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Everyone knows my opinion on the Danish cartoons controversy.
However, the leftists in the audience will be shocked at my insisting that the government was correct in tolerating this exercise of free speech. (A fan at the World Baseball Championships in Puerto Rico held up a sign saying "Abajo Fidel" - "Down With Fidel [Castro]" - the sign got on the ESPN feed back to Cuba.
Although my experience with anti-Castro Cuban-Americans in Miami was negative, and I believe they are an intolerant bunch who hurt their cause, I agree with the protester's right to free speech, even though my opinion on Cuba is pretty complicated. (I believe that the Castro dictatorship should be replaced with a democratic government that respects human rights, not by a replacment dictatorship led by Miami exiles.)
Both the Castro regime and fundamentalist Muslims are incorrect in believing that their laws and mores should extend to other countries. Denmark and the United States commonwealth of Puerto Rico both have guarantees of free spech, guarantees that every other nation should incorporate into their laws. Punishment of political or religious blasphemy contradicts the norms of free society.
However, the leftists in the audience will be shocked at my insisting that the government was correct in tolerating this exercise of free speech. (A fan at the World Baseball Championships in Puerto Rico held up a sign saying "Abajo Fidel" - "Down With Fidel [Castro]" - the sign got on the ESPN feed back to Cuba.
Although my experience with anti-Castro Cuban-Americans in Miami was negative, and I believe they are an intolerant bunch who hurt their cause, I agree with the protester's right to free speech, even though my opinion on Cuba is pretty complicated. (I believe that the Castro dictatorship should be replaced with a democratic government that respects human rights, not by a replacment dictatorship led by Miami exiles.)
Both the Castro regime and fundamentalist Muslims are incorrect in believing that their laws and mores should extend to other countries. Denmark and the United States commonwealth of Puerto Rico both have guarantees of free spech, guarantees that every other nation should incorporate into their laws. Punishment of political or religious blasphemy contradicts the norms of free society.
