Why just pick on the Afghans? It's their country anyway, right?

Further to this post, John Robson of the Ottawa Citizen, speaking with Steve Madely (audio here, 04:55 in) on CFRA, Ottawa, April 3, wonders why our politicos and pundits have not been going bananas about Saudia Arabia. After all the Saudis are proposing to behead, under Sharia law, a Canadian citizen.

Mr Robson also notes the extreme hypocrisy of all those progressives who swear by cultural diversity and the fundamentally equal worth of all cultures--and who decry assertions of any Western cultural superiority. Are not the Afghans simply applying their own cultural values? Surely that is a Good Thing, while imposing our values on them is a Bad Thing.

Mr Robson was kind enough to mention the earlier Torch post.

Update: A sensible post by Paul at Celestial Junk. I confess I have been a bit, er, polemical. Though Paul has his moments too:

...
Great strides have been made ... and great strides need yet to be made. If we leave ... everything will have been for naught. But, at least those incredibly self-centered and narrow minded Canucks who want out ... the same ones who wouldn't sacrifice a hair of their body for any cause ... would be happy. They'd be spared having to "sacrifice" a good hair day to march in “peace” protests and they'd also be spared feeling "uncomfortable" when other Canadians line the highway of heroes [link added]...

Upperdate: Where are all those Canadians insisting that the government demand the Pakistani government restore its authority in Swat valley and get rid of Sharia law there? I mean, this is actually happening as a result of Pakistani government decisions:

Video of Taliban Flogging Rattles Pakistan

The video shows a young woman held face down as a Taliban commander whips her repeatedly with a leather strap. “Leave me for the moment — you can beat me again later,” she screams, pleading for a reprieve and writhing in pain.

Paying no heed, the commander orders those holding her to tighten their grip and continues the public flogging. A large group of men quietly stands and watches in a circle around her.

...The images, which have been broadcast repeatedly by private television news networks in Pakistan, have caused outrage here and set off bitter condemnation by rights activists and politicians.

They have also raised questions once again about the government’s decision to enter into a peace deal in February that effectively ceded Swat to the Taliban and allowed them to impose Islamic law [emphasis added].

The two-minute video is the first known case of a public flogging of a woman in Swat. Apparently shot on a cellphone and widely circulated in the picturesque valley, it demonstrates vividly how the Taliban have used public displays of punishment to terrify and control the local population...

Yet quite a few Canadians say we must negotiate with the Taliban [note the date]--and also prefer we end our military mission right away.

Uppestdate: The video is here, should you choose...