Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Photo: wiki commons.

Last week, mainstream media outlets reported on the publication of two separate controversial and unpopular images (albeit on differing levels).  Let us review and contrast them respectively.

Case 1

A French gossip magazine published a five-page spread of photos depicting the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, sunbathing topless. There were a dozen shots of the duchess exposed under the headline “Oh my God!”  A royal spokesperson called the breach of her privacy a “grotesque” move; she was on private property when the shots were taken, and the royal family subsequently filed a lawsuit. Royal sources said the photo crossed the line. Of course the fact that Princess Diana was killed while being chased by paparazzi was brought to light by many.

Case 2

A recently released convict published a video entitled “Innocence of Muslims.” The amateurish anti-Muslim video believed to have been made by a fringe group, was seen by a handful of people in California and clips were viewed by millions online. Leaders from President Obama to Mitt Romney, members of the Israeli government and pretty much anyone with a brain, condemned the film.

However, rather than protest civilly or file legal suits, the Muslim world erupted in violence, killing the American Ambassador to Libya and three other American diplomats, and staging violent demonstrations in Egypt, Lebanon,  Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen and further afield.  Protestors are throwing rocks at riot police, breaching embassy walls, injuring many, and destroying American icons such as a KFC franchise in Lebanon.

Why aren’t British citizens worldwide preparing to storm embassies, wreak havoc and cause massive chaos? Their princess died because of prying media, and their nation has been disrespected by these photos.  Why is it that reasonable people around the world turn a blind eye to the dangers of a growing radicalized Islamic demographic?

One hopes that the American government in the aftermath of this week’s brutality against American interests recalls the words of Ze’ev Jabotinsky, a Zionist leader and founder of the Jewish Self-Defense Organization: “We were not created in order to teach morals and manners to our enemies.  Let them learn these things for themselves. We want to hit back at anybody who harms us. Whoever does not repay a blow by a blow is also incapable of repaying a good deed in kind.”

Ronn Torossian is a New York City based entrepreneur, author and philanthropist.  He is a past semi-finalist for the annual Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.