> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Don’t apologize, don’t appease
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/dont-apologize-dont-appease-editor/
- Published: 2006-03-07T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:20:02.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Fred Alexander Santa Monica*

Angry Muslims demand that the world honor Islamic symbols and sensitivities, but adamantly refuse to grant the same to other religions. They have intentionally and regularly desecrated and destroyed religious icons, holy sites and houses of worship sacred to other faiths, not to mention the daily defamation of Jews and Christian cartoons, media, schools, etc.

A democracy cannot survive long without freedom of expression, the freedom to argue, to dissent, even to insult and offend. It is a freedom sorely lacking in the medieval Islamic world. Without this fundamental freedom, Islam will continue to stifle human rights, individuality, originality and truth.

The Middle East teaches hatred to cover up their failure. It is not about cultural sensitivities. Westerners must ask themselves: “Do I want to live under tyranny or freedom?” Ultimately, there is no compromise. We either retain our civilization, with its freedom of speech, etc... or the Islamization of Europe will have begun in earnest.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 7, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/030706.pdf?ref=smdp.com)