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AS OTHERS SAY IT Defend free speech for all

   When Muslims rioted in response to the publication of a couple of juvenile cartoons that dared portray their prophet in a less-thanperfect light, much of the Western world was furious.
   We in the enlightened West would never behave in such a manner, just because some visual art offended us. Why, no matter how much we dislike someone else’s message, we’ll defend his right to convey it!
   Consider the leftist blog MoveOn.org’s recent full-page ad in the New York Times, which made a pun of Gen. David Petraeus’ name, asking whether he should be called “General Petraeus, or General Betray Us?” This is hardly clever and there are most certainly better ways to air a viewpoint. It’s also true a polished propaganda agency of MoveOn’s ilk knows those ways.
   Now, as the Muhammad cartoons did in Europe and the Mideast, MoveOn’s ad sparked an angry reaction. There have been no riots. But there’s also been little talk of freedom and free speech; little defense of MoveOn.org’s right to convey the message of its choice.
   So, once more: Freedom of speech exists for all. Yet we’ve allowed the concept of “free speech” to be redefined, and there is a strong tendency — across the political spectrum — to view it as worthy of protection only when it reflects our sensibilities.
   --The Montrose (Colo.) Daily Press