While I think Anthony’s sentiment is noble, I have to agree with the gist of Mark’s post. I think we’d all be better off with a little more cross-cultural understanding and an appreciation that just because “we don’t do it that way here” doesn’t mean it’s “wrong.” It doesn’t make it “right” either but “spreading our values” has never ended well for any civilization.

Good post. Good response. Now I know that I shouldn’t call Singapore judges prostitutes and really appreciate the fact that we have many freedoms others do not have…Habeus Corpus not withstanding.

I am an advocate for bloggers rights, human rights, rights to criticize the government, and free speech in general.

But the shock and surprise by the blogosphere that when someone goes into another country and breaks their laws, and then gets punished, well, rights may be universal, but laws aren’t. Do you think that Rosa Parks expected her civil disobedience to go unpunished? You can’t do stuff that’s against the law and not expect consequences.

He may be standing up for what’s right (something I remain unconvinced of – sounds like he was mostly being a jerk), but we have to realize that doing so has consequences that must be faced.