[punky]

The thing about the UK protests is that all the Muslims are coming out, saying: "Its good the police didn't get involved because it would have escalated the situation/turned it violent". That isn't good in my mind... its blackmail. Had the police enforced the rule of law, the protesters would have turned violent, so the police were forced to let it go. I don't accept blackmail, if it was me i'd have sent in the army. The rule of law must be enforced at all costs regardless of who is threatening/blackmailing it.

This situation has been threatening to kick off for years, it just needed someone to draw the battle lines. It originally started off (that the BBC article never mentioned) because an author was unabled to find someone to draw a picture a picture of Mohammed for a children's book he wrote. Everyone was too afraid of confronting Muslims. Nevermind that Christians and Jews have tolerated this for years. The Danish newspaper commission the drawings to make a point that sooner or later Muslims will have to come in line with the rest of the civilised world. Its never been about breaking the law with religious tolerance, its never even got that far. Noone wants to back down. If the newspaper backs down, they know that noone would be able to comment on Islam without fear of backlash. If Muslims back down, they know Islam will not hold its currently untouchable position of reverence, and be classed equal to other religions like Christianity.

Some of the cartoons can be called offensive, but they would have been just as offensive had they been regular portraits of Mohammed. Muslims know this which is why many are confronting free speech (i.e. "Free speech: go to hell"), with lots of irony laid on top.