Instapundit links to a new website, We Are Sorry, that has issued an apology to Denmark and Norway for the rioting and the violence directed at them by mobs of Muslims around the world. Purportedly set up by moderate Muslims, the website makes a well-written and eloquent apology to those harmed by the protests over a series of editorial cartoons:

We whole-heartedly apologize to the people of Denmark, Norway and all the European Union over the actions of a few, and we completely condemn all forms of vandalism and incitement to violence that the Arab and Muslim world have witnessed. We hope that this sad episode will not tarnish the great friendship that our peoples have fostered over decades. ...

Anyone offended by the content of a publication has a vast choice of democratic and respectful methods of seeking redress. The most obvious are not buying the publication, writing letters to the editor or expressing their opinions in other venues. It is also possible to use one’s free choice in a democracy to conduct a boycott of the publication, and even a boycott of firms dealing with it. Yet an indiscriminate boycott of all the country’s firms is simply uncalled for and counter-productive. We would be allowing the extremists on both sides to prevail, while punishing the government and the whole population for the actions of an unrepresentative irresponsible few.

We apologize whole-heartedly to the people of Norway and Denmark for any offense this sorry episode may have caused, to any European who has been harassed or intimidated, to the staff of the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Embassies in Syria whose workplace has been destroyed and for any distress this whole affair may have caused to anyone.

Powerful words, and certainly an astute observation of the ridiculous nature of the protests currently reverberating through the Islamic world. This would be an encouraging sign of moderation -- if we knew who authored and sponsored it. The whois information for this domain reveals nothing about the owners of the site, except that the domain itself came from GoDaddy. The site has no signature, no sponsoring organization, no links to identifying materials; it is as anonymous as a site can get.

This leaves us with two options. Either the owners of this site aren't Muslim at all and just want to gain attention (and possibly dial down the heat), or the Muslims that sponsor the site intend on remaining anonymous. If the former is true, then this site means nothing. If the latter is true, it shows the marginalization that moderates within Islam feel when criticizing the Islamists -- which demonstrates why we have to support the publishers of criticism despite the outrage it provokes. Until we support the Danes and others who dared to criticize radical Islam and its claim on temporal as well as spiritual dominance, moderate Muslims will have no reason to stand up to the Islamists and risk their own safety.

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» Who’s Sorry Now? from NoisyRoom.net
Courtesy of Captain’s Quarters: Instapundit links to a new website, We Are Sorry, that has issued an apology to Denmark and Norway for the rioting and the violence directed at them by mobs of Muslims around the world. Purportedly set up by mode... [Read More]

Tracked on February 6, 2006 5:20 PM

» Is There Any Difference Between Exquisitely Refined Multicultural Sensitivity And Shari'a from All Things Beautiful
Of course there is, but still, many of us have bitterly complained about the American MSM's lack of courage to stand up for what in pretty much any other circumstance it would have vociferously defended: Its freedom of expression. [Read More]

Tracked on February 6, 2006 5:45 PM

» You’re Sorry? from Kerfuffles
We are sorry, Vi Beklager, Undskyld. “To The People of Norway and Denmark, WE ARE SORRY.” So who are you other than an unnamed Muslim? What is the value of an unsigned, unattributed apology? We... [Read More]

Tracked on February 7, 2006 12:22 PM