Israel Matzav

Pam Geller beats the jihadists in court

Pam Geller has won a victory in the New York court system, with an order being issued to allow the ad seen above to be run in ten New York City subway stations starting Monday.

Note that the poster contains no reference either to a religion or to an ethnic group. It contrasts “Israel” with “Jihad.”

Abdul Yasar, a New York subway rider who considers himself an observant Muslim, said Geller’s ad was insensitive in an unsettling climate for Muslims.
“If you don’t want to see what happened in Libya and Egypt after the video — maybe not so strong here in America — you shouldn’t put this up,” Yasar said.

So the threat is explicit. But toward whom is the ad insensitive? Jihadists, evidently. Are we really supposed to be sensitive to the feelings of jihadists?

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York initially refused to run Geller’s ad, saying it was “demeaning.” But U.S. District Court Judge Paul Engelmayer ruled last month that it is protected speech under the First Amendment.

“Demeaning”? Again, demeaning toward whom? Jihadists. Are jihadists now some kind of protected class?

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, backed publication of the “patently offensive” ads.

But aren’t they offensive only to jihadists, which is to say, mass murderers and their supporters? If you advocate mass murder, shouldn’t you expect to be offended? At a minimum?

Opponents say the ads imply that Muslims are savages.

But wait! Aren’t we constantly told that jihadists aren’t really Muslims? That Islam is staunchly opposed to terrorism? So how are all Muslims encompassed within the term “jihad”?

 Hmmm. Why can't the mainstream media ask questions like that? (The quotes in John Hinderaker's post come from this New York Post report).

Pam has more on the story here, here, here, here and here (among other places). If you don't click through all five of those links, make sure to click through the second one. It's the full version of a 13-minute interview Pam did with CNN last week. It's awesome.

Labels: bus advertisements, freedom of speech, jihad, New York City, Pamela Geller

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:39 PM