Media cowardice or concern?

I rarely agree with Tim Rutten and am sometimes annoyed by his columns. But his piece on the hypocrisy and dishonesty of The Times and other major American newspapers and media outlets for refusing to publicize the Muhammad cartoons was an absolute gem [“Let’s Be Honest About Cartoons,” Feb. 11].

I congratulate him for bringing a measure of relief to those of us who are ashamed at the cowardice our American media have shown in the face of this blatant challenge to the freedom of the press. I give Rutten my support as he continues to challenge his editor and colleagues at this critical time when the freedom of us all is being threatened by radical fundamentalism.

MISTY S. IRONS

Van Nuys

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I agree with Rutten’s conclusion about how cartoons have scared the U.S. media. It was, however, not forceful enough. It has nothing to do with editors being scared about religion. It is so much bigger than that. Our so-called freedom of speech has been torn into pieces, as if it were a skyscraper being attacked by a 747. The war is over; the terrorists have already won. They have found our weakness: fear and political correctness. A deadly combination.

SHIRLEY TUBER

Granada Hills

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THE Times (and virtually all other American media outlets) refuses to publish the cartoons of Muhammad, it implies, out of “sensitivity” to Islam. Let’s tell the truth here: The Times refuses to print these cartoons because it is afraid. Your journalists and editors know their colleagues in Denmark are in hiding with 24-hour police protection. They saw Theo Van Gogh, who had made a movie critical of Islamic treatment of women, butchered on a public street with a Muslim manifesto around his neck.

I don’t blame The Times for being afraid. Just have the honesty to admit it.

SCOTT ABRAMSON

San Mateo

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AS usual, Rutten has written a thoughtful, incisive column. Sad to say, his essay only limns one aspect of the media’s squeamish censorship of current events.

Unlike during the Vietnam War, newspapers and broadcast news today are averse to showing stark images of war’s reality for fear of losing subscribers who don’t want anything upsetting their next trip to the mall. Thus, our citizens’ shallow, oblivious orientation toward the obscenities of war.

And don’t get me started on how reluctant the media were to feature weapons experts who disagreed with the administration’s assessment of Iraq before the war.

WILLIAM CAREY

Sherman Oaks

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GUESS it should be no surprise when a media critic preaches “freedom of the press” -- at any cost. Tim Rutten just doesn’t get it on the “cartoons.” It is not about timidity and expediency but all about sensitivity and common sense. Throwing fuel on a fire seems to make sense to Tim?

Fortunately, most major media had the good sense to report the story and not emblaze it.

DON GARDE

Pacific Palisades

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AS time passes, societal norms change. After Sept. 11, many Americans affixed the Stars and Stripes to their cars, or wore T-shirts with the American flag on them.

Today, less than five years later, I wore a T-shirt with a Danish flag on it. Stopping in a local cafe, someone said to me, “You better be careful wearing that shirt.”

Perhaps the terrorists have already won.

CRISTA WORTHY

Pacific Palisades