"Nice Weather We're Having"
Free speech in many places in Europe amounts to the freedom to make statements like the one above. Say anything more opinionated, especially about Islam or anyone Muslim, and you're likely to find yourself dragged into court. Bruce McQuain writes at Hot Air that German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently remarked on the death of mass murderer Osama bin Laden, saying she was "glad" he'd been killed. A German judge, Heinz Uthmann, responded by hitting her with a criminal complaint:
In his two-page document, Uthmann, a judge for 21 years, cites section 140 of the German Criminal Code, which forbids the "rewarding and approving" of crimes. In this case, Merkel endorsed a "homicide," Uthmann claimed. The violation is punishable by up to three years' imprisonment or a fine."For the daughter of a Christian pastor, the comment is astonishing and at odds with the values of human dignity, charity and the rule of law," Uthmann told the newspaper.
More on the curtailing of free speech in Europe. And here's a Muslim reaction to free speech -- luckily curtailed before they were able to murder anyone.
UPDATE: Will Germany try to prosecute the Dalai Lama, too, for saying, when asked about Bin Laden's assassination, that "If something is serious and it is necessary to take counter-measures, you have to take counter-measures"?
Free speech in the U.S. is still protected, for now.
I hope she fights the charges. Maybe the law can be rolled back at some point.
Jim P. at May 7, 2011 6:18 AM
I have a hard time swallowing this. It looks like the western culture is turning into a morally corrupt "Goody-Two-Shoes".
Bin Laden wan't a criminal, he was a warlord engaged in a war against the western world at large. His organization sponsored acts of war across the globe. As a commander of an active fighting force, he's a valid target for a military action. It is unimportant if he looked unarmed or if the Navy SEALs had a possibility to bring him back alive. The goal of the operation was to neutralize Al-Quada's leadership, they succeed.
A fun little question for the judge; Can a Soldier be sued for the murder of an enemy combatant on a legitimate battlefield? I smell political activism from the bench...
Toubrouk at May 7, 2011 8:26 AM
what toubrouk said. He was the leader of a military organization in an open declared ware against the united states. He was a valid target under the rules of engagement. There was absolutely nothing illegal or immoral about his demise. I will now piss in the ocean as a symbolic "piss on his grave" act
ronc at May 7, 2011 9:36 AM
Merkel is being punished for talking like an American (in judge Uthmann's view). Europeans are supposed to be on a higher moral plane than those primitive, flag-waving Yankees who go around shooting people.
Martin at May 7, 2011 9:36 AM
I think this Uthmann guy is just an attention grabber desperately looking for his 15 minutes. Uthmann said that even he himself doesn't believe that his complaint will ever be prosecuted. (That's a good thing.) In that likely case, Merkel doesn't even have to defend herself against anything. Also, Uthmanns own bosses distanced themselves from his complaint, saying that he acted "as a private person and not as a judge of the Hamburg labour court."
As for free speech in Germany:
I'm so very glad that Osama can't murder anyone ever again. I have no sympathy at all for anyone who killed so many people in his life.
There, I wrote it, and no one will prosecute me for that. (At least not in my country.)
Rainer at May 9, 2011 4:45 AM
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