Disregarding the issue of Romney, IMO the Cairo embassy statement itself was clearly an apology. I mean, why else even put it out? The only reason is because of fear. I'd also say it was clearly sympathizing with the protesters (or potential protesters, basically anyone who'd be offended and inclined to start trouble) in that it condemns the religious message. But this is America. We have freedom of speech.
Lauren Bloom, an attorney and business consultant who wrote The Art of the Apology, said that Romney is "once again allowing his emotional allergy to apology to interfere with his judgment."
Bloom said that "if there's anything more central to American values than respecting each individual's right to worship as he or she pleases, I'd be hard-pressed to say what it might be. The statement that ‘respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy’ not only is true, but is as clear an expression of one of our most cherished values as I can imagine."
Respect for religions is not any cherished value of America, religious tolerance is. No one has any problem making fun of Christianity (and no I'm not a Christian, just making a point here). This is a country where if you take a cross of Jesus Christ and stick it into a jar of urine, it's considered some form of modern art. You take a statue of Jesus and cover it in dung, it's a form of art. You do something very offensive regarding the Virgin Mary, and it's "art." Bill Maher makes fun of Christianity all the time. South Park makes fun of it and other religions (they backed off on Islam though when they got directly threatened when they tried it). People have the right to practice whatever religion they please, that's America. And if I want to point and laugh and say that your religion has to be the stupidest, most nutty thing I've ever heard, that's also my right.
EDIT: Okay, I see the above (about respect for other religions) was also covered in the other thread (was there anything wrong with Cairo embassy's statement), hadn't read that thread yet when I typed the above
She said the embassy statement is "not an apology -- quite the contrary, it's a confirmation that the American people recognize the right to worship freely and will not accept religious bullying in the name of free speech. To say that someone who deliberately insults others in the name of religion has acted wrongly isn't an apology -- it's simply a recognition that those insults go too far."
! In other words, they are sympathizing with the protesters and people in the area. And "religious bullying?" Who is she trying to kid? Someone who deliberately insults others in the name of religion is not engaging in an "insult that goes too far," it's free speech. In the case of the embassy, it was an apology, a way of saying, "WE'RE SORRY! Please don't hurt us or kill anyone!" I mean if a group of Christians decided to just hold a normal protest outside of Bill Maher's home, the attitude of most people, especially on the Left, would be "GROW UP!"
Angry Citizen said:
To protestors; not to attackers. The embassy statement came before the attacks. It was an attempt to quell an imminent threat. And frankly, the embassy was right to do so. The film that stirred up the protests was so blatantly offensive and downright evil that an apology - not an implied one, but a full one - was warranted on behalf of the American people. That's not saying the embassy deserved to be attacked, but the statement wasn't made after the attack, now was it?
Regarding the Cairo statement itself, what difference does it make about whether an attack had occurred or not? It shouldn't matter how "offensive" anything is, if people want to say it, they can, same as many do with Christians. The limits are for slander, libel, or the equivalent of crying "FIRE!" in a crowded theater (and on the slander part, I think even there we are pretty lenient).
Something to consider: Most Muslims in the Middle East come from a culture where speech is officially approved by a totalitarian or theocratic figure; it is not free. Most Muslims in the Middle East, by virtue of their being poor as dirt, are also often uneducated and ignorant of American values with regard to free speech. Is it any wonder that they think these films and statements made to offend were approved by the government of the United States?
Then what the embassy should say is simply that the statement is
not representative of the U.S. government or the nation as a whole, and that in the United States, we have freedom of speech where people are allowed to insult one another and a religion as they please.
