Our God is better...

The Bush administration took a position of empathy for the aggrieved Muslims of the world, in the wake of protests over the cartoons published mainly in Europe. Evidently concerned that the controversy would lead to an increase of violence in Iraq, further destabilizing an already shaky situation, the Bushies decided to placate thin-skinned fanatics and opportunistic rioters -- and abandon the cause of free speech.

Why?

Well, perhaps it is because free speech is simply an expendable item, like the right to make a private phone call, or the idea of fiscal responsibility, or truth.

And of course, we are the occupier of a Muslim country. We did invade that country, without justification. We have killed many Muslims, including women and children. We have killed unarmed Muslims in mosques. We insult them in the street and invade and humiliate them in their homes. We imprison Muslim women in order to coerce their husbands to turn themselves in. We have abused Muslim detainees, provoking them and taunting them in ways that exploited their religious beliefs.

Our generals make public statements about our God being stronger than their god. The president himself has even referred to his adventure in Iraq as a crusade. His supporters talk loosely about our status as a "christian nation". They speak of a clash of civilizations, as if we are engaged in a holy war. Who can blame Muslims who interpret our actions as such?

All in all, we have outdone the cartoonists -- don't you think?

So much evil has come of this war. Add this one to the list: that the United States has dug itself such a deep hole with the Muslim world that it can no longer speak in defense of free speech, but must molly-coddle rioters and fanatics.

We have sunk so low with this president. We will need decades of good will and hard work to undo the harm he has done.

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