CLIPPING: de Souza on the Western Standard cartoons

Admit it: You're afraid

Father Raymond J. de Souza
National Post

Thursday, February 16, 2006

'I'm afraid, but fine, so deal with it," said Ezra Levant, publisher
of the Western Standard, of his decision to publish the world's most
famous cartoons. "Get security or just be careful. But I'm not so
afraid that I'm going to sell out our heritage of freedom."

Ezra (nobody calls him Mr. Levant) has been a friend for many years,
and upon launching his new magazine two years ago, asked me to write
for it, which I have happily done on occasion. I have never known him
to be afraid. He was not afraid to refuse (until common sense
prevailed) to cede his nomination in Calgary Southwest to Stephen
Harper in 2002. He was not afraid to risk a massive investment of
blood, sweat and cash on the most foolhardy of all ventures --
launching a political newsmagazine. He has stared down threats and
frivolous libel suits. He is not a man of fear, period.

So what is he afraid of? He's afraid of violence.

Is that far-fetched? In Canada, there has been no violence. But in
other parts of the world, American fast food outlets, Norwegian
cellphone companies and others with no relation to the cartoons have
been attacked, along with Danish government targets.

Journalists don't like to concede that fear of reprisals may
influence their judgment, but it's a reality and it is better to be
honest about it. It is unbecoming for newspapers, television networks
and bookstores to dissemble with their audience.

Doug Kelly, the Post's editor-in-chief, told me flatly that his
decision not to publish the cartoons to date was an editorial one,
made on principle, not from fear of reprisals. He added that he would
not publish an offensive image of Jesus in similar circumstances.

Given the Post's track record, that's credible. But what about other
Canadian media, which have carried material offensive to, say,
Christian sensibilities? Take, for example, Tony Burman, editor in
chief of CBC news:

"We felt that we could easily describe the drawings in simple and
clear English without actually showing them," he wrote. "This was
intended, without embarrassment, as an act of respect not only for
Islam but for all religions."

Is that plausible? CBC is not shy about news reports which show
swastikas painted on Jewish institutions, or blasphemous "art" using
Christian images. They cover those stories without asking, as Mr.
Burman does, "Why should we insult and upset an important part of our
audience for absolutely no public value? ... Where do we draw the
line?"

It may be that the line is drawn where the fear exists that a
firebomb might be thrown across it. It is implausible that the
secularists who dominate elite media in Canada are suddenly concerned
about respecting the Islamic prohibition on images of the Prophet.

If fear of reprisals is at work, let's be honest about it.

Air Canada, which is in the business of safely flying airplanes,
decided to pass on carrying this issue of the Western Standard.
Likely they decided the added risk would be too costly. And costly it
is, and not just for airlines. Newspapers and television networks have
large staffs, publicly accessible buildings, expensive printing plants
and studios -- the cost of upgrading security on all those facilities
would be staggering for even a few weeks. It is not ignoble to take
security considerations into account. It is ignoble to dress security
concerns up as editorial principles.

Indigo/Chapters bookstores have decided not to carry this issue of
the Western Standard. Of course, you can still order a copy of The
Satanic Verses should you ask. Or if your taste in blasphemous
fantasy runs to the anti-Catholic instead, you might pick up The
DaVinci Code, prominently displayed with related spin-offs. So the
claim that Indigo does not want to offend its customers is patently
implausible. More likely they are afraid for the security of their
stores and their staff. There is no shame in saying so.

No one wants to concede that the terrorists win, or that the mob
rules. But they do, because they make us afraid. The terrorists have
already won a small victory when we disrobe to get on airplanes, or
leave our knapsacks outside football stadiums. The rampaging mobs may
have won another victory this month, if indeed news organizations
decided to tell-and-not-show out of fear of reprisals. That's an
important part of this story, and it should be told.

Ezra's afraid, but he is not the only one.

© National Post 2006

Copyright © 2006 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest
MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.

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