You know what the problem with the cartoons is don’t you? The problem is that freedom of speech is something that some parts of the world are not willing to accept.
I am sorry if something offends you, but that’s not the intention — in the west we have a sense of humour and all cultures, all institutions and all aspects of life are fair game. Offensive jokes are, to most people, funnier for the guilt of finding it funny.
If parts of the world do not like this aspect of the west, that is fine — don’t. But that should be balanced with the same dislike we have for the third world’s treatment of women, homosexuals and other ‘different’ people.
We won’t make Saudi Arabia legalise alcohol for expats and the Middle East and other patriarchal societies and cultures shouldn’t change if that’s what their people want. The same should go for France, Germany, Denmark and England and immigrants of non-European cultures.
February 3rd, 2006 at 8:38 pm
I’m in 100% agreement with you on this.
February 4th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Yes same here. I also note with interest that parts of the Ummah are enjoying the benefits of freedom of speech in their demonstrations in London.
February 5th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
I’ve taken the time to e-mail the Met Police asking why they permitted the spontaneous (and offensive/violent) “anti-West” (?) protests, but would have surely arrested me if I’d made a spontaneous “anti-anything” protest. From the response I’ve received so far it seems that they have received quite a few complaints: