“Strange it is, that men should admit the validity of the arguments for free discussion, but object to their being ‘pushed to an extreme’; not seeing that unless the reasons are good for an extreme case, they are not good for any case.”  John Stuart Mill, On Liberty.

As has been noted many times in these pages, (see, for example: Carpenters In The Forehead/ Intimidation, Fear, and Censorship) the Appalachian Independent has been a supporter of the right to a free press and freedom of speech.  Here in the U.S. we are very fortunate to have these rights, and as a result, it is important to express solidarity with those throughout the world who hold the same beliefs, even though faced with intimidation and violence.

Thus, please join me in participating, if you so desire, in the first annual “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day,” whereby everyone is encouraged to defy the attempts by radical religious zealots to censor criticism and satire.

I have included some of the efforts on this behalf at the facebook website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Everybody-Draw-Mohammad-Day-May-20th-2010/120352401315688#!/pages/Everybody-Draw-Mohammad-Day-May-20th-2010/120352401315688?v=photos

Check them out, and if you are feeling in a particularly free state of mind and speech, pick up your pen or pencil, or simply add some version of your own imagination, and send it to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and I will pleased as punch to include it in the appindie for our local readers (name withheld if so desired).

With credit duly given to Pablo Picasso and to the epitome of freedom, The Jyllands-Posten cartoons I give you my own version:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations 10 December 1948)