide?
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2004/07/15/aids_experiments_on_children_in_new_yorks_incarnation_center_a_human_tragedy.htm