Discuss “Freedom of the press must never allow itself to erode”

The publication in September 2005 of 12 editorial cartoons depicting Muhammad set off a firestorm of controversy. Thousands of people in the Middle East and the rest of the world protested these cartoons, some of which commented negatively on Islam. Despite this, most of us cannot say that we’ve seen these cartoons. News organizations in the U.S. have, for the most part, chosen not to print or display them.

This decision is entirely within their rights. News organizations choose what is newsworthy and write their stories accordingly. However, that freedom brings with it a great responsibility. A newspaper should never seek to offend, but it should not fear doing so in pursuit of a greater good.

In modern Western society, there is a separation...